Matt McCarten discovered while at Taradale Primary School that he quite liked solving puzzles and problems, so good old mathematics came quite easily. He continued through Taradale Intermediate and Taradale High School before entering the halls of Otago University. He is now walking the corridors of Harvard Business School in the Unites States as part of an extensive PhD programme and scholarship encompassing accountancy and finance, as well as shareholder litigation against business firms. Roger Moroney ran some figures by him.
1 Where did your thirst for learning accountancy and financing come from - was there something (or someone) which sparked it for you?
I started at University of Otago not really knowing what I wanted to do. A year or two into my undergraduate studies, I took a finance paper which I really enjoyed and after that I decided to pursue my major in finance. I've always been very strong mathematically and I enjoy problem solving, so finance is well suited to me.
2 What specific field are you aiming to settle into once all this "learning" is wrapped up - will it be back here in New Zealand or overseas?
I enjoy academic financial research so I'm keen to find a job in academia. One of the great things about being an academic is that you never stop learning. At the moment I don't know where I'll end up working. This trip might lead to the chance to work at a US university, which would be a fantastic opportunity, although I'd also be very keen to stay in New Zealand. Where I end up will depend quite a bit on the job opportunities that are available.
3 The "shareholder litigation" on firms angle - the US has a reputation for the pursuit of litigation so your time there will be extremely valuable?