HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF DURING YOUR NOTICE 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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Your interview has been a success and you have landed a new role. Once you have tendered your resignation with your current employer, you will need to work your notice period. It is just as important to make a good impression during your last few weeks with a company as it is to get off on the right foot in a brand-new role; take a look at our tips and suggestions on the best ways to conduct yourself during your notice period.

Understand how long your notice period is. Check your contract for details on the notice period that you will be expected to work – this may be a fixed term or increase annually based upon your length of employment. Your new employer may like you to start sooner than your notice allows but be respectful of your current company’s position and the time they will need to arrange your replacement. You may be able to use any holidays that you are owed as part of your notice period.

Gardening leave. Depending upon the role you are moving onto – if you are going to work for a direct competitor for example - your employer may place you on gardening leave for the duration of your notice period; whilst you will not actually be working during this time you are still being paid by your current company and will not be able to start your new role until after your official final employment date.

Make sure you remain professional. Maintain a conscientious approach throughout your notice period and continue to perform your role to the highest possible standards. Don’t undo several years of good work by being lacklustre in your last few weeks – make sure you leave a great last impression as you never know you may come into contact with former colleagues once again in your new job.

Uphold high standards. Continue to deliver work that is of the highest standard possible and make a full contribution to team meetings. Remain focused on key tasks and ensure that you continue to have good attendance and be punctual.

Don’t be boastful. It’s only natural that you will be excited about your new position but try to avoid bragging about it too much to your colleagues – and don’t put down your current employers, remember your peers will still be working there after you leave!

Agree your priorities with your manager. Arrange a meeting with your manager (and colleagues if applicable) to agree which tasks you should focus upon during your notice period. It may be that some projects need to be handed over to other team members so ensure that you are willing to help and offer assistance to bring people up to speed. Your day-to-day workload may decrease as you get closer to the end of your notice period so make sure you check in with your manager and continue to offer to help where you can.

Handover period. You may be asked to help your replacement get up to speed before you leave; be professional and remember that they will be as keen to impress in their new job as you will be in yours. If you are departing before someone has been recruited, try to complete any projects as best you can and prepare detailed notes so the transition is as smooth as possible.

Exit interview. Be constructive with your feedback and look share positive experiences as well as highlighting areas and offering suggestions where you think your employer can make improvements.

Your last day. You want to leave with a good reputation so make sure you remain professional to the end; take the time to say goodbye to colleagues and senior managers. You will be remembered as much – if not more - for how you conduct yourself during your final weeks with the company.

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 consultant’s recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.