Education: University of Glasgow - Accountancy - Graduated 2020 with First Class Honours
Role: Audit Assistant Manager at KPMG
Top Tip: “Seize any opportunity in front of you with both hands – you don’t know where it might lead."
I first heard about the ICAS Foundation at school from one of my teachers. As I planned to study accountancy, they encouraged me to look into the support that the Foundation provides and complete the application form. I was invited to an interview and was delighted to receive a place on the programme.
University was a natural progression for me – because I had achieved good grades in school, I saw university as the next step on my career path. The Foundation’s financial support helped me balance my part time job with my university work, to make sure I was able to give my studies as much focus as possible. Although I started studying a joint degree, I decided later to focus on Accountancy to make sure I attained the degree classification I wanted. The day I found out I had achieved a First Class Honours was amazing!
Looking back, I benefited most from the mentoring support and the networks I developed through the ICAS Foundation. I made so many helpful connections through attending ICAS events, especially as a guest of the Foundation. When writing my dissertation, I had a wide network of people in the sector I could contact and interview, and it was thanks to a connection I made at an ICAS event that I successfully applied for a summer internship at Consilium Chartered Accountants.
I also had the opportunity to undertake an internship at the ICAS office with the Finance team. While working there, the HR team took time to work with me on my CV and with a mock interview, which was really valuable going into graduate job applications. I’m so grateful that my mentor, the ICAS Foundation team and my other contacts have all taken time to help me, answer my questions and provide me with any support I might need.
I began my graduate role with KPMG in 2020 during the global pandemic. Since then, I have completed my CA training and taken on the role of Audit Assistant Manager.
I am very grateful for the support I received from the ICAS Foundation during my time at university, and I now have the opportunity to give back as an ICAS Foundation mentor myself.
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