You started with Hillier Hopkins as a Work Placement 1 year student whilst at university – how did that year’s work experience help you with your final year at university and decision to train to become an accountant?

It certainly helped my time management when I returned to university for my final year. I appreciated the working day and what you can get done within the 9-5.30 time frame. Previously at uni, I would get up at midday and not consider the other hours in the day, but in my final year I was up for 9am and got ahead of the game. The final year at university, you have to be a bit more independent, and it was clear to sense from other students who had done a year’s work placement as the mental outlook and professionalism was just different towards work and tutors. The practical side of the technical work and just observing others studying and working helped a lot in understanding the role and making my final year have more meaning.

Once you started the ACA programme, what were the highs and lows and how did you organise your work and study?

I put my whole life in a calendar! Work, study and social life was entered to keep me focused and on track. The highs are obviously passing exams but sharing that hype and feeling with others who are in the same boat makes the lows worth it! You felt a sense of achieving something personally but also together as a cohort.

Lows – sometimes family & friends don’t understand the commitment you have to apply to your studies and sometimes you just have to say no to certain social events because you are revising. Having other students at work in the same boat helps as they understand that you are trying to achieve work/life balance, but study impacts on both areas.

What was it like studying whilst working for Hillier Hopkins?

You will go to college for both Taught and Revision phases of a paper but there will be the in-between space where you are back at work and have to manage your work and revision yourself.

There is lots of support all round to be had and Managers take into account if you are on study phase, so they will put you on jobs close to home so you do not have long journeys. There is no pressure to do overtime either. The firm has been doing this for a long time so know how to create space for the student where possible. Studying with others was nice as you could arrange study groups for the weekend or after work and break it up with dinner or a film but still support and share the study process together. At university, I did everything on my own, so it was nice to share what could have been an overly stressful period.

Being part of a large student group, you will always have someone to get advice from and you feel part of a group, but also learn from the other students that have sat the exams just before you. You learn how to go about doing things and it’s OK to learn from your mistakes too.

Now you are qualified, how have your job and responsibilities developed?

Its more technical now and I am given bigger groups or more intricate parts of a job that need research or detailed specific guidance to follow. You are relied on to share your knowledge and expertise with others and I’ve noticed that you become a go to person to answer queries or share advice as you have gained more respect by qualifying.

What things other than your job role have you had the opportunity to get involved with in Hillier Hopkins?

I am part of the Sustainability group and have got involved with careers fairs and some of the student interviewing. I had an idea to set up a book club in the Watford office and was given the green light to set it up and market it. I get involved with volunteering days such as litter picks which the firm organise for those who want to join and I have recently joined the newly formed netball team.