SECOND INTERVIEW SUCCESS – HOW TO CLINCH THE JOB

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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Inviting would-be employees to attend a second interview is a popular option for many companies. It’s a good way for them to determine between a few closely matched candidates after the initial round of meetings, an opportunity for another member of the team to take a look at their favoured choices or simply a way for them to confirm their first impression that you are the ideal person to join the team.

If you are invited to attend a second interview it is important to remember that it is unlikely to be a repeat of your first meeting. It is worth trying to establish just how many people have been invited back for a second interview as this may help you prepare accordingly. Never assume a second interview is a formality and the job is in the bag – even if you are the only person who has been asked back, make a poor impression and all your hard work could be undone as your dream role slips through your fingers.

Do your research

There’s no harm in being pleased with yourself having secured a second interview – you have obviously done well if the company wants to see you again – but don’t spend too long patting yourself on the back and instead try and dig for some more information that will be useful for your upcoming meeting.

Ask your recruitment consultant for feedback from the interviewer – were there any areas of concern, could you have elaborated on any of your answers – and use this information to prepare your ground for the next stage. Recall any useful points that you gathered during the interview – aspects of the role where you feel you can add value, making your experience relevant to the key areas of the job description that were discussed.

You will need to show more to those interviewing you second time around so do more research into the company and its sector so you can demonstrate that you are serious about the opportunity and have enthusiasm for the challenge on offer.

Be positive

As with any interview, it is OK to be nervous but you need to approach the meeting with a positive attitude. You have been invited back for a reason so they clearly think that you could be a suitable
fit – the interview is your opportunity to put that beyond any doubt.

Make the right connection

Often would-be employers can be faced with more than one candidate that they perceive would be capable of undertaking the role which is available and so will use a second interview as an opportunity to determine which of those people will slot into the team the best. Your personality, how you interact with others, the way you would deal with a particular situation will all contribute towards how your interviewer will see you being able to gel with your potential work colleagues.

Address any concerns

Use the feedback from your recruitment consultant and think back over your previous performance to try and anticipate areas which may need to be addressed during the meeting. If there was a question that you don’t feel you fully answered first time around expect to be asked it again – and if the opportunity doesn’t arise, there’s no harm in steering the conversation around to that topic where appropriate to show your interviewer that you have given the matter further consideration.

Demonstrate your worth

Every business will be facing, or is anticipating facing, certain challenges. Show that you will be a great person to have on their team by offering your insight where you think that you can bring valuable experience and provide possible solutions. Look to identify areas where you can add more to what has been asked for in the job description to really set you apart from any other candidate.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.