WHEN asked what one piece of advice Helena Henry, ACA trainee chartered accountant at RSM Channel Islands, would give to anyone considering training as a chartered accountant, the theme of her reply is ‘enjoy the opportunity’.
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Her fellow ACA trainee, Isabelle Cordwell, agrees. Both women have recently sat their final exams, after joining the firm a little over two and a half years ago.
Helena qualifies her statement by saying that this does not mean that you need to be certain before you begin that your long-term career will be in audit or any particular service line. But, she says, making the most of an opportunity which can be diverse, and take you in unexpected directions, is important.
Isabelle agrees and recommends undertaking research into the qualification and potential employers to assess how the experience will develop, before deciding to pursue an ACA training opportunity.
The variety of work is identified by both as what they enjoy most about their roles. Isabelle comments that: ‘One week, I can be at a local trading client’s office and the next I could be working on a London-Stock-Exchange-listed entity.’
Both Helena and Isabelle agree that what is key is developing the core skills that apply to both experiences.
The people you work with are also important and Helena says: ‘For most people, working means seeing the same faces day in, day out so it helps if you get along. What’s great is when those people can be your friends, mentors and role models, which is exactly how I’ve found working at RSM Channel Islands.’
The variety means there tends to be no such thing as a typical day, but the women enjoy this as they are always learning and being provided with new challenges. They agree that this contributes towards preparing them for their exams, which are an integral part of gaining a professional accountancy qualification.
While the exams can be daunting, Isabelle comments that balancing time between working, studying, socialising and keeping fit and healthy is crucial.
Helena agrees, adding: ‘The culture of the firm and the nature of living in an island like Jersey means I have been able to strike a good balance between my work and studies as well as enjoying my free time and hobbies.’
Enjoying and making the most of the opportunity is something they both agree is key. Their advice to anyone finishing education and embarking on full-time employment as well as those considering a career change, is to explore the opportunities.
• RSM Channel Islands is an approved employer with both The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Candidates wishing to apply for training positions with us should submit a covering letter and full CV by email to recruitment@rsmci.com.
• RSM Channel Islands is an independent member firm of RSM, the world’s sixth-largest provider of audit, tax and consultancy services, encompassing 123 countries, 860 offices and more than 51,000 people.
