Careers & Conversations

Meet Margaret Taylor – Associate Director, Canberra

Introducing Margaret, she pirouettes through contrasting worlds with grace and poise, her heart attuned to the melodies of ballet and the rhythms of commerce. Now, as an Associate Director at RSM, she orchestrates financial symphonies with the precision of a prima ballerina.

Personal Life

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT?

During my childhood, I was fortunate enough to meet Natalia Makarova, a remarkably talented ballet dancer, through my aunt who attended her debut performance in Giselle at the Kirov ballet when Makarova was only 16. I distinctly recall sitting on Makarova's knee during her visit, and that was the moment when my deep love for ballet was ignited.

Despite my persistent pleas, my parents were initially hesitant to let me study ballet. However, I was finally granted the opportunity to pursue my passion when I was nine years old. Although I was considered rather late to begin a professional career in ballet, I became increasingly dedicated to the art form. At the age of 16, I joined the Pretoria Art, Ballet, and Music school, where I immersed myself fully in ballet. This required me to give up athletics, despite being a state champion sprinter, long jumper, and hurdler.

While at the art school, I studied the two internationally recognised dance methods, RAD and Cecchetti, and advanced to a high level of proficiency. Upon completing my studies, I joined the PACT ballet company in South Africa, where I spent five years of my life. During this time, I had the incredible privilege of performing alongside world-renowned choreographers and artists, including Eva Evdokimova, Galina Samsova, Andre Prokovsky, Rudolf Nureyev, and Choo San Gho.

Despite leaving ballet behind to pursue a career in accounting, my passion for the creative arts has never waned. In fact, I am currently teaching ballet at the Dance Development Centre, where I specialise in training aspiring professional dancers. My proteges can be found in dance companies across four continents, with current students attending the Queensland Ballet School and the Australian Ballet School.

I also teach classical ballet to adults who wish to revisit their love for dance at the Canberra Dance Theatre. My love for ballet and the arts will always endure, and I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to share this passion with others.

TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU… YET.

I absolutely adore bubbly! In particular, I have a bit of a love affair with champagne. I love Lanson, Pol Roger, and Taittinger. They taste like summer, joy, and all things good in the world. Champagne just makes me happy.

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

For me, the answer is simple - my parents, especially my mother. She was a medical doctor and graduated in 1954 at the young age of 24 in Glasgow, Scotland. Interestingly, she was one of only four women in her class.

My mother was a true feminist who achieved great things in her life by being quietly competent and treating everyone with respect and dignity. Her life and accomplishments are a great inspiration to me.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’RE TRYING TO MAKE A HABIT?

Reading my book before I go to sleep each night.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT PERSONAL ADVERSITY YOU HAVE FACED, AND HOW YOU’VE OVERCOME IT TO GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? 

When we left South Africa we left behind family, friends, possessions, support networks, comforts and places that we loved. We had two children under three and not having any family or friends to help made it very difficult.

We worked hard at work and equally hard at making new friends and fitting into Australia, our chosen country. Our two boys are as Australian as their friends, and we are fortunate to have made many good friends ourselves.

Professional Life

WHAT LED YOU DOWN THIS CAREER PATH?

As much as I loved ballet, I did not like being an underpaid artist. My parents were both medically trained but having attended a specialist arts school, I didn’t have a strong background in science (and did not have a passion for it) but numbers have always spoken to me, so accounting it was!

HAVE YOU WORKED OVERSEAS (OR IN OTHER PARTS OF AUSTRALIA)?

I have worked and lived in South Africa and New Zealand. I was born and raised in South Africa and love the place and people very much. It is a vibrant and energetic place to live and work. I lived and worked for three years in New Zealand. The country is beautiful, but the sun did not shine enough for me.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

Do not be indecisive be prepared to make a decision and stick with it.

Life at RSM

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN ASSURANCE AND ADVISORY? WHAT ARE THE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE?

I have been in RSM external audit for just over 7 years, but I have been in the industry as an auditor for more than 20 years.

The most common remark I get from people is that they believe that being an auditor is boring. However, I believe that we meet the most interesting people and see a variety of workplaces. As an external auditor, you get a unique insight into businesses, people and processes and get to have real-world impacts as well as hold people accountable. Furthermore, we work hand in hand with people to help improve their circumstances and ensure their businesses are solvent, well rounded and profitable for years to come. It is as much of a challenge as it is a privilege.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

I was trained in KPMG but did not want to go back to the big 4. I am very pleased that I found RSM. I have an excellent, competent, and connected team with whom I work. We are a very cohesive bunch. I truly think of my colleagues as friends and family, and we often spend time as a team outside of the office.

HOW HAS WORKING AT RSM HELPED YOU EXPRESS YOUR PERSONAL WORKING STYLE?

I prefer not to micromanage my staff and RSM certainly has that trusting and enabling culture which encourages staff to be all that they can be and to be independent thinkers and work together.

WHAT ARE THE SATISFYING ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB?

Seeing people that I employ as undergraduates become competent Chartered Accountants, managers and leaders.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CULTURE IN YOUR OFFICE/DIVISION? WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT?

Simply, I would describe our culture as cohesive and trusting. Regarding my passion, I am fascinated and motivated by people. It is amazing to learn how different we all are and how we all have a story to tell and something to contribute. I have also been heavily entranced with ballet and still teach classical ballet. One day a week I teach vocational students who want to make a career out of dance. They are aged between 12 to 17 years. I have had some of my students join New Zealand Ballet as well as the Australian Ballet School and the Queensland Ballet School (both of which are feeder schools for the respective ballet companies). I find this very rewarding. Some Saturdays I also teach ex-dancers who need to be in a space and dance to beautiful music.