Women in Accountancy: Tracy’s Story
We sat down with Tutor Tracy Pettinger and asked her to share her experiences of building a career in accountancy as a woman, from first impressions and early roles to qualifications, challenges, and progression.
What did you think accountants did before you started your career?
I don’t really know what I thought about them to be honest, finance was something I just fell into. It’s a long time ago, but I am sure I would have thought it was all about maths!
When did you first hear about accountancy as a career?
When I was very young, I worked in Purchase Ledger. My manager at the time decided to send me to college, and this is when I decided it was something I wanted to do.
What was your first role in finance or accounting?
My first role in accountancy was working in the Purchase Ledger department. My role consisted of entering thousands of purchase invoices into a system every day and dealing with phone calls chasing payment. I realised it was very different to what I had done in the past. There is a lot more to accountancy than entering invoices onto a computer system.
What did you love most about working in accountancy?
The job I do now is what I love the most. I enjoy the teaching side of my job, working with others every day and seeing how they progress.
Have you ever felt out of place as a woman in finance? Why?
No, I have always worked at companies that are very fair. When I first started in Purchase Ledger many years ago, I would say it was very female-dominated. When I eventually went into teaching, I found it to be a fair split. I never felt that men were thought better of or better thought of in the companies I worked for. We were all treated as equals.
What is the biggest myth about accountancy?
The biggest myth must be that you have to be fantastic at maths – not true. It is helpful to have a good understanding, but accountancy is very much not just about maths.
What skills matter most in accountancy?
I think it is important to have good analytical skills, a strong questioning mind and good communication skills.
What advice would you give to any young woman considering a career in accountancy?
The same advice I would give to anyone who wants to start any career at all. Go for it – you won’t know if it’s for you until you try it.
If you have been inspired by Tracy’s story and would like to talk to us about starting a career in accountancy, contact our friendly team at yorkshirerecruitment@fi.co.uk.