My father was an accountant, so I was exposed to the industry during my educational years. This led me to have an interest in accountancy and I was keen to pursue this route from an early age.

Shortly after completing my A levels I joined Bessler Hendrie, a local accountancy firm, on a four-year training contract in February 2007. 

I qualified in December 2010 and progressed to Assistant Manager, taking on my first management portfolio. Over the next few years I progressed through the ranks and was promoted to partner in April 2014, when I was 25.

Bessler Hendrie is a general practice which specialises in owner-managed businesses. We offer bespoke services to our clients, covering all forms of compliance and business advice, so there is no “typical” day. 

My day is normally a mixture of dealing with client emails and telephone calls, undertaking planned compliance and advisory assignments, along with dealing with general partnership matters such as recruitment.

Every day is very different which is what I like about the job.

Alongside enjoying the variety that working in practice offers, I like the client interaction. Being an accountant is as much to do with client interaction as it is with completing technical work which I really enjoy.

The ACA qualification gives you a good technical understanding, but one of the most important skills you learn during your training and your career is time management and people skills.

Managing conflicting pressures and deadlines is integral to being a good practicing accountant.

Being part of a small dynamic firm which I have helped to grow and promote is a great achievement, and personally, being promoted to partner at aged 25 was a highlight.

In five years’ time I would like to have developed my skills as a partner with Bessler Hendrie and hope that in this time we can continue to grow the practice and broaden our services we offer to clients.