Lukáš Ciran
Lukáš has been with PwC since 2007. He started as a junior auditor in Bratislava and later gained experience at PwC New Zealand. In addition to his professional work, he has long been involved in student engagement and the development of junior colleagues.
Lukáš Ciran, Director, PwC Slovakia
Hi Lukáš. You’re a Director in the Audit department at PwC. What does an auditor actually do?
I once heard a student joke that an auditor is a serious person everyone is afraid of. Luckily, the reality is very different. I like to think of myself as a friendly person that no-one would be afraid of.
An auditor provides assurance and helps build trust. Of course, there’s a lot of detailed work behind that, but the final outcome is simple: trust.
Audit is often described as a job that takes over your free time. Is that true?
This urban legend probably comes from the old days when auditors carried around huge black cases filled with office supplies, rulers for marking invoices and even portable printers. They checked printed ledgers on calculators to make sure everything matched to zero.
The profession has evolved, and we work actively to ensure our people have a balanced workload and can achieve a healthy work life balance, which looks different for everyone. Our people are our greatest asset, and we understand that happy employees are good employees.
“Audit is an excellent springboard for the rest of your career”.
Why did you choose to stay at PwC?
During my time at PwC, I had three job interviews at other companies. In the end, I always decided not to move because I could not imagine leaving the people here. Everyone writes the same thing in their farewell emails: the best thing you take away from PwC is the relationships you build.
You work with many young people, students and graduates. What do you enjoy most about that?
When I was a student, there was far less information about career opportunities. I want today’s students to start their careers informed and confident. It doesn’t matter whether someone chooses audit, accounting, sales or analytics. What matters is they know why they chose that path and what they want to achieve.
I enjoy supporting the development of young people, talking to them and hearing their perspective. Even though I’m not yet forty, I already feel like a bit of a dinosaur here, so being around young people helps me stay in touch with the world.
What are students like compared to the past?
Students today are the same as we were. What has changed is the world around them, expectations, opportunities and career ambitions. The job market currently favours employees, and students can choose roles they really want if they have the right potential.
How have your colleagues careers progressed since you’ve been here?
Many of my former colleagues are now successful top managers in multinational and local companies. Audit is a great springboard for anyone who later chooses to move into a different career. Companies compete for former auditors, as they know these will be professionals with strong knowledge, teamwork skills and solid work ethics.
You spent part of your career on a secondment in New Zealand. Did you think about staying there permanently?
I originally went to PwC Wellington for two years, which was extended to three and another extension would probably have meant staying for good. It was a tough decision, but in the end, family and friends won. Also, that thirty-hour flight is not something you want to take too often.
What does your team look like now? Who works there? Serious people with no sense of humour?
I choose team members based on chemistry. We need to click so we enjoy working together and look forward to coming to work. Most of my colleagues are under thirty, cheerful, proactive, eager to learn and have experience that fits their role.
How do you stay mentally and professionally fit?
It’s important for me to balance performance at work with time for myself. I recharge by doing outdoor sports or playing the djembe. I read everything I can get my hands on. I’m the type of person who enjoys learning, so staying fit mentally feels natural rather than forced.
What does someone gain in their first years in audit?
As I said earlier, the first career step should be informed and preferably connected to a vision of what you want to do long term and what you enjoy.
Audit is great for graduates because in three to four years you can gain a huge amount of knowledge and experience. This includes accounting and audit, but also soft skills such as team leadership, people development and communication with clients.
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