Why I Became an Accountant
My name is Sam Matthews and I’m an Accounts manager at Brooking Ruse. My role consists of running my own client portfolio which includes a wide range of businesses, as well as assisting the directors with their more complex clients. I also line manage our accounting apprentices.
I decided to become an accountant during my second year at university. I had visited Brooking Ruse on work experience whilst at school, which evolved into some paid seasonal work during the summer holidays – so it was a no-brainer when I was offered a graduate trainee role.
Accountancy involves a lot of maths, and this wasn’t something that I was initially interested in, or considered pursuing until I sat my GCSESs when I surprised myself with good grades! My interest in maths certainly developed over time after that.
Being an accountant is challenging but rewarding.
Becoming an accountant gives you access to a wide range of industry sectors and job roles. I knew that if I didn’t enjoy working in general practice then I could look to move into industry as a management accountant. I could also have chosen to specialise within a particular area such as audit, tax, or insolvency, etc.
Once you’ve done your bit it’s then time to communicate with the client. This can be a great opportunity to build professional relationships and meet people you’d have otherwise never met.
There are lots of great things about the job – I really enjoy meeting with clients to understand their goals and working with them to ensure they’re achieved. I’ve taken on a couple of clients recently who found themselves in a spot of bother – seeing the relief on their faces when the matters were resolved was a great feeling.
If you’re thinking of becoming an accountant, my advice is to go for it!
Accountancy qualifications are a passport to anywhere – every business needs someone financially-minded so there are infinite possibilities.
I also think there’s a myth that you need A Level or degree standard maths skills; you really don’t. What’s more important is being able to approach problems with logical and structured thinking…. our calculators do the sums for us!
Brooking Ruse is an established firm of chartered accountants supporting clients based mainly in the South West.
We have offices in Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and Winscombe and have the resources to enable us to service clients of varying sizes and complexities whether they are sole traders, partnerships or limited companies.
If you would like to contact me, my email address is sammatthews@brookingruse.co.uk.
If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education to students and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.
