Coming from a family of scientists I knew when I was young that I was likely to follow a similar path.  Throughout school science became a keen interest of mine resulting in me taking two science subjects to Advanced Higher level in high school.

When it came time to apply for university, it felt natural to choose a chemistry course due to my interest and experience in this area but also due to the strong foundational skillset it would provide me.  I found this to be true as through my university experience I developed numerical and data analysis skills as well as an ability to take a step back from a problem and set a course to overcome it. These are skills I have found to be essential in my working life so far.

When I entered my final year of university, I knew that despite my enjoyment of chemistry a further career in this field wasn’t right for me and so I started to explore other options.  My research led me to investigate a career in accounting and my research into the qualification and profession led me to develop a strong affinity with it as it became clear I had developed a similar skill set to that of an accountant during my university course.

I undertook a lot of research into the profession as there are various routes and options to enable me to identify the route that I thought was best for me.  This also allowed me to find out about the different areas of work that accountants do from audit to tax as well as the varying qualifications available, making choosing the right option for me easier.

The next stage was to find an employer who suited me so I went onto another phase of  research this time about the different types of employers.  I undertook work experience and attend as many interviews as were offered to help identify the employer that I had the greatest affinity with.

From my research and subsequent experience RSM Channel Islands have provided me with a supportive environment for my studies as well as pushing me to improve my technical and leadership skills and has provided me with more challenging tasks year on year.

My advice to anyone considering a career in accountancy is to do your research on both the types of qualification and the different employers, find the one that best matches your ethos as this will provide you with the best opportunity to thrive.

This article was first published in November 2024 in the JEP careers supplement 

RSM Channel Islands is an Approved Employer with both The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.  Candidates wishing to apply for training positions with us should submit a covering letter and full CV by email to [email protected].

Adam Dewar, went to Stirling High School before studying a Masters degree in Chemistry with Drug Discovery at the University of Strathclyde.  Following this, Adam moved to Jersey to begin his career in accounting with RSM Channel Islands.