Work not uni adds up to a great career for Calum

A teenager who joined an accountancy firm at 16 has become its first school leaver to qualify as a chartered accountant.

Calum Macdonald, from Houston, is now 23 years old and started Johnston Carmichael’s JC Futures programme after leaving Gryffe High School.

He attended an admission ceremony in Edinburgh at the weekend and officially became a chartered accountant.

JC Futures was introduced in 2012 to recruit potential accountants straight from school.

The pioneering programme, which allows trainees to gain a chartered qualification while in paid employment, provides an alternative to further studies at university or college.

Calum, who was among the first group of school leavers appointed by Johnston Carmichael, said:“I was all prepared to go to university, having secured unconditional offers to study accountancy.

“My uncle is a CA and he suggested looking at the Johnston Carmichael website, and that was when I came across the JC Futures programme.

“I was really intrigued by the scheme as it allowed me to gain hands-on experience in a real-life financial services setting and qualify quicker than going to university.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experience going through the programme. I received lots of support and encouragement, having been given study leave around exam time.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future holds now that I’m fully qualified.”

Developed to encourage talented school leavers to train in a professional setting, the JC Futures programme encourages a wide range of young, enthusiastic individuals to start their career.

Iain Abernethy, career development director at Johnston Carmichael, said:“We are thrilled to see Calum graduate as a CA through the JC Futures programme.”

To find out more about the JC Future programme, visit www. johnstoncarmichael.com