National Apprenticeship Week: Q&A with Cian Mitchell

This week is National Apprenticeship Week – celebrating all of the achievements and positive impact of apprentices across the UK. We sat down with apprentices across the Northern Haines Watts network, to spotlight their career journeys so far.

The apprenticeship route is both popular and highly supported at Haines Watts, we know first hand how invaluable and rewarding it is for all the school-leavers who have joined, choosing both work and study over university.

We’re really proud of our apprentices and the stories they have to tell of their career with us so far. That’s why throughout National Apprenticeship Week, we hear from a different team member across the North each day, to discuss everything from why they chose their career pathway, to progression and their proudest achievements to date.

Today, we hear from Cian Mitchell who joined Haines Watts Kirkcaldy office last summer as a Tax Trainee, and has since been working hard to complete his ATT exams whilst working with a wide variety of businesses on a daily basis.

Could you tell us a bit about your current journey so far?

I decided to leave school and begin my career as an apprentice in accountancy instead of choosing the university pathway. Since joining Haines Watts, I have started studying towards my AAT and I’m enjoying the daily challenges and overcoming them day by day.

Within my role I engage with smaller sole trade and partnership businesses and support the process for completing their tax returns.

So far I have enjoyed engaging in team building activities organised by Haines Watts where the wider team have come together, this has included croquet, football and lunch dates.

Why was an apprenticeship the right route for you?

I chose the apprenticeship route as a way of gaining the skills and qualifications required to be an accountant instead of following the university route. It gave me an opportunity to learn first-hand on the job and be paid a salary instead of gaining student loan debts.

I will still have the same qualifications and be qualified at a younger age than if I had chosen the university path.

Could you give us some highs of your apprenticeship?

Some of the highs from my job have been working together as a team and getting on well with my colleagues. I have also enjoyed engaging in the competitiveness of the team building activities in a fun manner.

I wouldn’t say that I’ve experienced any lows so far; however, there are situations where I’m out of my comfort zone, but I’m able to ask for help from my team which is always supported.

What drew you to Haines Watts and why is it the right fit for you?

When I was looking at accounting firms in my local area Haines Watts stood out, as they are a well-established top 15 firm that offer career growth.

I was especially attracted to the company’s values where they empathise and focus on the success of their client’s businesses, not just focus on the numbers, I recognised that this is the type of company I wanted to be a part of.

Do you feel like you have any particular career role models and if so, why?

Yes, my family encouraged me to find a career path which I’m passionate about and I recognised that I had an interest in the financial aspect of businesses.

I don’t have a particular role model; however I do aspire to be the best version of myself and reach my full potential.

What kind of skills have you learnt during your apprenticeship?

I have developed my communication skills both verbally and non-verbally by listening and reading body language to understand others. I have become more self-aware and conscious of my surrounding environment by working with clients and showing respect.

Although I had some IT skills when starting with the company these have developed with learning how to use databases I hadn’t worked with previously.

What is your favourite part of your role?

The best part of my role is overcoming new challenges in the workplace, such as completing tax returns that I had some problems with and meeting business’s needs. I also enjoy working with my team knowing that I have their full support.

What kind of businesses do you work with?

I work with a variety of smaller sole trades and partnerships that range from barbers, tradesmen, cafes to architects and taxis.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would say to my younger self to be more confident and work as hard as you possibly can, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.

And what about someone who was considering an apprenticeship as a career path?

I would say to someone who is considering becoming an apprentice accountant that this is a fantastic opportunity to work within an environment where you are supported to achieve your qualifications and have fun while learning on the job.