What did you think accountants did before you started your career?

I thought that accountancy was a highly respected profession, which would give me plenty of career opportunities and job stability.

Prior to beginning my career as an accountant, I didn’t fully comprehend the number of different roles there are within the accountancy industry, I assumed that all accountants did the same thing. Which I soon realised was not the case.

When did you first hear about accountancy as a career?

Due to the fact that my parents worked in business, I had an understanding of accountancy from an early age and had first-hand experience helping within my mother’s business, completing VAT returns.

Whilst completing my A-levels, I did work experience in a local accountancy firm, which made me decide to study accountancy at university. I have always enjoyed maths and logical reasoning, so I thought it would be a good fit for me.

What was your first role in finance or accounting?

I began my career working for one of the ‘Big 4’ as an auditor, within my first year, I had exposure to a number of different businesses, which helped me to develop my skills very rapidly.

Once I began working within accountancy, it helped me to appreciate the variety of different roles that you can undertake, and that being an accountant is not just about numbers.

What did you love most about working in accountancy?

I enjoyed the teamwork and camaraderie of working with others. On each audit job, you would work with a different team, which helped me to learn from others and build lifelong friendships.

Have you ever felt out of place as a woman in finance? Why?

A lot of my audit jobs were in the manufacturing industry, which was quite heavily male in terms of employees. At times, this could be quite daunting as a woman in her early 20’s having to question men who were significantly older on why certain accounting treatments had been applied.

How do you feel about women in the profession today?

I think accountancy is an excellent career for anyone, and it is great to see women rising to senior positions where they can influence decisions in big businesses.

What is the biggest myth about accountancy?

That you have to be good at maths! Having good numeracy skills is important, however there are many other skills that are just as integral to being successful as an accountant.

What skills matter most in accountancy?

Logical reasoning, critical thinking and the ability to communicate effectively are incredibly important skills.

Accountancy requires you to take a ‘step back’ and understand the situation, there isn’t always a right answer, and therefore, you have to assess the situation to decide whether or not something is compliant with the accounting standards.

What advice would you give to any young woman considering a career in accountancy?

Accountancy is a career that creates endless opportunities, you can shape it to what you are most passionate about!

If you have been inspired by Cass’s story and would like to talk to us about starting a career in accountancy, contact our friendly team at yorkshirerecruitment@fi.co.uk.