After graduating with a degree in economics, I joined the City of London Corporation Chambers Office, eventually progressing to auditor. The switch to internal audit was when I was inspired to upskill, and ACCA’s global presence and straightforward learning process appealed to me. This decision to study with ACCA proved pivotal when I moved to Switzerland and secured a role as an indirect tax assistant manager at Glencore, a mining company.
I’ve mainly worked in the UK and Switzerland, but my current job has a very international flavour. It includes dealing with VAT tax laws across various countries, including Australia, Bulgaria, Italy and Norway.
Good communication skills are important for maintaining a positive atmosphere
Accountancy is a traditional profession, but the integration of artificial intelligence is a game-changer. Embracing technology and adapting to AI solutions for tasks such as fraud detection and data analysis is crucial.
Another vital skill for professional accountants is stress resilience. Quite often we have very stressful days – or even weeks, in closing periods. We need to balance that hard work with exercise, getting outdoors or talking to friends and family. And good communication skills, especially in small teams, are important for maintaining a positive atmosphere. Embracing differences in team members, understanding different personality types or ways of working and encouraging open communication are essential.
Pivot when necessary, and stay open to continuous learning
During the pandemic, attending events such as Link Up became my virtual friendship circle, really helping me when I felt isolated. I spent a lot of time making new connections among the other attendees.
The opportunities for finance professionals are vast, especially with the increasing demand for accountants globally. My advice to aspiring accountants would be to embrace the diversity in the field, explore different areas within accounting (such as compliance, fraud detection and audit), pivot when necessary, and stay open to continuous learning. ACCA gives me the confidence to navigate the changing business landscape.
I aspire to become fluent in German. This is not only to be able to complete the final module of, and specialise in, Swiss VAT, but also to help enhance my day-to-day interactions.
