After completing my A levels, I took a year out before university with the aim of “seeing what opportunities came along”. Almost immediately I found myself with an accountancy apprenticeship at TW. The attraction for me was that it was a local firm that had scope for career progression. Obviously after this happened, I didn’t make it to university! I then completed my AAT within 2 years and went on to study ACCA for a further 3 years before I qualified. Since that I have also competed dual qualification with ICAEW.

The reason TW was a good fit for me is it is a very forward thinking and progressive firm. For me, career progression was always very important. TW recognised this and gave me every opportunity to push myself and to progress. I guess the evidence of this is that I started my initial Accountancy apprenticeship at 18 and worked my way up until I was made a Director before the age of 30 and I now have the role of CEO.

I truly believe that with the right attitude, hard work and determination TW will give you every chance to achieve (whatever your definition of achievement is).

At TW we recognise that we are nothing without an excellent team. Which is why we are so committed to them and their development. And I guess I should know…

Please give me a timeframe of your career so far

I started my career in accountancy in 2010, after finishing my A-Levels at Hereford Sixth Form College. I started at TW as an Accounts Trainee and worked my way up to manager completing my AAT and ACCA qualifications, becoming a qualified accountant in 2015. Then, in 2019 I decided to specialise in tax and started my CIOT qualification, qualifying as Chartered Tax Advisor in January 2021.

What made you decide to get into the accountancy industry and why did you choose TW to join?

I always had an interest in numbers and problem-solving, and during my A-Levels I decided I was interested in being able to get a career where I could study and progress while working. I found the apprenticeship route through HWGTA for accountancy and realised it met all the criteria I was looking for. I looked at local firms in Herefordshire and Thorne Widgery was a well-established firm that supported apprenticeships and trainees to progress, so I was keen to be a part of the team.

What have been your crowning achievements in your career so far? And in particular the last 12 months?

I’m proud of qualifying as a CTA, as the exams are very difficult, and my exams were delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. I’m also proud to have worked my way up from a trainee to a Director of TW, which I achieved in 2023.

In your opinion what makes TW the best accountancy firm for your career journey.

I’ve always wanted to work in a job which can help people, and TW does that. People’s finances can cause a lot of stress on individuals and business owners, and TW’s priority is to help its clients and make finances and taxes easier for them. I also like to work in environments which are constantly improving, and TW has always been forward thinking firm and making sure they’re staying ahead of the curve.

After leaving school in 2011 at the age of 16 I started a summer job at Thorne Widgery and it soon became clear that becoming an accountant was something I was interested in.

Thorne Widgery then offered me the opportunity to stay on and undergo an apprenticeship with HGTA studying AAT. I attended Hereford College of Technology 1 day per week. What I enjoyed most was learning on the job, which is what attracted me to an apprenticeship.

In 2014 I completed my AAT qualification by which time I had progressed from accounts trainee to accounts technician.

In 2016 I decided to go on to study ACCA, studying at the University of South Wales and I completed this qualification during 2019. During this time, I have been promoted to a Manager, which allows me to assist one of the partners in managing their portfolio of clients as well as managing a team of accounts trainees.

What I enjoy most about Thorne Widgery is the diverse type of work I get involved in and being one of the largest accountancy practices in the area I feel it offers me a lot of opportunities.

I was attracted to a role at TW as it offered a greater flexibility and attitude to technology than any other local firm. I initially joined as an accounts senior and worked within this role for 3 years whilst studying towards my professional qualification. Whilst working towards the qualification I was mostly involved in the processing and reviewing of accounts and supervising junior members of staff in completing their work. Around 1 year into my TW career I moved into the Xero team and concentrated on answering any queries clients had.

In June 2016 I qualified as an accountant and then took up a role working within the technology arm of the business and helping clients to embrace various systems, mostly Xero, to help them streamline their workflows. I am now heading up a team of 4 in the Innovations department developing, and training in, X for Education; our own bespoke financial software developed for the Academy Schools and Education sector. I enjoy the fact that no one day is the same and my work can be helping clients in many different sectors and on different systems, together with managing and nurturing my team.”