Meet Foundation Student Sophie

At school, I was fortunate that Accountancy was offered as a subject and my business teacher encouraged me to try it – I found that I enjoyed the class and, although I hadn’t really considered going to university, the opportunity to study accountancy further was the push I needed to apply. I really liked the atmosphere at the Glasgow Caledonian University open day, and the lecturers were approachable and friendly. Being surrounded by other people who wanted to study accountancy was especially helpful in keeping me focused.

There were challenges though - my first year was mostly online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant there was less interaction with my peers and I didn’t know anyone working in the sector.

I found out about the ICAS Foundation through one of my second-year lecturers and successfully applied to join the programme at the start of my third year. Being part of the Foundation made a huge difference – it helped me develop professionally, opened my eyes to the accounting profession, and gave me a realistic understanding that taking the next steps into ICAS chartered accountancy training would not always be easy. The bursary also helped with textbooks, travel, and other costs, allowing me to focus on my studies.

The mentorship programme was my main reason for applying. Having one-to-one support was key when it came to applying for internships. My mentor helped me tailor my CV for accountancy roles, offered guidance on applications, and explained what to expect in the CA training process.

With the Foundation’s encouragement, I secured a summer internship at Wbg, which gave me exposure to multiple departments and helped me discover that Audit was the area I wanted to work in. This internship prepared me for my graduate CA training role at Wbg, which I began after finishing university.

Having already worked at Wbg meant my first day in my graduate role felt familiar, and I was able to focus fully on developing professionally while studying for my CA qualification. My role involves spending a lot of time onsite with clients, which I enjoy, and I have a brilliant support system at the firm.

To anyone thinking of applying to the ICAS Foundation, I would say - just do it. It's a fantastic opportunity, and you don't know what you're missing until you're part of the programme. I discovered that where you come from doesn't define where you can go in your career, and the ICAS Foundation can help you get there. It opens a door to the profession that other people don't have, and it made such a huge difference to my final years at university. I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of the ICAS Foundation.