Joshua Quealy
Bachelor of Business (Honours)
Finance Analyst
UTS has a strong reputation in the accounting field and helped me secure my first internship in...
What degree/s have you earned?
I completed a Bachelor of Business with Honours in Finance. I majored in finance and accounting.
What was the highlight of the past few years?
The highlight was definitely finishing my thesis and presenting it for the last time in November 2014. The thesis was a 9 month project with my supervisor about hedging in the Australian gold mining industry, which I had a strong interest in given our natural resources boom. I learned a significant amount of research and writing skills and worked closely with our honours cohort of 15 students and lecturers, forming some lifetime friendships.
The highlight was definitely finishing my thesis and presenting it for the last time in November 2014. The thesis was a 9 month project with my supervisor about hedging in the Australian gold mining industry, which I had a strong interest in given our natural resources boom. I learned a significant amount of research and writing skills and worked closely with our honours cohort of 15 students and lecturers, forming some lifetime friendships.
How have your studies at UTS helped you in finding / preparing for a career path?
UTS has a strong reputation in the accounting field and helped me secure my first internship in auditing while at uni, which eventually led to my first full time job. My studies at UTS were extremely practical and provided me with strong analytical and statistical skills which are key attributes companies are looking for in accounting and finance graduates. Furthermore, a strong knowledge foundation helped improve my confidence for job interviews and any course related questions they might ask. Finally, my honours thesis provided me with significant research, writing and presentation skills which all helped in securing a full time graduate position.
What sets UTS students apart in your field?
UTS students have had a more practically oriented education as opposed to a highly theoretical one. This entails numerous group assignments on real companies analysing current business problems which equips each student with more relevant skills for when they enter the workforce. Furthermore, the numerous presentations and speeches particularly during an honours year help to develop students' confidence in making presentations and public speaking. Such soft skills are extremely vital for the future workforce and are were definitely developed through my studies at UTS.
What would your advice be for someone who is looking at studying Business at UTS?
I would definitely advise anyone interested in accounting and finance to study a Bachelor of Business at UTS. You get given a choice of two majors and at a minimum. I would choose an accounting major as it provides you with a firm grasp of all financial numbers and problems faced by all businesses. Finally, it’s very important to get real work experience while studying. Students should definitely leverage UTS's good reputation in applying for internships during their studies to help differentiate themselves from other candidates in securing graduate roles.
