MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION DURING A PROBATION PERIOD

Celebrating International Day of Accounting with David Cameron, Vice President of the LCASS

International Day of Accounting is an annual celebration to commemorate the publication of Luca Pacioli's book on double-entry bookkeeping in 1494 which is the bedrock of modern day accounting. In the modern day, International Day of Accounting is about the appreciation of the crucial work Accountants do and the recognition of their importance for business longevity and success. This year, we caught up with David Cameron of EY's Restructuring Team and Vice Presidentof the Leeds Chartered Accountants Student Society (LCASS) to gather his advice for those in the early days of their accounting career and insights about all things ACA.Starting a Career in Accounting 1.What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in accounting?I would say the sooner you realise that all of the exams require a fair amount of work and can’t be blagged (no matter how easy you found A-levels or university), the better. ACA is tough but I think it is certainly passable for most people, as long as you put the work in. The next big piece of advice I would give is if you go into the initial mundane tasks, when you first start, with a positive can-do attitude, it goes such a long way. The people who go into tasks with that outlook often find they move onto much more interesting tasks, quickly. Finally, the last tip I’d give to anyone starting out in accountancy is start building your network straight away, not only will it benefit your career in the end when everyone climbs the ranks together, it is even more beneficial from a social point of view at the junior levels. People you meet at networking events will become your friends and just enhance your overall experience when you are starting out. 2.How can recent graduates make themselves stand out to potential employers?It sounds cliché but I think showing your personality in an interview and just being yourself is something people feel as though they shouldn’t do. I really believe that that’s by far the easiest way to stand out. The majority of applicants will also have a great CV, the way you will stand out is by the employer thinking that they will enjoy working with you every day. Picking an ACA Specialism 3.Can you share some insights on the different specialisms available whilst studying ACA?Audit and Assurance:Examining financial statements and processes to verify accuracy and provide confidence to stakeholders through regulatory compliance. Tax:Advice on tax planning, compliance or strategy, dependent on what department of tax you’re in. Transactions:This could be a role in Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Finance, Transaction Due Diligence or Restructuring. 4.How did you decide on your own specialism, and what influenced your choice?I work within the Restructuring service line and absolutely love it. I’d always had a big interest in how businesses work operationally, and Restructuring allows me to assist businesses through times of distress with the hope that we can help to provide a solution to save/improve the business. Being in the service line I am in, it has allowed me to think outside the box and use problem solving at work as there is never the same solution for each business in a time of crisis, with solutions ranging from running an accelerated sale process of the business to possibly refinancing its existing debt. What the ACA Has to Offer5.What are the key benefits of pursuing the ACA qualification?First and foremost, the comprehensive skillset you acquire through completion of the ACA qualification shouldn’t be overlooked as it allows you to apply knowledge you have learnt from topics/exams usually unrelated to your usual job role to situations where it is required or even personal situations. I believe that the practical work experience you gain (at least 450 days of practical work experience) whilst completing your ACA enables you to improve your technical skills at a far quicker rate as you are utilising knowledge you have learnt at work on a daily basis, to better your understanding of the technical aspects, something which you don’t get to do at university or school. I would say the largest benefit is realistically the career flexibility and opportunities it allows you to have access to. As mentioned above, there are so many different avenues that you can go down through having an ACA qualification. If you don’t like one role, you can quite easily try something different. 6.How does the ACA prepare accountants for the challenges both inside and outside of the profession?As touched on above, the comprehensive knowledge gained from an ACA qualification is fantastic and can be applied to so many different scenarios outside of an accountancy role, such as personal tax planning or even the strong financial acumen gained to assist with running your own business. ACA also of course reiterates the importance of ethical behaviour and integrity throughout your studying period which helps instil such traits into students. Learnings from this will help students make correct decisions at work or even in their own personal life when faced with difficult choices. Personal Journey into Accountancy 7.Can you tell us about your journey into accountancy and what inspired you to choose this career?I joined the EY Leeds Restructuring team back in 2020 via the school leaver programme. I probably got unlucky with the year I joined given we were in the midst of the pandemic, however, what I was certain of even back then was no matter what, I still just wanted to get into work rather than continue full time education. I was keen on the potential qualifications I would come out of university with; however, I knew that I had always much preferred working throughout school than the education side of things. I was drawn to the Restructuring apprenticeship due to the element of problem solving involved and the opportunity to leverage commercial skills. Admittedly, I wasn’t overjoyed about the prospect of 15 ACA exams, however, I knew the end goal was worth it and provided some incentive. Four years later and I have completed my ACA and my apprenticeship. I’d recommend this path to many, for the experience and level of qualification I’ve been able to obtain by such a young age, coupled with the opportunity to meet so many people that will be mates for life. 8.Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career path?Nothing I would change that’s in my control. It would’ve been ideal to have joined at a time outside of the pandemic as it did effect the social side of things for the first year or so. To find out more about the ACA click here.Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together.

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Starting a new role will almost always involve a probation or trial period, usually of between three and six months. This a valuable time for an employer to make sure that any new member of the team is the right fit for the role and for the individual to determine if the position and the company will offer them the challenge they are seeking.

If you are starting a new role, we have some top tips on how to make sure that you pass your probation period with flying colours. And for employers, we also have suggestions on how you can help ensure that those first few months go smoothly and get the relationships off to the best possible start.

As a new employee you should look to:

Remember the basics

No matter how senior you are, when starting a new job there will undoubtedly be a period of time when even simple tasks can seem daunting as you get to grips with new systems, procedures and
colleagues. Make sure you create a good first impression by getting the basics rights – turn up on time, dress the part, be friendly and enthusiastic and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Take your time

Understandably you are keen to make a good impression but your new employer will not expect you to know everything about your role within the first few days. Show an eagerness to learn by asking questions, taking time to talk to other members of the team and sit down with people from other departments. et up to speed by reading background materials, looking at previous projects and familiarising yourself with the way your new company operates – use your time wisely and it will pay dividends!

Lend a hand

It is unlikely that you will have a full workload from the get-go so demonstrate that you are team player and give yourself the opportunity to see how others approach tasks by offering to help your new colleagues wherever possible. Not only will this help you get up to speed but it’s a good opportunity to show your communication skills and your ability to make a valuable contribution early on.

Don’t get involved in office politics

As tempting as it may be, don’t let yourself be drawn into office gossip. Be polite and friendly to everyone you meet and avoid taking the opportunity to bad mouth your predecessor – you don’t know who they could still be on friendly terms with! And don’t look to introduce new systems until you’ve fully familiarised yourself with all the current procedures that are in place within your department and the company as a whole.

And don’t burn any bridges

It is also important not to bad mouth your former employers – even if you had very valid reasons for being unhappy in your previous role. Not only could word get back to your old boss if you have mutual connections but you don’t want to get a reputation with your new employer of being someone that would potentially speak badly about them in the future.

As an employer, you can help ensure a successful probation period by:

Setting clear objectives

Make sure all new employees have a detailed job description and are clear in what is expected from them in their role. If there are particular objectives that they need to achieve ensure that these are fair and achievable and make sure the right support is put in place from the outset.

Making time

Whilst there may be a real need for that extra pair of hands, make sure you give new employees a realistic period of time to get up to speed and familiarise themselves with the company and
their role. Provide them with any relevant background material that could be beneficial and arrange introductory meetings with key individuals so they get to know who is who early on and start to build those all important relationships.

Making yourself available

Any new employee will no doubt have questions they need to ask; set some time aside during the first week to catch up with them one-to-one and address any immediate queries they may have. Make sure that you are approachable and they understand that they can come to you for clarification and support. Try to avoid cancelling catch up meetings whenever possible – new employees want to feel valued.

Not criticizing their predecessor

It’s just as important for an employer not to speak ill of a former employee to a new member of the team even if you are keen for them to bring a fresh approach and a different perspective to the role.

Get them involved

New members of the team will be keen to impress and demonstrate their suitability for the role early on. Consider assigning them a specific task or project which will allow them to play to their strengths and demonstrate to the rest of the team – and you – why they have been brought in to the role.

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