Meet Sanjay, a Business Architecture Analyst in Accenture

What and where you studied:  Bachelor’s in economics and ICS at UCD and master’s in business Analytics from Trinity College Dublin

Dates of graduate programme: October 2025

Bio: I'm Sanjay, a Business Architecture Analyst at Accenture in Ireland. I studied Economics and ICS at UCD before going on to complete a master’s in business Analytics at Trinity College Dublin. Honestly, ending up at Accenture wasn't part of some grand career plan. It was a chance encounter at a careers fair that set everything in motion, as did conversations with people I knew who already worked there. I've always been curious and passionate about technology, and Accenture has turned out to be exactly the kind of place where that combination works in your favour.

Why did you choose this industry, and this company in particular? 

One of my friends in college brought me along to the Trinity Business School careers fair where Accenture had a stand, and I immediately noticed how different the people there were compared to everyone else. They were genuinely friendly, approachable, and gave real, practical advice on how to stand out in the application process. I’ll admit I was nervous, because I hadn't done a whole lot of coding, but what they kept coming back to was that attitude and genuine passion for technology matter far more than technical ability. You don't have to be a coding expert to thrive here. That really gave me the confidence to apply.

Can you describe a typical day in your role? What are your favourite parts of the work you do?  

No two days are really the same and I genuinely mean that. For example, figuring out how to build a clean report that shows the differences between old and new code and then translating that into something a client can understand clearly. Other days something urgent lands in your lap and suddenly that's your whole afternoon.

What I love most though is the problem-solving side of it. There's always a question of "how do we do this better?" Rather than completing parts of a workflow manually, I get to explore building AII agents that can help manage the task efficiently. You’re not just completing tasks; you're constantly asking whether there's a smarter way to do it. You're reinventing the way in which you work.

The client communication side has also been a big one for me. Learning how to take something complex and be able to explain it simply, clearly, and confidently is a skill I didn't expect to develop this fast, but it’s one of the most valuable things I've picked up so far.

Did your responsibilities and workload change as the programme progressed? Do you get to work with more senior members of staff and different departments?

100 per cent, during my first project in Accenture I was part of a big team and had an amazing manager who helped guide me during my first few months. I had the opportunity to build my confidence up slowly with the support of my whole team and I always appreciated that. My next project was with a smaller team and my role was bigger. I had direct interaction with clients and more senior members. It pushed me more but I'm happy because I learnt more and it helped me develop more of my skills.

What skills have you developed since being part of this company’s programme?

I've definitely got better at writing SQL, but the skills that have really shaped me are the ones nobody prepares you about before you start. Handling pressure, managing your time, and learning how to present to clients confidently. 

I remember my first interaction with a senior client, I was nervous going in, but you quickly realise that building rapport comes with experience, and once you find your footing you actually start to enjoy those conversations. Nobody really teaches you that, you just have to experience it.

Those are the kinds of things that make a huge difference day to day, way more than I expected going in.

Would you recommend the graduate programme at this company to others? Why?

Absolutely. Not many companies invest as much in their grads or genuinely encourage them to pursue what they're interested in. To give a real example, a fellow grad and I wanted to build an AI tool to help with document management. Within days we were in front of senior staff, and we had the green light to start building it shortly after. Not every company gives grads that level of trust. If you're someone who's curious and passionate about technology, this is the right place for you.

What advice would you like to give to future graduates who are just starting out?

Two things. First, talk to your manager about what you're interested in or curious about. Everyone here wants you to succeed, and your manager will genuinely welcome knowing what excites you so they can help guide your career in the right direction.

Second, don’t underestimate the value of conversation. I’ve had so many opportunities to try new things just from having a conversation or showing genuine interest.