Alistair Pritchard

What work do you get involved in on a day to day basis?
As an audit Partner I spend time visiting Deloitte teams and spending time with clients on site. As well as overseeing all aspects of the audit, I enjoy understanding a client’s business and helping them with a wide variety of complex and challenging issues they face. I’m also authorised to undertake due diligence work for clients when they are looking at making acquisitions – a very different type of work to audit which provides me the opportunity to look at businesses in a completely different way.

In addition to my role in Nottingham, I lead the Firm’s Travel, Hospitality & Leisure practice in the Regions and the Firm’s Travel practice nationally. These are sectors I was enthusiastic about and so many years ago the Firm allowed me to start developing my expertise and knowledge of these sectors. I now spend a lot of time at industry events, building relationships across the sector and representing the Firm both in the public arena and with travel industry regulators. My role is to build relationships and win work from the sector – on behalf of any of the service lines within Deloitte.

What do you like most about the office and region that you work in?
I really enjoy the Nottingham office as it is a relatively small office which means I know pretty well everyone who is based there. Despite this size, the office works with some fantastic and very well known companies and I can count many as my clients – I love the fact that my friends outside of work have heard of the businesses I work with and never fail to be impressed by the high profile people I know and have had the privilege of working with.

I also really value the flexibility and control I have over my career. As a Partner my absolute focusses are on serving my clients and looking after the people I work with. As long as I do both of those, I am provided with a huge amount of flexibility as to how I work. I can work from home, at client sites or from one of our offices.

What is your top tip for working in your industry?
The travel sector is a very social community. I have known many deals done over a beer in a hotel bar whilst overseas at one of the industry conferences. You have to be sociable and visible at these events in order to build strong relationships and be a first point of call when travel businesses have a problem they need help solving.

What social, society and corporate responsibility activities have you been involved with at Deloitte?
I make it a priority to attend Nottingham office social events. I think it is really important that we, as a team, have a chance to socialise and spend time with each other outside of a work environment. At the end of the day, we all want a rewarding, challenging and enjoyable career – and the social aspect is an important part of this. Work hard, play hard.

How has Deloitte played a role in your long term career goals?
Deloitte has allowed me to explore and develop my career in the direction I wanted. Hugely supportive at all stages and continually presenting me with new and interesting challenges. After 19 years, it feels like Deloitte is playing a big part in my long term career!