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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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Starting to search for a new role is one of the biggest decisions you will make. For some, it may be very clear that the time has come to move on but for many, there could be a number of different factors to take into account before polishing up your CV and searching for that dream next move.

It can often take time to reach the conclusion that a new role is what you need – some people take between 12 months and two years before taking the steps to make the change. Whilst it may be good to take time to think through your options and not take drastic measures to having had a bad day at the office, it is also beneficial to consider if there is something which is holding you back and making you stay in a job you no longer enjoy such as opportunity for progression.

Have you got your feet well and truly under the table?

Your current role may be well within your comfort zone, you know what you are doing and you are getting paid a good salary. But it may no longer offer you any sort of challenge and as a result your heart just isn’t quite in it anymore. You are comfortable – but whilst it may seem like the easy option just to carry on, long-term you could find that you become increasingly dissatisfied with your position, your confidence will decrease and that dream role you have always wanted gets further and further out of reach.

What if you make the wrong decision?

This can be particularly tricky, especially if you are not majorly unhappy in your current role but you know that to take the next step in your career a change will be necessary. It’s worth having a chat to a specialist recruiter who can work with you to understand what you want to achieve in the longer term and can help map out the steps that will help you to achieve your goals.

Do you think that you would be letting your boss or colleagues down?

Loyalty is an important quality and one which is highly valued by employers and employees alike. Your boss may have given you a great opportunity or supported you in the past however if when you look ahead you cannot see that there is anywhere else for your to go, it could be time for you to look elsewhere. It is always difficult to leave behind your team members – particularly if you have worked with them for a long time and consider many of them to be friends. You might also feel guilty that your departure could be unsettling or add to the workloads of others but remember, nobody is irreplaceable and by leaving you may open up new opportunities for others.

Could you be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire?

What if my next job is no better than the one I’ve got? It is always beneficial to look at what you don’t like about your current position and try to separate aspects of the role itself with what you feel about the company and the people you work with. You might find that you enjoy the work that you are doing but a different organisation would be a better fit for you culturally; alternatively there could be elements of your current job where you would like to develop more in-depth knowledge and you should look to seek out opportunities within specialist areas.

Do you have time to look for a new job?

Searching for a new role can be extremely time consuming and potentially difficult to find opportunities to attend interviews around your current employment. Research which recruitment experts specialise in your sectors – they will work hard on your behalf and prove to be a useful conduit between yourself and potential employers.

What if you are rejected?

Are you put off applying for a new position just in case you don’t get it? It’s only natural to not want to experience rejection but instead of letting that hold you back, make sure you do your research into what the role involves and prepare careful responses to demonstrate your knowledge and experience. Put yourself in a practice interview situation to hone your skills – particularly if it has been a while since you applied for a position – and bear in mind that interviews are a two-way process so it is as much about you finding out if the opportunity and the company is right for you.

It is worth arranging an informal appointment with an experienced recruitment consultant who will be able to discuss with you the range of opportunities available and offer you confidential career advice which can help you come to the right decision.

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.