Ethan Klobucar

What's your job about?

My current role is within in the Whyalla regional team of the Accounting & Business Advisory service line in Hood Sweeney. In this role, I am responsible for a number of different tasks including, but not limited to bookkeeping, tax compliance work, tax planning, and the setting up of cloud-based accounting software for clients.

Working closely with my manager and director, I have also been fortunate enough to have face to face client appointments, as well as being the point of contact for some clients in just over a year of starting in the role. In addition to my work with the regional team, I also assist teams in our Adelaide office with work during busy times of the year.

What's your background?

I was born and raised in Whyalla, South Australia a town of 20,000 people, best known for its steelworks. At the age of 16 I started working as a Nightfiller at Woolworths, where I worked for 6 ½ years, during this time I also began contract work as a Work for the Dole Supervisor in my final year of university.

This was a challenging time in, as I juggled study, 15 hours of work a week at Woolworths and 30 hours at my Work for the Dole job. However, I believe this experience instilled in me a strong work ethic that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

After completing university and finishing up my contract with work for the dole, I applied for a graduate position at Hood Sweeney, due to the good things I’d heard about the firm from talking to people in the town. I was lucky enough to be successful in my application and have now worked with Hood Sweeney for almost 2 years.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

One of the coolest things about my job is the relationships I get to build with clients. I am quite a big people person and nothing fulfils me more than seeing clients walk out of a meeting bright-eyed and happy.

The sense of family at Hood Sweeney is another pretty cool thing about my job. No matter if it’s the people I work directly within Whyalla or those in Adelaide everyone is incredibly friendly and the support provided is incredible.

What are the limitations of your job?

There are no inherent limitations to the work I do or the role I am in. If you are willing to work hard, can take responsibility for your own actions, aren’t afraid to ask questions, and have great time management skills than the sky is truly the limit. 

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

• Remember to have some fun, if you spend all your time worrying about work and study you’ll get yourself down. A good work-life balance is essential, so let your hair down on the weekends and forget about your responsibilities for just a moment.
• Don’t be afraid to take risks, jump into the unknown with both feet! If someone gives you an opportunity to do something, take it. They’re not giving you the opportunity because they want to see you fail, they’re giving it to you because they know you’ll succeed.
• You’re going to face setbacks in your life, sometimes when you didn’t expect it. Just remember that resilience and perseverance are key, reflect on your failures as well as your successes and you will be a stronger more well-rounded person because of it.