Max – AAT Trainee

Swindon Office

About Max

Prior to starting my career at UHY Ross Brooke, I had just left college where I studied Level 3 Business. I continued working at a local printing business and felt I had no career prospects and decided to make the move into accountancy.

During my Business course at college we covered some of the accounting basics, which sparked an interest in me to how the financial side of business works. Plus, both my parents are chartered accountants and I wanted to follow in their footsteps.

Training to be an AAT Accounts Technician

My current role as an AAT trainee is preparing Management accounts, VAT, and some yearend accounts therefore I predominantly work in the Bookkeeping team in Swindon.

I’m currently studying AAT Level 3 and have so far been enjoying the course. My favorite thing is how AAT and working within an accountancy firm link together, allowing your work to also be your study.

Through college I’m provided with a skills coach who I’m able to contact with any of my queries about college, along with regular meetings to discuss my progress. In work I’m get support from my manager and other managers I complete work for, along with a monthly catch up with my manager to discuss quality of work and set targets for the next catch up.

I work closely with Emma McIntrye on bookkeeping and management accounts, she’s a great support and has helped me massively in building my confidence in my own work. Swindon is a relatively small team, so we all lean on each other for support. The two partners I know the best are Lisa and Emily, who both work in the Swindon office.

The most rewarding part of my job is after completing a difficult job and sending it over to the client, getting a positive and grateful response. This gives me a great feeling of accomplishment in my work.

Ensuring VAT work for clients meets deadlines when we receive the information late, however it’s an amazing feeling when it gets done on time.

Why train with UHY Ross Brooke?

After deciding to make the move into accountancy I applied to 2 local firms, one being UHY Ross Brooke. After having interviews at both, UHY Ross Brooke felt friendly and inviting, which led me to taking the job over the other firm which did not feel right for me.

UHY Ross Brooke has a friendly and close-knit working environment, everyone is treated with respect and allowed to share their ideas on how we can all grow as a team.

My day typically starts off with checking my emails and writing my to do list for the day, I then crack on with all the work on my to do list along with answering the phone.

If anyone asked me whether they they should join UHY Ross Brooke, I’d say go for it! Going down the apprenticeship route has been the best decision I could have made; it allows you to learn on the job, vastly improve your experience and professional confidence. 

Max’s aspiration for the future

Currently I’m focused on completing AAT and when will make the decision on whether to take my studies further with ACA.

Take a look at our current vacancies, or meet more of our trainee accountants.