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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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I want to look for a new job but I’m not sure where to start – what advice would you give?

Looking for a new job can be quite a challenge and requires time, effort and lot of research to ensure that you make the right decision. At the start of a new year in particular, a number of people decide that it is time to move roles – this can make the market more competitive. Before starting your search, there are few things that you should consider which will help you find your perfect role.

Why do you want to leave your current job?

It is vital that you try and pin down the reasons why you want to look for a new role. Is there something in your current role or company that is making you unhappy? Also try to work out if this feeling of dissatisfaction has been building for some time or if it is a recent development, perhaps stemming from a return to work after a holiday or break.

Often a break from the normal work routine can make us re-evaluate our choices or can highlight some areas of unhappiness which have been bubbling under the surface for a while but you haven’t had time to think about properly. Before looking at new roles, think about whether the things that you are unhappy about can be addressed by your current employer – for example, if the daily commute is having a negative impact is there flexibility in your working hours or options to work from home? If you are frustrated about a lack of progression opportunities, are there any upcoming projects which would give you exposure to new areas of responsibility?

If, after carefully examining your options, you can’t see any plausible solutions, then it may be time to look elsewhere.

Looking for a new job takes time

Once you have made the decision to actively search for a new role, don’t just rush into applying for any vacancy which sparks a little bit of interest. It is important to consider how this potential move could impact future career choices and how it may enable you to reach your longer-term goals.

Carefully consider what you want to gain and – just as importantly – what you don’t want from your next role. Once you get swept up in the excitement of a new offer it can be very easy to overlook some details which could put you right back where you started; by identifying what your lines in the sand will be, it will enable you to address any concerns during the recruitment process.

Research, research, research…

You want to arm yourself with as much information as you possibly can. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the skills and experience needed for the type of roles you are interested in and identify any areas where you need additional training or exposure to before you start applying.

As well as considering the role you would ideally like, take time to identify suitable companies and organisations that will be a good cultural fit. For example, if you thrive in a busy office environment, you are probably not best suited to a team that is primarily home-based.

Engage with a specialist recruitment consultant

Whilst there will be a number of vacancies posted on job boards and recruitment sites which you will be able to access yourself, it is worth remembering that there will be a vast number of other potential applicants all vying for the same roles. A specialist recruitment consultant that is focused solely on your industry sector (and quite often concentrating on roles at your level of experience) will have the inside track on the most attractive opportunities currently available, some of which will never make it to stage of being advertised publicly.

A good specialist will also be able to examine your career to date to give you a steer on the best routes to achieving your longer-term ambitions as well as offer a wealth of advice on how to champion your skills and experience to make you stand out to a future employer.

Take a targeted approach

Try to avoid the temptation to apply for lots and lots of vacancies simply because they look vaguely like a role you could do or be interested in. To stand the best chance of success, each application should be tailored specifically to the requirements outlined in the job role and description; this takes time so you should be looking to focus your efforts on a handful to key opportunities at a time – aim for quality not quantity.

Don’t lose sight of the end goal

Finding a new job can be a very time-consuming process; you might hit lucky and secure the perfect opportunity from your first application but more often or not you may find yourself going through the application and interview process several times before you achieve success.

Experiencing rejection can be demoralising but ensure that you get feedback on why you didn’t make the interview shortlist or get the final nod so you can learn and focus on improving your next application. Also, don’t be swayed into accepting an opportunity that isn’t right for you – think back to why you wanted to change roles in the first place and ensure that any move that you make is a sound one.

Good luck!

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 to find out more.