With the support of my colleagues and the leadership around me I can confidently say that my personal confidence and technical skills in my audit role has improved exponentially.
Emily Hodkin, Audit Executive
Why did you choose a career in accountancy?
Like most young people, throughout my time in education, I was asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?". I considered being a teacher and even played pretend with my best friend. As I grew older, I thought I wanted to study medicine, and spent some time working in a research lab in Birmingham.
I continued my education at sixth form and chose to study maths, biology, and chemistry as these subjects I enjoyed the most, as well as economics. With the help of an engaging teacher, this sparked my interest in finance and enabled me to develop my analytical and problem-solving skills.
I applied for a Maths degree with a year in a finance placement. Despite accepting a place at Cardiff University, I decided that University wasn't the right path for me.
I was back to the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?".
I began researching different apprenticeships that would suit my skill set and a local firm offered me an AAT-ACA Fast Track Apprenticeship, where I could work alongside studying.
After a few months into my apprenticeship, a female colleague who has become one of my closest friends, said, 'You've really picked up the foundation knowledge of accountancy so quickly!'. This positive affirmation was a notable turning point in my journey and made me think, 'Yes, this is what I want my career to be'.
What made you interested in Bishop Fleming, and what do you enjoy most about your role?
At the firm, I worked across all departments: accounts and audit, tax, and payroll, which enabled me to gain experience across various areas and determine where my skills and interests were best suited to accountancy. I spent three years completing my AAT Level 3 and 4, becoming ACA Part-Qualified.
As audit became the area of my job role I enjoyed the most; I wanted to gain more experience and greater exposure to a broader client base and decided before I completed my ACA Qualification to move to an audit-specific role.
I already knew an Audit Executive working at Bishop Fleming when a Senior Audit Manager reached out to me via LinkedIn, providing details of a role available within the Audit Team at Bishop Fleming.
Bishop Fleming ranks within the Top 35 Firms, continually evolving and expanding their portfolio. This would enable me to constantly develop my knowledge and skills within my apprenticeship while maintaining a work-life balance. Bishop Fleming was just what I was looking for!
I joined the Bishop Fleming Audit Team in November 2022 and was thrown into the middle of the busiest time of the year - Academy Season! After a warm welcome and guidance from my buddy, I settled into the team seamlessly.
How did you manage studying and working?
Balancing studying, work and trying to maintain your personal life outside of an apprenticeship can be challenging but with effective time management and the proper support in place, it's manageable.
Many people don't realise that the Bishop Fleming ACA Level 7 Apprenticeship is the equivalent of a Master's Degree – so it's no mean feat, and you cannot underestimate the work, effort and time that is required.
As I was on the AAT-ACA Fast Track Route, this meant I was exempt from 5 certificate exams; however, I still sat nine exams within 12 months.
To maintain motivation during the busy periods, I had to ensure I had a proper work/life balance and prioritised my mental well-being. For me, this involved regularly playing netball and having an activity outside of study and work that allowed me to switch off.
However, the biggest thing for me was learning to say no, both in my personal and work life. While being involved, showing initiative, and taking on responsibilities is essential, it's also important to know your limits.
Within your apprenticeship, it's also crucial to develop soft skills such as time management and organisation.
What do you see the next steps in your career being?
Now that I have completed my final ACA exam in July 2023 and my apprenticeship shortly after, I can refer to myself as an Audit Executive!
Looking back on the last 18 months, I can confidently say that my audit technical skills and personal confidence in my role has improved exponentially, alongside my soft skills - with the support of my colleagues and the leadership around me.
As part of Bishop Fleming's growth plan, the firm was appointed by PSAA for audits from 2023/24 to 2027/28. I was fortunate enough to be asked to work as an Audit Executive on several of these audits, which presents an exciting new challenge for me to develop my knowledge further.
I have also recently been given additional responsibility for a small portfolio of Charity clients, which I'm excited to project manage.
I'm looking forward to working towards the next step in my career and progressing to Audit Manager.
Interested in a career in accountancy? Take a look at our apprenticeship opportunities here!