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Brian Buechel is a 2005 CAS graduate who majored in Politics. Today, he is Financial Crimes Unit Director at PwC.
What’s your favorite part of your work?
I perform a lot of crisis management for regulatory concerns on a global level, so Hong Kong, London, and Milan tend to come up here and there for strategies to address and combat financial crime and terrorist financing. Aside from interesting work, being able to explore various locations and take advantage to build relationships and meet new people has always been exciting.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Managing the travel schedule while maintaining relationships. The travel can take a toll on everyone over time. I found maximizing every opportunity or location distracts from the monotony. Finding the right balance that works is paramount.
What does your average day look like?
Typically, spending time with various clients and project teams working in the financial crimes space (Anti-Money Laundering, Sanctions, Bribery and Corruption). The constant rotation/mix of team members fuels innovation and new solutions through access across the firm’s many services, contributing to constant engagement on projects.
What advice do you have for current students looking for jobs in your industry?
Your network will be the best asset in consulting, as people move in and out of firms, and depending on the firm size, eventually you will get where you want to go, but you have to reach out and find it. I would also add patience to this, in consulting it’s the long game to keep in mind.
What are some common misconceptions about your work?
House of Lies. Everyone loves the story of traveling first class, closing deals and celebrating, but those guys seem to constantly win work but never actually execute.
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