What was the journey that brought you to McKinsey?
I attended college at the M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women in Chennai, India. Before joining McKinsey, I held core finance positions, worked at a bank, and dabbled in management reporting.
All those roles were process oriented and repetitive and, honestly, I was looking for a career that did not bore me.
What made you accept the job offer?
First, the brand! I was happy to receive a call from a McKinsey recruiter because the firm is prestigious and well-known for hiring the best people.
However, I was most excited about the role itself. It was completely different from the roles I’d played in other organizations. I could tell right away I was going to learn a great deal, and that appealed to me.
What do you do?
I work within the firm’s Finance function and perform audits on travel expenses submitted for reimbursement. My function is internal, rather than client facing, and I support all our global offices.
When our colleagues travel, they have a responsibility to comply with internal policies. I ensure compliance with travel policies, thereby upholding firm values.
In my role, I interact with data analytics teams, finance and accounting personnel, travel departments, HR, and legal teams. For me, the most exciting part of my job is working with advanced analytics teams to identify new travel patterns and trends and facilitate new types of reporting.
My role holds a significant amount of autonomy, and I dictate how to move forward on projects. I set, manage, and focus on the areas I believe are important on every audit, and get the opportunity to innovate every time I go to work.
What do you appreciate most about McKinsey?
McKinsey gave me the opportunity to begin my career in audit, compliance, and data analysis. Prior to that, I had no idea this could be an option for me.
I was chosen for a role I had potential for but no experience in and the work culture and office atmosphere have been incredibly supportive. I was not treated differently because I was new, and I was encouraged to ask questions. I got developmental feedback and was constantly motivated to do better. As a result, I gained confidence on a professional and personal level.
The firm sets a high performance standard, and the people you interact with make you want to improve at every level and be at your best. These standards will remain with me at every phase of my life and career.
Beyond that, I can say I have never had the “Monday Blues” since I joined McKinsey. That makes it even more special.
More about Sindjuha
Sindjuha is an avid reader who enjoys autobiographies and nonfiction, and is particularly invested in books on anthropology. She loves tennis—especially long matches—and is a big fan of Rafael Nadal. She is a music lover and a classically-trained Indian singer.