"I envy those, who are starting their careers with Deloitte." Mike Barrington

When did you start your work at Deloitte and what was your position?

I started my career in the profession in 1972 in London, working in a Firm which merged later with Deloitte. In 1990 I was seconded, under an EU contract, as an adviser in the Ministry of Finance in Poland. At the end of this contract in 1992, I was asked by the Firm to assist in the development of our then small Polish Practice. So, I joined Deloitte Poland as an Audit Partner. I had no plans to stay on in Poland after the Ministry of Finance contract. But I could not resist the exciting challenge of being involved in creating our presence in the Polish market.

Why did you choose Deloitte?

In one sense I did not choose to join Deloitte. As noted above, I worked in a Firm which merged with Deloitte. This Firm also had a strong client portfolio and international presence. These characteristics, plus a good professional development program, are why I made my choice of Firm.

What do you do now?

I am now retired and live in Jozefów just outside of Warszawa. Retirement has allowed me to spend more time with my family and pursue my hobbies. I still maintain contact with the Firm, both socially and formally as a mentor. Occasionally, I am asked for financial advice by Polish friends who own their own businesses. However, I am undermining the market by doing this unpaid!

What do you think is the biggest value of working for Deloitte?

Deloitte offers tremendous opportunities for those who are prepared to work hard, who want to develop their skills and are willing to take responsibility. You will gain invaluable experience working with some of the most dynamic and major companies in the market.

What is your most vivid memory from the time when your worked for Deloitte?

This year is the 20th anniversary of the formation of the regional partnership, Deloitte Central Europe. I had the privilege of being one of the Founding Partners, who signed the Partnership Agreement at a ceremony in Belgrade in 1997. This memory will remain with me as the occasion marked a turning point in the development of Deloitte in our region. By agreeing to have one region-wide profit pool, the Founding Partners acknowledged that our future success in the competition for the best clients and staff on the journey to becoming the dominant Firm, depended upon leveraging our strengths and supporting each other across the region and beyond.

What would be your advice for someone wanting to start work at Deloitte?

I envy those who are starting their careers with Deloitte. The Firm has so much to offer in terms of professional and personal development, quality of client base, working alongside talented people, high professional standards, opportunities for international experience etc. The culture encourages staff to take personal responsibility for their careers. My advice is quite simple, whether you are planning to make a long term career in Deloitte or see this as a springboard to a career elsewhere: your future success is in your hands, be bold and take advantage of the opportunity to be successful.