I have been a fully qualified accountant since 2018, and so far it has been an incredible journey. Accountancy had always appealed to me, as it was a secure job with a clear career path, and I felt my skills naturally pointed towards a structured profession that let me work with people.
Critchleys was established in 1906 to help businesses, charities and individuals. Today, we have a team of more than 100 staff, based in the centre of Oxford.
In our 114-year history, Covid-19 has had the most significant, widespread impact across all the sectors we represent. We’ve been supporting our clients through all the changes the pandemic has brought, such as helping with the furlough scheme, applying for additional government grants and advising on future planning.
The image of accountants is changing; it’s an increasingly interactive role that involves working with people
Sustainability is now a big talking point with clients, too. It’s encouraged us to move towards being a paperless office and think about our overall impact. We work with several environmental charities, and it is great to see the increased engagement they have had recently.
With the growth and development of digital accounting, there is a real challenge to offer added value as an accountant. It has meant a big move towards advisory work, which is a real opportunity for us.
The image of accountants is changing; it’s an increasingly interactive role that involves working with people and problem-solving. The skills we need are much more around talking to clients, clear communication and building rapport. It’s an exciting time to get involved, and we need this to be seen by future talent.
Many people have influenced me, but my parents have always thought the best of me and have always believed in me – as most parents do. During the more challenging times in my studies, I took great inspiration from my father.
