The degree gave me a good insight into the profession and pointed me in the direction of further study in the form of the chartered (ACA) exams. On leaving university I moved back home to Kent and secured a training contract in Canterbury with a firm of chartered accountants.

My university studies were a perfect base for the chartered exams. The degree also gave me exemptions from some of the lower papers in the qualification. I spent just over four years with my first firm and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2010. The following year I then moved to a larger Kent based firm, McCabe Ford Williams, as manager to progress my career ambitions.

I having been with McCabe Ford Williams since 2011 and shown my hard work and determination, I was made Associate within the firm in 2016. I am actively involved with the firms audit procedures and marketing, whilst still dealing with approximately 30% of my office’s fee load. I am heavily involved in the decision making within the office and the aim is that I will be made partner in 2018. I will continue to expand my own portfolio of clients and, most likely, inherit a base of clients that I have previously managed from other partners.

Why did you choose the University of Birmingham?

Whilst studying for A-Levels, I knew I wanted to go into the accountancy profession. I therefore applied to the University of Birmingham, and other universities, to read Accountancy & Finance. I was offered all six of my university applications but I knew that the University of Birmingham was my first choice and was where I wanted to study. The campus was beautiful and, for me, was a big reason on why I chose Birmingham. The university was away from the city centre which meant a majority of the people on campus were part of the university in some form. That said, the city centre was just a short trip on the train or walkable if you preferred the exercise.

University life prepared me for a life post university. I met new people and lived with some of my group throughout the whole three years of study. They were a great group and I would not have changed any of them. They studied a variety of subjects from Politics to Physio to Computer Science, and I think this diversity helped friendships grow. I also met people in my halls from my course, which gave me a different but equally close group of friends.