Apprenticeships. They’re for builders, aren’t they? It’s the way you become a brickie or a spark? Yes, that’s true but bright sparks can also turn to apprenticeships as a way of becoming highly-paid professionals in accountancy.
KPMG was among the first accountancy firms to formalise the process and their School and College Leaver Programme is one of the best ways for would-be accountants to get paid while they train.
Yes! Instead of juggling three jobs in fast-food outlets to pay your way through university, apprentice accountants get a salary while they study.
Do it this way and in five years you could be fully-qualified, with a degree, a job and all that workplace experience.
That’s not all: your extensive network of colleagues and contacts will give you a head-start over anyone who has taken the university route into the profession.
Once qualified the world is your oyster.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Accountants has members at the highest level in companies around the world – many of whom started off as apprentices – and all the top jobs on s1jobs are open to you.
Mel Grant is an accountant specialising in handling entertainment clients, including rock stars and actors. He started off as the office junior in a small accountancy firm in Glasgow, attending lectures at university between dealing with clients.
“It was a great way to start in the business,” he says.
“I don’t think I missed out on going to university full time because I hung out with all my mates at the Union anyway and at the end of the week I had money to go out while they were skint.”
He’s since built a thriving independent business with clients that include some of the biggest names in music,TV and film.
So what do you need to get into the profession this way?
Well you’ll need to have chalked up at least two As and three Bs in your Highers and AB at Advanced Higher to show you have the right stuff for the job.
You’ll also need to be highly self-motivated and have both the ability to organise your own workload and to be a team player.
Showing you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and put in some hard work is essential, but with the sorts of rewards on offer for the top accountancy slots on s1jobs, it’s well worth it.