Audit role sees ex-trainee assist current graduates
Awoman who started her career as a graduate trainee has been appointed audit director of one of Wales’ leading independent accountancy firms, Broomfield & Alexander.
Laura Farrow, 35, graduated from the University of Wales Aberystwyth with a first class honours degree before joining Broomfield & Alexander on its ACA training programme.
In the process of completing her professional examinations to become a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Welsh-speaking Ms Farrow was awarded the Howard Jones prize for her performance in the national examinations.
Shortly after qualifying as a chartered accountant, she became an assistant manager, working her way up to manager and then senior audit manager by 2012.
“I have seen Broomfield & Alexander grow from strength to strength over the past 15 years and develop its enviable reputation as Wales’ largest independent accountancy firm,” said Llanelli-born Ms Farrow.
“I look forward to this opportunity, in my capacity as audit director, to assist the senior team with further growth and development.”
Ms Farrow, now a fellow of the ICAEW, credits the training and support she has received at Broomfield & Alexander, both during her training period and post-qualification, as a key factor in enabling her to progress to her current position as audit director.
She assists the firm’s new graduates in the same way that she was supported when she joined the firm’s graduate trainee scheme, saying: “Seeing how the trainee scheme has developed has been amazing and I enjoy using my experience in audit and compliance to not only support our clients, but bring on the next generation of accounting professionals too.”
Since the start of 2016, seven new trainees have joined Broomfield & Alexander across its three of its four offices in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.
“As a director, I will work closely with our clients as they come to terms with the changing business landscape,” Ms Farrow added.
“Political and economic changes, from Brexit to the upcoming snap general election, may bring uncertainty for many firms and leave our team to field questions about how new trade deals will affect their financial decision making.
“Similarly, the digitalisation of tax – one of the biggest changes to tax operation in decades – will cause plenty of concern for many of our clients, who will turn to us for guidance.”
Ian Thomas, managing director of Broomfield & Alexander, said: “I wish Laura the best of luck in her new role and I know that her career will go from strength to strength.”