Sarah Shillingford, partner, Deloitte

Desiring a practical qualification, I made the decision to work in accountancy during my time at university. I wanted to learn more about the commercial aspects of finance and gain an in-depth understanding of business so working towards a professional qualification seemed like a good idea. An internship between my second and third years confirmed that a career in accountancy was right for me.

Seizing opportunities

I took six months out to go travelling before I started my first job, which provided an important break from academic study. At this stage, I wouldn’t have guessed that I would become a partner later on in my career. However, I enjoyed the job more and more as time progressed and, as different challenges arose, I worked my way up in the firm. That’s one of the fantastic things about training as an accountant – there are so many opportunities, you don’t know where you might end up 15 years down the line.

A people-based career 

I am often met with surprise when I explain that my job involves working with people more than numbers and computers. I am dealing with both clients and team members all the time, which is one of the best bits about the job! I have to manage my time effectively and often have to deal with difficult situations but I think I would get bored with the job if it didn’t have these daily challenges. 

Tips for aspiring accountants

 Accountancy is not a career to be entered into lightly so it is really important that graduates do as much research as possible. Speak to people who are already in the industry at career events, and on internships and shorter placements. They can give you a real insight into the job which will add further value to the information you can find in employer brochures and websites.