A week in the life of…
Mike Byrne
Job
Lives in:
Family Life:
Loves:
Hates:
Monday
Tuesday –
Wednesday
Must make sure I….
meet Geri for a sandwich
Must make sure I….
book flights to Guernsey for Thursday
Must make sure I….
buy disposable BBQ on way into work
In my diary......
In my diary......
In my diary......
6.00am - Pack for overnight trip to Geneva
7.30am - Leave for Audit Committee
7.30am - Stay home with Ciara, nanny
9.00am - Draft new business proposal for
meeting at client offices
due in late
a new Private Equity Fund
8.00am - Audit Committee meeting
10.00am - Planning meeting with client
10.00am Review of audit work prior to
12.00pm - Lunch with client
for upcoming audit
Geneva Audit Committee
2.00pm - Latest check in for Jersey flight
1.00pm- Sandwich and clear emails
1.00pm - Meet Geri for a sandwich
5.00pm - Audit team meeting - review
2.00pm - Debrief meeting with a client
2.30pm - Latest check-in for Geneva flight
presentation for clearance meeting with
6.00pm - Early finish - family bbq at St
7.00pm - Dinner with the client - discuss
client this Friday
Ouen’s
current issues
7.00pm - Leave office on time – Ciara
10.15pm - Taxi to hotel
bedtime, Geri cooking dinner
How it went…..
How it went…..
I have two nights away from home this
week, so it’s not an easy week on the home
front. A good morning of meetings, the
proposal is looking good and I think we
can clearly differentiate ourselves from the
competition. The team has done some very
good work so I’m left with a clear summary
of the key issues. I like to make good use
of travel time wherever possible so try to
bring plenty of reading with me prior to
leaving the office. After a quick bite to eat
it’s off to the airport. After a very enjoyable
meal in the Old Town in Geneva it’s back
to the hotel and a call home to see how
everyone is there.
It tends to be an early start when working
overseas, still half asleep when the alarm
goes off at 6.45am Swiss time. We have
a very good morning, some constructive
results from our discussions and we
identified a few more opportunities for the
future during lunch. It is always a rush to
get the direct flight back, but it saves so
much time compared to going via Gatwick.
Rather than heading home from the airport,
I need to head into the office for a taking
stock meeting to see how one of my larger
engagements is progressing, we’ve got
a clearance meeting on Friday and it’s all
hands to the pump. Leave just after seven,
it’s been an intense but interesting day, and
certainly makes for a good night’s sleep.
As seen in...
118
Director within the Audit and Assurance team at PricewaterhouseCoopers Jersey
Bouley Bay, Trinity
Wife Geri, 6 month old daughter Ciara and Paddy the Labrador
Golf, eating out, spending time at home with my family
The lawn mower
How it went…..
I’ve learnt to be more relaxed about being
late into the office, and it is great to have
the ability to flex your commitments at
work with those outside of the office.
Both my wife and I work, so looking after
our daughter involves the usual juggling
and lots of support and understanding
from Geri. We’re lucky to have a great
nanny, who we have total faith in as, with
no family on the island, it would be very
hard to do all we do without her.
It’s another varied and fast moving day.
From discussing issues and challenges
facing one client, it’s onto a different client
in a different industry. We try to always
finish on time on Wednesday and tonight
we are off to St Ouen’s for a barbeque on
the beach.
“My diary varies from week to week, but no
matter how hard I work during the week, I
keep work out of weekends to make sure I
keep balance in my life.”
Thursday
Friday
The Weekend…..
Must make sure I….
review mentoree’s objectives and
development plan prior to lunch
Must make sure I….
book golf for Sunday
Saturday
In my diary......
In my diary......
1pm - Family lunch in town
8.00am - Check-in for Guernsey flight
7.00am - Taxi to the airport for 8am
5pm – late Friends coming round for BBQ
9.30am- Review Leadership team
return flight
meeting materials
10.00am- Clearance meeting with a large
Sunday
12.45pm - Manager mentoring lunch
structured finance client.
7.30am - Family breakfast and dog walk
2.30pm - PwC CI Leadership team meeting
1.00pm - Post-audit pizza with team
9am - Mow lawn
7.30pm - Overnight in Guernsey -
2.30pm - Post audit feedback meeting
1pm - Golf at Les Mielles
Leadership team dinner at La Fregate
6.00pm - Quick beer then HOME!
6pm - Sunday dinner
6.30am - Sleep – Ciara permitting!
9am - Geri gym / shopping – Ciara time
9pm - Work prep – emails and calendar
How it went…..
How it went…..
How it went…..
I always enjoy the flight to Guernsey,
especially on the Trislanders. Our leadership
team meets formally once a month, in
Jersey and Guernsey on successive months.
I tend to travel over for the day and spend
time with the Guernsey team. I had lunch
with one of our managers in Guernsey,
talked through their development plan,
client portfolio and a possible secondment
opportunity overseas. The energy, focus
and commitment of our managers is
impressive, I really enjoy helping them
develop their potential. Developing and
retaining talent is something I think PwC
does very well.
Another early start and back into the Jersey
office. The team prepped the clearance
meeting well - just as well, fog delayed my
flight and I was 20 minutes late for the
meeting. They adjusted the agenda and
started on material they could cover where
my presence wasn’t essential. There are
often complex issues to discuss with clients
given the current market, but our clients
value our insights and take on board the
majority of our concerns. Our team lunch is
a thanks for all their hard work, after which
we discuss what went well and what could
have gone better, it’s a key part of our
continual improvement process.
After a hectic and challenging week, a lazy
weekend is just what the doctor ordered.
My wife goes to the gym on Saturday
mornings so I get to spend time with
Ciara, heading out for a walk down to the
bay with our dog, Paddy. Dog walked we
head into town, meet Geri for some lunch,
wander around town and in to the market
for some groceries. It’s a really balmy
evening so we’re outside until after eleven,
a relaxed night with friends, maybe a glass
of wine too many, but what harm, no work
on Sunday.
As one of the new members of the
Leadership team, I try to balance listening
in our meetings with challenging the status
quo. There’s a focus on the 12 months ahead
both day and evening - budget for the
year ahead, headcount required, impact of
current market on our business…challenging
issues but tackled with a ‘can do’ approach
and not without occasional laughter.
My one beer after work became two, (I had
to thank my team properly for stepping
in) but as soon as I left I switched off from
thoughts about work…..
Sunday mornings are great, at home,
breakfast, walk with the dog, mow the
lawn (worst job of the week!) and then off
to golf. It’s the usual group, mainly friends
from PwC, either past or present. It’s a great
way of keeping in touch as people move
onto new things. Then home for Sunday
dinner, followed by a quick scan of work
emails from the weekend and a check of
my diary for the week ahead.
For more information about careers with PwC Channel Islands, call Ivone Da Silva on 838327, or visit pwc.com/jg
119