We can’t do without each other here

Endless energy and a smile behind every word – Zuzana Lisá in a nutshell. She talks enthusiastically and humbly about her career, even though she has been with PwC for almost two decades and, as a senior manager, is responsible for a large team of people and the most important clients on the market.

You have been working at PwC for almost 19 years. How did it all start? 

I was already interested in auditing when I was studying finance and business management at the Prague University of Economics and Business. That’s why I spent the last two years of my studies working in reporting and controlling at one of the banks in our country, which was great experience, but also a bit routine. I was drawn to something different. Fortunately, I had friends at PwC who pointed me in this direction. 

How difficult was it to get to the management position you now hold? 

It was a gradual and natural progression, which I wouldn’t change. In my opinion, people need to immerse themselves in their profession and learn from it, because if they rush their career growth, they can burn out. In the beginning, as a Senior Associate, I naturally had easier assignments where you don’t have as much responsibility. But the big turning point came when one of the managers we worked with a lot left, and he handed over his assignments to me. 

Then I went on maternity leave, which I only lasted a year, and then a new client came along – a travel agency – which really pushed me forward. It was a different industry for me, and I was working with a relatively demanding client who kept a close eye on everything. My colleagues and I then rebuilt the financial sector audit department, and I have now been working with one of the largest banks in the country for eight years.

Do you still enjoy your work after all these years? 

Definitely! Working at PwC, but also in auditing in general, is varied – you get to work with lots of clients, each of whom is unique. You meet lots of interesting people who sit on boards or run companies, and it’s incredibly inspiring to be in that kind of environment. What’s more, our field is diverse and dynamic, so you can always find something that suits you. I’m still learning about the world of finance, but also about communicating with people in the team, bosses and clients themselves. There are so many different aspects to it.

When you talk about the team, how well does the team work at PwC? 
There are interns, experienced managers, people from junior to senior positions. Everyone is completely different, and you have to be able to handle that. I like to say that the main thing is to pull together, otherwise it won’t get done. I can’t achieve anything without the team, and they can’t do without someone who sets the direction and solves all the big issues. I simply try to ensure that no one feels they cannot ask me something just because I am the boss. 

Have you experienced any difficulties during your career that have helped you move forward? 
The worst moments were probably about two years after I started, during the financial consolidation of one company. I worked for two months straight with the prospect of finally releasing the audit and getting some sleep. But at the very end, my partner pointed out a mistake in the paperwork and said that we had the wrong amount, which was very important to our client. It wasn’t my mistake, but everything had to be redone. He was amazing at the time and stayed up all night with me to fix everything. In the end, the whole thing made me stronger, and because I was more of a saviour than a culprit, it earned me recognition within the team.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work? 

What matters most to me is my eleven-year-old daughter, Adélka. Because she’s so big now, we can go on longer trips and bike rides, travel around Europe, and go to concerts, which is great and we both really enjoy it. In my free time, I also like to spend time with my friends – we have an amazing group of about forty adults with children, with whom we spend at least two weeks a year, usually in the mountains in the winter and on bikes in the summer.

What do you think a person needs to have in order to work at PwC successfully? 
Theoretically, you should be good with numbers and the analytical stuff, able to communicate with different types of clients and have lots of other skills and competencies – basically, you should be a superman. But that’s not usually the case in real life, so it’s more important to have people on your team who complement each other and work together according to their strengths. The main thing, though, is to have a desire to learn and constantly develop, and that’s definitely what they’ve always encouraged us to do at PwC.