Nathan Power and Jacob Mercep back to work at KPMG and PwC
After a whirlwind Olympics campaign, Australian men’s water polo co-captain Nathan Power and teammate Jacob Mercep will soon return to their regular day-jobs back home, at PwC and KPMG.
The Sharks were eventually bundled out by the US following a tense quarterfinal encounter, having earlier knocked off European powerhouses Hungary and Serbia, the latter which went on to claim its third consecutive gold medal.
Despite slipping down the rankings in the minor-place play-offs, the 2024 Olympics campaign can be considered a highly successful one for the Aussie Sharks and co-captain Nathan Power, along with Games debutant Jacob Mercep.
But now the pair will need to dry off and get back to their everyday jobs, Power as a risk strategy & technology senior consultant at KPMG and Mercep in his role as an M&A associate at PwC. Both based in Sydney and boasting masters degrees in commerce and science, Power joined KPMG following the Tokyo Olympics while Mercep has been with PwC since early last year.
“Feeling very honoured to have the opportunity to lead the Aussie Sharks at the upcoming Paris Olympics,” Power said ahead of the event. “And in my first Olympic cycle juggling full time work and training, I am grateful for the unwavering support of KPMG Australia for allowing me the flexibility to pursue my Olympic dreams whilst progressing my professional career.”
Power played professional water polo in Europe prior to making his Olympic debut in Tokyo, but says juggling a professional career and training was beneficial in the build-up to Paris; “Having both roles to focus on keeps me in check,” Power contends. “The interchange between the two allows you to walk in each different environment and reset yourself. It keeps things fresh.”
And KPMG and PwC aren’t the only professional services firms supporting Australia’s water polo players. Power’s fellow co-captain Blake Edwards is a recent recipient of Water Polo Australia’s professional development scholarship, an initiative supported by PKFin Sydney and Newcastle and business advisory director Nicholas Falzon, a former Australian international representative.
