Why Audit/Accountancy?
I have always considered myself to be highly numerate and believed that my future career lay within the accounting and finance world. My career at Saffery began during my degree placement year when I worked with the firm’s Outsourcing team, gaining excellent City firm experience working with high profile clients in the sports, music and film industries. I saw first-hand, the fantastic career development and training opportunities that Saffery offer their staff and decided to apply for their graduate programme.
Current Role
Following graduation, I joined the firm’s ACA training scheme as a trainee within the Business Advisory Group, working on audit and accounts preparation for a variety of clients in various sectors and industries. As a trainee, you are a key part of the audit team, given real responsibility to complete the bulk of the fieldwork both in the office and at client premises. This role has allowed me to consolidate and apply the theory learnt at university and to increase my knowledge and understanding through my studies towards the ACA exams.
Qualification
As a graduate trainee, you will complete the Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship, in addition to passing the ACA qualification over a three-year period. This involves passing all 15 ACA exams, gaining 450 days’ practical work experience, as well as learning and demonstrating elements of professional development, ethics and professional scepticism.
Safferys supports its graduate trainees during their ACA training contracts, providing college tuition and support coaches throughout. A key benefit of the apprenticeship is that 20% of your time is spent completing off-the-job training e.g. mentoring, internal training courses and learning new systems and software.
Future Plans
I am focussed on completing my training contract as soon as possible and thereafter qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. I am excited at the future personal growth prospects that the ACA qualification gives me throughout Saffery. The firm has grown substantially since I first joined on placement in 2018, I have no doubt that Saffery offers fantastic opportunities to progress and develop my future career.
Advice
One of the biggest learning points from my time as a trainee so far has been to improve my time management. Delivering excellent work to our clients, whilst studying towards the ACA and having a personal life can be challenging at times. However, if you are diligent, resilient and work hard, you will succeed. The firm understands how tough these exams are and offer excellent support throughout your journey to qualification.
