Two graduates of American University of Central Asia joined KPMG team in Almaty

January 22, 2015

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services with 162,000 outstanding professionals working together to deliver value in 155 countries worldwide. Two AUCA Alumni joined KPMG team in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Chynara Baichaeva and Dair Bozgunchiev shared their stories and experience of working at one of the world’s largest companies with us.

 

Chynara Baichaeva is alumnus of International and Business Law 2013

 

Frankly speaking, what I really remember about being an AUCA student is that I always felt special and honored to be a student of truly the best university in region. Whenever asked about my education I always proudly say I graduated from AUCA and get surprised if someone has never heard of AUCA. In such a case, I always tell them about AUCA and memories of years spent at AUCA come across my mind.

AUCA provided me with strong knowledge and skills necessary for my profession and inspired me to develop constantly. In my current job I often receive good feedbacks and compliments for my work from senior associates and managers, and this in my view is what characterizes the quality of education I received at AUCA.

My favorite thing about education is that the more you learn the more confident you become, but still you realize that you do not know enough and that motivates you to continue studying and learning. Having graduated from AUCA I knew I was good, but at the same time I knew I could be much better and for that I needed to continue my education.

At the moment I am completing my studies at the school of law of KIMEP University, where I am pursuing an LLM degree in International Business Law. It has also been over a year since I started working at the Tax and Legal Department of KPMG in Almaty and my career is skyrocketing.

Working at KPMG is one of the best experiences that I ever had in my life. I think that KPMG is definitely the best place to start working and building a career. In my view, work at the Big 4 is different from any other work because here you get to know what hard working really is. The best part of work at the Big 4 is that you participate in many interesting projects with outstanding specialists in law, tax and finance and such experience is priceless. I also like working at KPMG because of the strong work ethics, strict policies and constant evaluation of employees, which allows the hardworking people to get what they truly deserve.

Most of all I miss the times I spent with my friends around the campus of AUCA and coffee corner at Kitchenette, when we were simply happy and free from all worries.

I would like to thank all of my professors, instructors, friends and classmates for having shared a part of their life with me, during which I laughed, cried, smiled and learnt a lot about both the law and the life.

My advice to current AUCA students would be the following: “Never underestimate yourself and always try to be better and do better everywhere and in everything.”

 

Dair Bozgunchiev is alumnus of Economics Department, 2011

If you are an AUCA student, it means that you study in the most interesting and exciting educational atmosphere in the Kyrgyz Republic. My life in AUCA was very interesting and colorful due to my university friends and various AUCA social events. During my four years in AUCA, we had many interesting social events such as orientation week, spirit weeks, diversity weeks, amazing initiation, Donkey Bridge and of course surpassing anniversary commencement 2011. Moreover, educational process is very interesting itself. I remember long and stressful nights when being prepared for final government exams during my senior year and preparing my final thesis paper either. The whole four-year educational process made our life in AUCA very exciting and bright.

I graduated in 2011 (Economics Department, specialty – finance and banking) and started my career in Huawei Technologies Bishkek in September 2011. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is the largest telecommunications equipment maker in the world. I had started my career as a product manager in Marketing and Sales Department and have worked for Huawei for 3 years until August 2014. Moreover, in 2014 I have graduated from a two-year master’s program (Academy of Management under the President of Kyrgyz Republic).

In August 2014 I joined KPMG as an audit assistant in KPMG Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan. There are many misconceptions that audit is just about crunching numbers. I have gained exposure to the reality of audit profession, so I have found out that auditing actually involves a lot of writing, as everything in today's audit world must be documented. Working in the audit world is an eye-opening experience. When you work on an audit, it's like collecting the pieces of a puzzle, since you only work on a few components of a much larger effort at one time. Initially, it's difficult to see the complete picture, but with time, you will begin to collect more pieces and eventually be able to see the whole picture. Moreover working in audit assumes that you pass ACCA exams and receive ACCA qualification (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) which is another exciting part of my life in KPMG. There is a chance that I will apply to graduate programs abroad. KPMG experience opens opportunity to apply to top-ranked MBA programs in Europe and United States.

AUCA provides amazing opportunity to become a highly experienced specialist in your field and I would advise you:

- Always remember that your life in AUCA is temporary. Consequently, always try to do your best!

- Get organized! (Write everything down. Always prepare “to-do list” and review your lists regularly);

- Always set goals! Goals should be short term and long term. Always look at what you’re doing with your time; is it helping you reach those goals? Is it detracting from them?

I miss people I had studied with. I miss café Bravo. I miss my friends from AUCA. I miss my favorite professors. I miss AUCA spirit as a whole.

I am always glad to say that I am AUCA alumnus. I miss AUCA with all my heart. I am glad that AUCA is one of the best universities in Central Asia and I thank everyone who maintains its superb image and reputation.

<< go to news list