Trainee Accountant:Matthew Lambert Matthew, a business and marketing graduate, works as an audit executive with DTE Business Advisers and is pursuing his chartered accountancy through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Trainee Accountant:Matthew Lambert How did you get your job?
In my last work, I was facing a decision. I sat down with my family and thought it over before deciding to go in a different direction with my profession. It was somewhat intimidating at first. I was hesitant to jeopardise my job security as a father of a young family. But I believed that the chance for a better future was worthwhile.
I decided to pursue a career in accounting. I routinely looked for openings on employment boards and in nearby accountancy companies over six months. When I came across the job advertisement for DTE Business Advisers online, I was ecstatic. I applied right away after realising that their principles aligned with my own professional goals.
The DTE hiring team then got in touch with me to set up a psychometric assessment. Coming from a background outside of accounting, this was something I had never experienced before.
The test tested your ability to solve problems and gauge how well your brain functions by having you answer puzzles and arithmetic calculations. Following my satisfactory completion, two senior management team members invited me to an interview. They looked over my resume and enquired about my interests and pastimes.
What qualifications have you studied up to this point?
I continued my studies in business and marketing immediately after graduating from college at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), where I received a 2:1. This, in my opinion, has helped me greatly in my current work and given me a solid foundation for understanding the corporate world.
I’m working towards the ACA, the internationally acknowledged ICAEW Chartered Accountant credential.
What made you choose this career path and qualification route? How hard was it to change careers?
Although I’ve always had a strong interest in business and how the corporate world operates, I wasn’t sure what direction to take after receiving my degree.
I knew that an accounting career was the perfect choice for me after collaborating closely with the finance department at my previous employer. My quandary was whether to continue working in industry or pursue a career in practice. I wanted to get a taste of as many different industries as I could since I’ve always been fascinated with how businesses operate.
I so believed that a profession in practice would be ideal for me. Even though I may be one of the more experienced new hires, this line of work is ideal for anyone looking to change careers. It’s never too late to begin a career in accounting, and your prior expertise in unrelated roles will come in handy here.
Even though I have to study a lot, DTE and ICAEW have provided me with the best resources and assistance to get me through my examinations.
Are these professional qualifications essential for the job you’ve been doing?
No. For those who would like to make a career shift, this position is ideal. The majority of the knowledge and expertise you may have picked up while studying or working in another industry will be transferable.
How have you found the work-study balance?
Wonderful. I consider myself lucky that DTE offers on-the-job training in addition to allowing us time off for studying. Of course, rewriting for the qualification takes a lot of your own time, but it is doable with the right preparation and assistance.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The range. Working with clients from such a diverse range of industries is exciting. Every day, I continue to discover new things. In addition, managing a variety of clients requires me to be adaptable to a variety of circumstances.
What are the challenges?
Acquiring the status of a chartered accountant demands extensive education and experience. It can be intimidating to start since it feels like there is a mountain to climb. You must ask lots of questions and take advantage of the assistance of your peers. I’ve come a long way in the last year, and my confidence has grown significantly.
How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions?
My professional goals are to advance through the ranks to become a manager, and then a senior management. DTE is a prime illustration of how this is possible. I collaborate with a great number of coworkers who joined the company as juniors and are now partners. I’m in an excellent position to be able to have a long and successful career in accounting, but it’s a long journey, and things can always change.
What advice would you give to others interested in pursuing a career in accounting?
- Make enquiries. In the beginning phases of your accounting career, you won’t be required to know everything. The majority of your learning will take place in the workplace, therefore you must ask lots of questions. You will discover that you can connect the theory to the work you have done when you are conducting your study. Recall that there is no question too silly.
- Be not afraid. My young family relied on me when I decided to pursue a profession in accounting, as I recall. I believed that by pursuing a profession in something I had no experience in, I was jeopardising the stability of my prior employment. This is something I’m really proud of, and I haven’t looked back. Realising your potential is never too late, and sometimes taking the risk is the best course of action.