Amanda commenced her turnaround and restructuring career almost 20 years ago and is a Registered Liquidator and partner at KPMG. Having worked through several economic cycles including the GFC, she has experience in both formal and informal restructuring engagements and a particular passion for the real estate sector and corporate simplification projects.
Amanda has two daughters aged six and two which keep her on her toes. Amanda prides herself in being a technical expert, having previously contributed to ARITA’s education programs and taught insolvency subjects at the University of Technology Sydney. Her husband is a golf professional, which most people find much more interesting than restructuring although Amanda begs to differ!
“The turnaround and restructuring profession is undergoing transformation to meet increasingly complex client demands. Now is the time to make an impact by having the confidence to bring your whole self to your career.”
Get to know Amanda
1.How did you choose a career in insolvency/restructuring?
I started my career in restructuring fresh out of high school as a cadet at Ferrier Hodgson. At the time I applied for the role, I wasn’t too sure what restructuring involved but it sounded interesting compared to other accounting fields!
Going down the cadetship route allowed me to complete my accounting degree part-time while working full-time, which was the approach my father had encouraged me to pursue so as to make my studies relevant and practical. Right away I had the opportunity to work on a variety of matters both small and large, which gave me a taste of the myriad of challenges that come with a restructuring engagement.
I could appreciate that it was the perfect role to learn how businesses could be managed better and was a mixture of commercial, accounting and legal skillsets. I haven’t looked back since!
2. How did you get to where you are today?
Firstly, my passion for continuous learning and distilling the complex into simple actions has helped me to thrive in engagements. Secondly, I find it motivating to help businesses and people through complex situations – this keeps me going despite our work being challenging and frustrating at times.
More recently, I have developed greater confidence in myself and my unique contribution to the profession. My impact has increased by showing up to engagements as my whole self with a level of vulnerability and empathy. I believe that understanding and embracing the human element to what we do (i.e. managing people and competing stakeholder interests) is critical to successful outcomes in turnaround and restructuring.
3. What advice would you provide to your younger self?
This is probably advice to others as much as it is to myself…
Be confident in your unique value and role in the profession.
A career is not a sprint, so be patient with your progression through the ranks and don’t get distracted by comparing yourself to others. Everyone is on a different journey.
Value relationships at every stage of your career, as they become your network.
Be selfish with your time – you can’t be everything to everyone.
Don’t be phased by little setbacks or criticisms, use them to improve.
Find your passion – whether that be a technical area and/or an industry – and become an expert in this field. This doesn’t mean you are limiting your relevance, rather it provides a point of difference and the start of a useful conversation with clients.
4. What has been your most memorable moment during your career?
There are so many standout moments over the 20 years, so if I had to pick one it would be the first major voluntary administration appointment I took after getting my ticket. The matter was high profile, unpredictable, technical, and had many competing stakeholders. All the things that make our job what it is!
I got to play a lead role while learning from my more experienced co-appointee and legal advisors, which has been invaluable to my growth as a leader.
5. How do you balance work and personal life?
With a 2 year old and 6 year old, I am determined to lead by example. What I know for sure (a phrase stolen from Oprah) is that diary management is key and both work and personal life require quality not quantity.
When I am working, I am focused and efficient – my new motto is done is better than perfect.
On the personal front I am forced to accept that things do not always run smoothly and being present is key.
I am definitely a work in progress – I need to practice letting go of control and asking for help more often. I also look for opportunities to tick off multiple boxes – for example, I value being active and outdoors, which is currently being achieved by maintaining our property and spending a lot of time at the gym to rehab my knee following surgery (thanks to netball!).
6. What is an interesting fact about you?
I do love a reality tv show (The Block and Selling Sunset are my current favourites). This probably stems from my love of design and property, but also the need from an escape from the pressures of work and life.
I also have a personal wellness blog (very easy to find if you Google my name), which I would like to get back to spending more time on in the future. Now that I have mentioned it to this community, I have no excuse!
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About Amanda
Amanda commenced her turnaround and restructuring career almost 20 years ago and is a Registered Liquidator and partner at KPMG. Having worked through several economic cycles including the GFC, she has experience in both formal and informal restructuring engagements and a particular passion for the real estate sector and corporate simplification projects.
Amanda has two daughters aged six and two which keep her on her toes. Amanda prides herself in being a technical expert, having previously contributed to ARITA’s education programs and taught insolvency subjects at the University of Technology Sydney. Her husband is a golf professional, which most people find much more interesting than restructuring although Amanda begs to differ!
“The turnaround and restructuring profession is undergoing transformation to meet increasingly complex client demands. Now is the time to make an impact by having the confidence to bring your whole self to your career.”
Get to know Amanda
1. How did you choose a career in insolvency/restructuring?
I started my career in restructuring fresh out of high school as a cadet at Ferrier Hodgson. At the time I applied for the role, I wasn’t too sure what restructuring involved but it sounded interesting compared to other accounting fields!
Going down the cadetship route allowed me to complete my accounting degree part-time while working full-time, which was the approach my father had encouraged me to pursue so as to make my studies relevant and practical. Right away I had the opportunity to work on a variety of matters both small and large, which gave me a taste of the myriad of challenges that come with a restructuring engagement.
I could appreciate that it was the perfect role to learn how businesses could be managed better and was a mixture of commercial, accounting and legal skillsets. I haven’t looked back since!
2. How did you get to where you are today?
Firstly, my passion for continuous learning and distilling the complex into simple actions has helped me to thrive in engagements. Secondly, I find it motivating to help businesses and people through complex situations – this keeps me going despite our work being challenging and frustrating at times.
More recently, I have developed greater confidence in myself and my unique contribution to the profession. My impact has increased by showing up to engagements as my whole self with a level of vulnerability and empathy. I believe that understanding and embracing the human element to what we do (i.e. managing people and competing stakeholder interests) is critical to successful outcomes in turnaround and restructuring.
3. What advice would you provide to your younger self?
This is probably advice to others as much as it is to myself…
4. What has been your most memorable moment during your career?
There are so many standout moments over the 20 years, so if I had to pick one it would be the first major voluntary administration appointment I took after getting my ticket. The matter was high profile, unpredictable, technical, and had many competing stakeholders. All the things that make our job what it is!
I got to play a lead role while learning from my more experienced co-appointee and legal advisors, which has been invaluable to my growth as a leader.
5. How do you balance work and personal life?
With a 2 year old and 6 year old, I am determined to lead by example. What I know for sure (a phrase stolen from Oprah) is that diary management is key and both work and personal life require quality not quantity.
When I am working, I am focused and efficient – my new motto is done is better than perfect.
On the personal front I am forced to accept that things do not always run smoothly and being present is key.
I am definitely a work in progress – I need to practice letting go of control and asking for help more often. I also look for opportunities to tick off multiple boxes – for example, I value being active and outdoors, which is currently being achieved by maintaining our property and spending a lot of time at the gym to rehab my knee following surgery (thanks to netball!).
6. What is an interesting fact about you?
I do love a reality tv show (The Block and Selling Sunset are my current favourites). This probably stems from my love of design and property, but also the need from an escape from the pressures of work and life.
I also have a personal wellness blog (very easy to find if you Google my name), which I would like to get back to spending more time on in the future. Now that I have mentioned it to this community, I have no excuse!