Meet some of our Apprentices

Leon Davies | Trainee Accountant | Exeter

Studying towards ACA with Exeter College

How did you come about your apprenticeship at Haines Watts?

Whilst I always enjoyed maths, specifically the logic element of it, I have never possessed a prodigious talent for the subject. The Exeter College website helped me find what apprenticeship best suited me and after working as an Accounts Assistant in the hotel industry, a recruiter passed on the opportunity at Haines Watts so I joined.

What do you like about the on-the-job learning with apprenticeships?

The best part is that you get to instantly apply and solidify your learning. This is incredibly rewarding as you can see your new-found knowledge having an impact. Off-the-job learning doesn’t just sit in a pretty frame on your desk, it is used and relied on daily.

What made you choose apprenticeships over uni?

I had a very poor experience at university and ended up feeling directionless. Choosing an apprenticeship in an industry with a clearly defined career path has given me a sense of clarity and a defined goal to work towards. This makes the apprenticeship model a very rewarding one.

Do you enjoy being part of a larger business and meeting people from other offices?

Yes, absolutely! It is always useful to know people from as many different backgrounds and journeys as possible. Being part of a larger group gives you an opportunity to learn from specialists of all kinds.

Why would you recommend it to others?

The AAT apprenticeship model is excellent for those with no previous accounting experience. The weekly day release model keeps you on top of your theory while the rest of the week gives you practical training.

Sarah Mountjoy | Accounts Assistant | Bristol

Studying towards ACA with First Intuition

Did you enjoy maths at school?

Maths was one of my favourite subjects at school. I also really enjoyed science, in particular physics.

How do you find the study – easy, boring, classroom based, on-line?

I like the study. I attend the classroom sessions, it is nice to meet other students. First Intuition also provide online access to recorded sessions, so I can repeat any if necessary.

What made you apply to be an accounts apprentice?

To be able to learn and qualify whilst working.

What area of your role do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy the bookkeeping and accounts preparation part of the job.

Would you recommend an apprenticeship to others?

Yes, it is a good alternative to university, that I wish I knew about 20 years ago!

Rary Ghirau | Audit & Accounts Trainnee | Swindon

Studying AAT level 3 with Swindon College

Why did you change courses when you changed employer?

My first apprenticeship was studying ACA at Level 7 with a previous employer. I realised it wasn’t for me and made the change to study Level 3 AAT when I joined Haines Watts. It has been a positive transition, and having the flexibility to change courses to a level that suited me better meant I kept going with my studies.

The Partners and team at Haines Watts are very supportive and the working environment is less stressful than at my previous employer. I actually look forward to coming into work now and enjoy the work life balance Haines Watts gives me. It’s also been great to see how many of the team have worked here for so long.

What 3 tips would you give somebody thinking about an apprenticeship?

Don’t be afraid to:

make your own decisions - university isn’t for everyone
change courses if things aren’t working out as expected
reach out for help and guidance if you need it – people are there to help

What was your interview experience like?

When I came for the interview, the associate director made me feel very comfortable and at ease. I left with no expectations as it was more laid back than my previous experiences, but was I offered the role.

What do you enjoy the most about your role?

I enjoy being onsite with clients and liaising with them face to face.
The satisfaction of seeing an audit signed off on Companies House knowing I’ve contributed to the work that’s gone into it.

Elisha Robinson | Trainee Accountant | Exeter

Studied AAT with Exeter College, now studying towards ACA

Why did you chose an apprenticeship with Haines Watts?

I really enjoyed studying business at school and liked the idea of gaining a qualification whilst working to save debt from student loans. Haines Watts provides a relaxed environment, with friendly people who genuinely care about my progress and encourage progression.

I thought there would be a lot of maths involved in accountancy but I thinks there’s more of a shift to understanding clients and how their business operates. It’s not just about providing them with a set of figures. Whilst we still need to understand the figures, the work is more about translating them for the client in the context of their business.

What made you choose apprenticeships over Uni?

Whilst studying for my A-Levels, I had wanted to study economics at Uni but after completing my work experience, I felt accountancy was better suited to me. I learn by doing tasks myself so I didn’t want to learn in the classroom for years and not be able to apply my knowledge. I felt I could challenge myself too by working in a professional environment.

How did you find out which apprenticeship best suited your interests?

I attended events with the big 4 to learn about routes into accountancy. I wanted to work in a large company but still get the personal support in my training and progression which is why I looked to Haines Watts.

What is your ultimate ambition?

I hope to make Partner one day and maybe have more of a focus on sustainability within my work.

Callum Hill | Trainee Accountant | Launceston

Studying AAT level 4 through Accountancy Learning Limited

What experience have you brought to & gained at Haines Watts?

I enjoyed maths at AS Level which led me to apply for the apprenticeship with Haines Watts. Learning whilst you earn has been a benefit to avoid uni debt and the opportunity to learn in practice and gain exposure to different types of clients and industries has been fun and good experience.

I have been able to implement my experience in data handling, reporting and smart objectives to my role which I have used throughout my apprenticeship. It has been very helpful in assisting clients with cloud accounting.

How do you find the study?

I prefer to attend my study days in person and sit where I can concentrate and interact with my peers and tutors. I find online learning quite distracting (unless I'm revising) especially with new topics. So for me, I like to have the choice of online and in-person study time.

What are the benefits?

I gain qualifications whilst earning a wage and the practical experience I get with clients enables me to put my learning into practice.

The Partners and team are very encouraging and supportive of me.

What 3 interview tips would you give a potential apprentice?

Be yourself
Smile, be comfortable and confident
If you're not comfortable in your interview, you probably won’t be comfortable in the job

Oliver Steele | Accounts, Audit and Business Services | Bristol

Studying towards ACA with First Intuition

From university to apprenticeship

I enjoyed maths as I was naturally quite good at it, but as soon as the algebra started I was less interested! I did my university dissertation comparing the big 4 to other large/medium sized firms so I had heard of Haines Watts - their national reach and diverse client range is what led me here.

I enjoy the progression, learning a little bit week by week. I learn better on my own so the FI online material is an excellent resource for me.

The work is a lot more diverse than I thought it would be, and it’s very client facing. It certainly doesn’t deserve the boring reputation it seems to have.

Why would you recommend it to others?

Yes, you get to meet different people on the same path as you so it’s useful to network and share ideas and experiences.

Do you enjoy being part of a larger business and meeting people from other offices?

Definitely. I’ve worked in small offices before, and I didn’t like it. This office is big enough that you benefit from meeting different people all the time.

What is your ultimate ambition?

I’d like to specialise in a niche area. I'm not sure what that is quite yet. Also, I’d like to help small businesses, as I feel you can have a greater impact and there’s more of a personal touch.

Maddie Moorman | Tax Assistant | Swindon

Studying ATT level 4 with BPP

What made you choose apprenticeships over further education or employment?

I didn’t want to spend 4 years at uni and end up in debt only to realise I had made a mistake in my choice of studies. I wasn’t sure of what to study so my mum suggested an apprenticeship where it was a shorter duration per level. The bonus of earning whilst learning and gaining experience and qualifications would only benefit me in the long run.

Did you know of or were you aware of Haines Watts before you applied for the apprenticeship role?

No, and I didn’t really know of any accountants as it wasn’t something my family or I had needed to utilise before. It was my apprenticeship coordinator from Swindon college that found the placement for my level 3 apprenticeship who already had contacts with Haines Watts.

What made you apply to be a tax apprentice?

My original apprenticeship was Business Admin and once I completed level 3, I transferred into the tax team where there was an opening. I didn’t really know tax is where I would end up, but I knew that I didn’t want to continue with Business Admin studies. I wanted to continue learning and gain further qualifications.

What tasks do you enjoy the most?

I really like the rush of January; I like to be busy and know what I’m doing next. Getting to the end of January and completing all the submissions etc, that is the part I like the most. Looking back and reflecting on how much we achieved and knowing everything has been done.

What 3 tips would you give about changing apprenticeship studies?

The basis will be the same, so it won’t be as scary as it feels
Be excited to continue learning and developing
Reach out to people and find out if it is something you will actually like

Aaron Roberts | Audit and Accounts Trainee | Bristol

Studying towards ACA with First Intuition

Why Haines Watts?

I was recommended the position by a friend who worked at Haines Watts, although I was aware of the firm through my own research into top accountancy firms. They also told me that there was plenty of opportunity to learn and rise up through the business, while also maintaining a good work-life balance.

Between starting with us and now, has your knowledge changed?

After uni, I spent a year at a previous employer and progressed through some of the exams. So, I did have a basic understanding of accountancy which has improved significantly at Haines Watts, as I have taken on more responsibility and am comfortable with less supervision than before.

What other subjects did you enjoy?

History and English. I was more of an English than a Maths person, but I’ve found that I use my English skills just as much as Maths, especially when communicating with clients and documenting my work.

What made you apply to be an accounts apprentice?

I’ve always held and interest in business and finance, but I also looked into Law and HR.

What 3 interview tips do you have?

Be honest about your knowledge, they aren’t expecting an expert in accounting from day 1.
Be friendly and seem interested/engaged, the interviewer wants to hire someone that they would want to work with.
Prepare thoroughly and research the firm.