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

My Uncle is an accountant, so I had an average idea of what accountants did. I knew that they dealt with the finances of a company, produced reports on them each month, etc. However, I had no knowledge of what auditors did (which is the route I chose). I remember googling ‘what do auditors do’ before my interview, and I didn’t truly understand what they did for at least a year!

When did you first hear about accountancy as a career?

As my Uncle is an accountant, it had been something I had occasionally considered. However, more than anything, I wanted to be a teacher. After completing my PGCE in Secondary Maths, I didn’t feel ready to teach at that stage in my life, so I turned to the only other option that seemed sensible to do with a Maths degree and applied for an audit graduate scheme. Eventually, the opportunity of teaching accounting became available to me instead, meaning I could combine both these careers.

What was your first role in finance or accounting?

My first role was in audit. I had no real expectations, however, I didn’t think it would involve as much ‘ticking and bashing’ of invoices, etc. However, this improves after your first year, if not sooner.

What did you love most about working in accountancy?

I enjoyed meeting lots of different clients, seeing a variety of businesses and particularly enjoyed it when I could apply what I’d studied at college to what I was seeing on an audit.

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

The firm I joined typically had a lot of men in the intakes before mine; however, in my intake, there was about a 50:50 split of men to women, which made me feel at ease.

What is the biggest myth about accountancy?

That everyone is dull and that you need to be good at maths. If you end up on a graduate scheme with lots of fellow colleagues in your intake, it definitely won’t be dull. There were lots of social events, we all went to college together, studied for exams together etc. I can definitely say that the majority of my colleagues weren’t dull, and they definitely weren’t all good at maths.

What skills matter most in accountancy?

Important skills include showing attention to detail, being able to analyse numbers and assess them using professional scepticism and judgement.

Good time management is essential as there will be a lot of deadlines to meet, combined with studying for exams at the same time.

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

I would suggest trying to gain a position in a medium-sized firm where you get the comfort of having several other colleagues join at the same time, which will provide invaluable support during exam periods. A medium-sized firm should hopefully allow you to have exposure to different areas of the business as well.

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