“IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO…”

You may have some strange ideas about what accountancy means, and what training and working in a ‘medium-sized accountancy firm’ entails. In our experience, most people do. Some of the ideas are simply false; some contain an element of truth, but are distorted. Look beyond the myths and see the reality. This is Chantrey Vellacott as it is, and as it is becoming.

MYTH ONE – Accountancy is all auditing Trainees at large firms may spend weeks or even months at a time auditing vast multinationals. Recruits at Chantrey Vellacott will in their first year work for perhaps twenty different clients, in a variety of roles. Auditing – verifying essential financial records – is one of an accountant’s staple activities. But much of our work is proactive rather than reactive – that means providing financial advice in all facets of business. This area of our practice is becoming increasingly important. Audit fees now account for less than 50% of our income and that percentage is dropping all the time. From early on you will help to influence what is to be done, rather than merely record what has been done.

MYTH TWO – Accountancy is all numbers, and accountants are just calculators in suits In Chantrey Vellacott we see accountancy as being primarily about people. It is after all people who run businesses, and make financial decisions. If you get on with people, can communicate, can put yourself in their positions and understand their business, then you have the makings of a good accountant. A degree of numeracy is necessary, but there is more to accountancy than being good at sums.