WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A POTENTIAL MANAGER IN AN

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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Interviews are very much a two-way street however, whilst you are focused upon creating the best possible impression, it is possible that you might miss those tell-tale signs as to whether or not you could be making the right career move.

It is important to remember that the interview is as much about you gaining an insight into the company you could potentially join and – if its your potential new boss conducting the interview – an opportunity to see if you feel like they will be good manager to work with.

Whilst there are no fool-proof ways to guarantee you will be making the right move, there are some key signs to look out for and crucial questions to ask which can help when it comes to making your decision.

Communication: Has all your contact in the run up to your interview been clear and concise? Was the interview date and time arranged in a timely and organised fashion? Has your interview been rearranged on more than one occasion for reasons that seemed avoidable?

First impressions count: Just as you are looking to make a good first impression, what did your instincts tell you at the outset? Key factors to consider include; did they arrive on time for the appointment, did they appear organised and well prepared, did they start the interview by trying to put you at ease?

Interest: Even if the process requires a pre-determined set of interview questions to be asked, a good manager will demonstrate that they are interested in your answers or will refer to something they have gleaned from your application. Do they appear interested by your answers by demonstrating positive body language, holding eye contact and providing encouragement towards you during your responses?

Pertinent questions: Are they asking questions which are clear to understand and enable you to answer confidently and concisely? If you need to repeatedly seek clarification on their questions this could indicate that they may not be a strong communicator when it comes to giving direction. Do they have a clear understanding of the role and the part it plays within the team?

Passion and enthusiasm: Do they seem to enjoy their own role and speak highly of the company? How long have they been in their role? Do they champion the business and sell it as a great place to work?

Colleagues: How do they speak about other members of the team? Do they talk positively about the direction the business is taking and the contribution that is made by their employees? What do they say about the person who previously worked in that role? How did the vacancy come about? Negative responses could indicate that someone has departed on less than favourable terms or if they display frustrations about how the team is performing it could indicate that dissatisfaction within the department.

Questions: Did they give you the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview? If not, it could demonstrate that they only see the interview as being for their benefit. How did they respond to your questions? Were they keen to engage, or did they seem to just be going through the motions?

Outcome: Did they give a clear indication of what the next steps would be and when they would be looking to make a decision? A good manager will have a good idea of where they are in the recruitment process, what the next step would be and would be keen to provide assurances that an outcome would be communicated in a timely fashion.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today for expert advice on your next career move.