Business skills that really count
ACCOUNTANCY is not always seen as the most exciting profession, but as computers increasingly take over routine work, accountants are turning into general business advisers.
Demand for accountancy skills is rising and employers want not just graduates but trainees and apprentices.
Ben Peirce, an accountant at Dennis & Turnbull Chartered Accountants in Swindon, Wiltshire, says: ‘Once I realised how much accountants do for businesses, I woke up to its potential.
‘Client liaison is the biggest part of the job, and I enjoy working with clients, getting involved with their businesses and helping them grow.
‘It’s very fast-paced, and you have to keep up with the latest business news, regulations and tax changes.’ To become an accountant you do not need a degree, which suited Ben.
‘I did A-levels and got my job as an accounts assistant after taking some modules of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) course,’ he says.
He now gets time off to study for Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications.
Carl Reader, director at Dennis & Turnbull, says: ‘I look for enthusiasm, attitude, personality and fitting into the team. We offer training in soft skills such as management and leadership.’
Pay for trainee accountants starts from between £16,000 to £27,000. A chief financial officer can earn £300,000. In public practice, typical rates for directors are £100,000.