Welcome to your career in accountancy

ACCA student Ali Ryder from Ensors Chartered Accountants guides new accountancy trainees through the early stages of their accountancy career…

Every year accountancy firms take on a new intake of trainee accountants. If you are one of them, congratulations and welcome to the profession. You made it through the interviews but now the hard work really starts! To be successful within your firm, it goes without saying that working hard and passing your exams is essential, but what else can you do to ensure you stand out for all the right reasons? Here are my top tips:

1. Go the extra mile for your clients. When you are training it is tempting to just follow the work that was done last year but circumstances change and if you think there is a way you can provide a better service to your client, take the initiative and suggest it to your manager.
2. Take a genuine interest in business. Read a good quality newspaper and keep up to date with what is happening in your local area. In many ways this is just as important as learning your accountancy theory because you need to demonstrate that you understand the economic conditions facing your clients.
3. Say ‘yes’ to opportunities that arise. Whether it is a transfer to another department or a secondment to a different office, meeting new people and broadening your experience can only enhance your career prospects.
4. Meet other young professionals in your area. Getting to know the people you go to college with is a good place to start. Then you can move on to networking events such as the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Whilst this may be daunting at first, you will make some valuable contacts for the future. Today’s trainees are the partners of the future so it is never too early to start building these professional relationships.
5. Make the effort to attend staff social events and charity fundraisers. This may be the best opportunity you get to spend time with your firm’s partners, have a chat about your career aspirations and demonstrate that you have the right personality to do well at the firm.

This may be a lot to take on while you are still training so your work and study commitments inevitably come first. Nevertheless it gives you something to think about if you find yourself with some extra time and want to give your career prospects a boost. I wish you the best of luck!