Newbury Office
About Justin
What did you study prior to starting your role? Was this at sixth form or university?
I studied Exercise and Sports Science at university, followed by 6 years working in the healthcare industry before starting this role.
Why have you chosen a career in accountancy?
I wanted a change in career into something that I was interested in, was challenging and offered a long term career with career progression.
About Justin’s job / training
What is your role and which team do you predominantly work in?
I predominantly work in the accounts department preparing accounts but also spend time on a variety of other tasks such as VAT returns, audit and job retention scheme furlough submissions.
Is there a typical day at UHY Ross Brooke? What does it look like for you?
My days are generally quite varied as I am involved in a variety of tasks, and daily work priorities may also vary based on any upcoming deadlines. However, a typical day may involve spending the most part of the day working on a set of accounts and then completing any other tasks as an when they arise, based on their priority.
What type of training are you undertaking and how long will it last?
Along with a company induction and training on each task that I am involved in, I am studying towards my ACA (ICAEW) qualification which will take around 3-4 years to complete.
What mentor support is provided to ensure you have an opportunity to succeed in your exams and your role?
My manager/mentor is on hand whenever I have any queries and I also have a meeting with them every 6 months to specifically discuss my training progress. They have completed the training in the past and so know about what is required, making these sessions very useful and supportive of my development. There are also other colleagues who are studying for the same qualification who offer constant advice and support.
Tell us about your team, your close colleagues.
The team are all very kind, friendly and supportive in meeting individual and collective goals. Everyone is willing to help each other out if needed and there is a great sense that we are a team, rather than a group of individuals. I started during the pandemic at a difficult time but everyone has been very friendly and supportive, which has made it much easier to hit the ground running.
Have you been given an opportunity to get to know any of the Partners?
Yes- all of the partners are very friendly and approachable.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Knowing that we are helping clients with important and often compulsory tasks that enables them to focus on the running of their own business and the challenges they face, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Trying to learn and develop as quickly as possible so I can support others as much as they support me.
About the company
What attracted you to UHY Ross Brooke in the first place and what makes the firm stand out for you as an exceptional / good employer?
UHY Ross Brooke is a company that has lots of local clients and so helps the local community, provides a supportive environment for my studying and learning, and being able to gain experience in a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. These factors made UHY Ross Brooke stand out for me as the place I wanted to work.
Tell us about the working environment at UHY Ross Brooke?
Everyone is very friendly, supportive and approachable which makes coming to work each day productive and enjoyable. Everyone is also very patient and understanding when you are new to the business. I know that if I need any help there are many willing and knowledgeable people I can ask.
Why would you recommend joining the UHY Ross Brooke team as a trainee accountant?
I have benefited already through doing my studying whilst working for UHY Ross Brooke as there are lots of people I can go to for advice and support, but also that you are able to gain exposure to a number of things to reinforce the learning and put it into practice quicker. I personally feel like this is such a valuable part of understanding the training content and UHY Ross Brooke are very encouraging and supportive of getting involved in tasks to aid development.
And finally
What are your ambitions here at UHY Ross Brooke? Where and what do you aspire to be in the future?
My initial focus is on completing my ACA qualification and gaining as much experience as I can along the way. From that point I will then be able to tailor my aspirations to areas I particularly enjoy. I know that UHY Ross Brooke will support me in whatever I want to pursue and being a member of the UHY Hacker Young group will aid the number of opportunities that are available in the future.
Next steps
Take a look at our current vacancies, or meet more of our trainee accountants.
Why UHY Ross Brooke?
UHY Ross Brooke is a Top 20 firm of Chartered Accountants based in Newbury, Abingdon, Hungerford and Swindon. We are ambitious people, united in our mission to be exceptional accountants and business advisers delivering seamlessly integrated client service.
Through our UHY network we harness global intelligence and combine this with local presence and knowledge to share technical and commercial insight.
Benefits
- Competitive benefits package & private health care
- Friendly and supportive environment
- UHY network partner
- Hybrid working (where possible)
