Alexandra Norman
I started the ATO graduate program in 2012 after completing degrees
in Communications and Law. Towards the end of my studies and whilst working in
a law firm I began to wonder what type of career would be the right fit for me
– did I want to work in a law firm or for a government agency? I can say with
100% certainty that I made the right decision in choosing the ATO’s graduate
program. Overall, the program is very well structured. It provides quality tax
technical and corporate training as well as useful practical experiences
through the two rotations.
Upon
starting at the ATO my fellow graduates and I undertook two weeks of induction
during which time we were introduced to how the ATO works and some basic tax
technical training. Our program manager helped our group of graduates feel
relaxed and excited about the coming 12 months. Induction was a great way to be
introduced to the organisation and discover new friends.
My
first rotation involved providing interpretive assistance to taxpayers and
their representatives whilst my second rotation focused on audits of businesses
classed as ‘serious evaders’. The work provided to me on a day-to-day basis in
the rotations has allowed me to work autonomously on cases as well as in a team
environment. My team leaders in each rotation have been very supportive as they
have understood that I am balancing normal work tasks as well as work and study
from the graduate program.
Being
a large organisation you may think that you could get lost in the throng of
work and be forgotten. This could not be further from the truth. Not only does
the ATO offer a competitive salary, a sense of community and great work/life
benefits, such as ‘flex’ time, but you can really feel that the ATO wants you
to succeed here and have a long, enjoyable and challenging career. Even within
the first few weeks at the ATO I knew that this is the career that I wish to
have for a very long time.
Another
major benefit of the program is the friends that I have made. Undergoing the
program with other graduates who are experiencing the same thing as me has been
great. We are a close group who go out for coffees, outings after work and the
occasional (or very regular) schnitzel for lunch.
Also,
the opportunities here are staggering. There are so many diverse areas in the
ATO; you really are not restricted to working in one area for years and years,
according to your degree type or the rotations that you have done. I strongly
recommend the ATO graduate program to anyone who wishes to join an organisation
that thoroughly supports them in any way it can and allows them to follow their
desired career path. I could not recommend the ATO graduate program highly
enough.
Caroline
Lin
My lecturer at university once told me that everything has to do with
tax – I have certainly gained a greater appreciation for this after the ATO
graduate program. Tax is an excellent area in which to engage with critical
thinking, as the issues often involve not just the economic but also the social
spheres.
My
first rotation was in Law and Practice, providing interpretive assistance to
the Finance and Investments Centre of Expertise. The team worked on
precedential issues referred from the Large Business and International business
line. I was immediately struck by how welcoming the team was and their
dedication to providing graduates with a worthwhile experience. My tasks
included drafting the ATO’s view on a precedential issue involving the taxation
treatment of franking credits, and assisting my team in advising on changes to
the income tax law affecting consolidated groups. It was fantastic exposure to
how experts in the field drew together complex information to develop legal
arguments. The work was interesting and technically challenging – but the team
made sure there was always someone around to point me in the right direction.
My
second rotation comprised of compliance work in the Micro Enterprise and
Individuals business line. It was a change of pace and the rotation provided
exposure to taxpayers at the other end of the spectrum. I managed a high volume
case load and it was an opportunity to engage with the community’s needs and
expectations firsthand. The most exciting aspect of the graduate program was
when I utilised my data analysis skills to identify a fraudulent scheme
involving compromised tax file numbers. It was incredibly satisfying to know
the direct impact my work had on the collection of government revenue.
The
graduate program began with a two week induction, which was ample time to get
to know the fantastic support network of graduate managers, trainers and other
graduates. The program is committed to see that graduates develop their
technical and corporate skills. We spent one day a week in training – this not
only refreshed the learning in university, but also opened horizons to new
areas of knowledge. These training days are also valuable opportunities to
share your experiences with other graduates and find out about the many
different areas of the ATO.
The
ATO graduate program has laid an excellent foundation for my career. The
work/life balance is unparalleled and there is also a great sense of community,
with various graduate social outings. If you are looking for a job after uni
that will provide a diverse and challenging experience, the ATO graduate
program is a great place to start.
Eli
Vlassis
New learning, new friends and great opportunity, these are three
concepts which spring to mind when thinking of the Australian Taxation Office
graduate development program.
The
ATO graduate program is highly regarded and as such after completing a degree
in Law and Commerce I decided to apply. I joined the graduate program in
February 2012 eager to take on full time employment and the challenges it would
bring.
The
first two weeks of the program consisted of induction training. We were
introduced to other graduates, heard from guest speakers and were informed of
what we could expect over the twelve month graduate program.
During
the year, I was placed in two different work rotations in Interpretative
Assistance role and in active compliance. As I spent more time in the ATO and
met new people, it was amazing to see how many different teams there were, and
the variety of different work there is to do. It was clear there would be many
opportunities presented to me throughout my career.
During
my rotations I was given the opportunity to do many different tasks, some of
which included:
- preparing
letters to stakeholders
- making
submissions in the Magistrates’ Court
- auditing
and forensic accounting work
- project
work.
In
addition to my day to day work, every Thursday was ‘Graduate training day’
(grad day). This involved either technical or corporate training. In our
technical training we covered important tax topics including income tax,
capital gains tax, superannuation laws and international tax amongst others.
The topics were delivered by professional and experienced trainers and provided
a great foundation in tax law concepts. The corporate training allowed me to
develop my presentation skills and presented me with different learning
techniques to assist me in everyday work. Grad day was always an enjoyable day
and in our lunch breaks all the graduates would go out for lunch and catch up
on how each others rotations were going, what movies we had seen and what we
had planned for the weekend.
New
learning, new friends and great opportunity – I feel very fortunate to have
been part of the graduate program and would recommend it to those graduates who
have an interest in forging a career in tax, accounting and law.
Nadine
Webb
I finished my university studies with a double degree in Law and
Commerce. I was looking for an opportunity to commence a stimulating career,
where my skills would be harnessed and where a sustainable work/life balance
was promoted. These priorities appeared to match those of the ATO, and this
prompted me to apply for the graduate development program. Next thing I
knew, I was one of eighty-odd nervous new Melbourne
recruits that sat in the training room ready to commence employment with the
ATO in 2012.
The
graduate program consisted of two workplace rotations, with a client contact
experience separating the two rotations. Weekly training days that covered both
tax technical fields and corporate values were also provided, which meant that
graduates who did not have the law/accounting/taxation background were not
disadvantaged in any way.
My
first rotation was in an interpretative assistance team where I was able to use
the skills I had developed at university. I delved deeply into the complexities
of the taxation legislation; this satisfied my cravings for complex technical
work. The support of the people in my team was invaluable and greatly assisted
my development in the area.
The
client contact experience was fantastic; the steep learning curve meant that by
the end of my time there, I had a breadth of knowledge that was unexpected from
only four weeks of work. Assisting the community with their tax affairs gave me
an in-depth understanding of the tax issues affecting our society which will
assist my ATO career going into the future.
My
second rotation involved working in an audit team which focused on serious tax
avoidance and evasion. Involvement with external agencies, such as the State
Police, was both thrilling and eye opening. The investigative nature of an
audit team requires inquisitiveness and an eye for detail; skills that I have
enjoyed developing.
The
varied nature of the work I have completed thus far within the ATO has made me
aware that it is possible to have numerous exciting careers within the one
organisation. I would recommend the ATO graduate development program to
anyone who is looking for a challenging career with a supportive organisation
that promotes a healthy work/life balance.
Redvers
Constance
I applied for the ATO’s graduate program on the strength of its
reputation in providing interesting, dynamic, and challenging work experiences.
I found this reputation to be especially attractive given my background studies
in Law, and the continuously creative and critical problem-solving issues I
encountered whilst there.
Upon
my introduction into ATO working life I was placed, for my first rotation, in a
team dealing with precedential legal issues, something I enjoyed immensely, and
was exposed to a level of work I found both intensely challenging and deeply
satisfying. Throughout my time within this team I was given great mentoring,
feedback, understanding, and the best of opportunities, and this has only
served to enhance my level of respect for the ATO graduate program.
Outside
of the rotation system ATO graduates are trained, on designated training days
throughout the year, in the technicalities of tax. While I must admit of my
initial hesitation in hearing of this, I, along with my fellow grads, have
found these sessions to be interesting, informative, and dare I say it, fun
(not least of all because this is also our designated morning tea days; I mean,
who doesn’t love cake while studying?)
Around
tax time we were also exposed to a client contact experience – this was
provided through a three week client contact rotation. Despite the ominous
nature of the phrase ‘call centre’, I found this experience to be endlessly
informative, both in learning how to deal with clients, but also in
strengthening my resolve when faced with difficult queries.
I am
currently in my second rotation where I am now doing active compliance work and
so far I have been exposed to cases which have made me think, frown, question
my own reasoning and understanding, and yes, even smile.
So what can
I say about the ATO’s graduate program? In my short experience it has helped me
to develop a deeper understanding of the role tax plays in Australian lives,
forge lifelong friendships and contacts within an ever-changing work
environment, and provided me with the opportunity and motivation to build a
challenging and rewarding career in the Australian Public Service.
Ric
Samartgis
I joined the 2012 ATO graduate development program on the sage
advice of a friend, a current employee with a number of years’ experience.
Anecdotes about the variety of challenging work available, as well as exemplary
pay and conditions, were enough to convince me to apply.
After
completing a double degree in Law and Science at university, I began the
program as a law, finance and accounting graduate. An intensive fortnight of
induction activities with the graduate cohort introduced us to the organisation
and gave us all a taste of the corporate acumen required for what was, for most
of us, our first full-time professional job.
Armed
with this knowledge, I completed two rotations in different business lines over
the course of the year. The high esteem in which the graduate program is held
became immediately apparent; I was given the opportunity to make a meaningful
contribution to both work areas, across the interpretive assistance and active
compliance capabilities.
These
stints of several months each were punctuated by the client contact experience,
about which much was speculated but little was known. Coinciding with Tax Time
2012, the three weeks spent directly assisting taxpayers with a range of
enquiries put a more enlightening spin on the broader tax administration
processes undertaken by the ATO.
Our
tax technical and corporate nous was fostered throughout the year on our weekly
graduate training day, where we received training and completed assessments on
a host of relevant topics. The commitment of the trainers to our development
needs was beyond reproach, standing me in good stead for my future in the
ATO.
Overall,
I found the program to be a most fulfilling experience. I would certainly
recommend it to people looking for an exciting career in a flexible and dynamic
workplace.