As part of our latest ‘Meet the Team’ feature, we sat down with Angharad Rogers, an Executive at Bevan Buckland LLP, to explore her career journey, find out about her current role, and discuss her plans.
Q: How did you first get into Accountancy?
I couldn’t decide what subject to choose as my fourth AS Level. I enjoyed problem-solving and working with numbers, so I pursued Accountancy. I assumed it would be the subject I would drop after the first year, but I completed the full A-Level and kept going from there.
Q: How long have you been at Bevan Buckland, and what’s your current role?
Twelve years in total, and my current role is Executive.
Q: What does a typical day look like in your role?
Every day is different. It can vary between preparing/reviewing financial statements, reviewing VAT returns, training colleagues, discussing clients, resolving problems, and researching.
Q: Have you had any other job roles along the way?
Yes, I have had other accountancy jobs. I started with an accountancy apprenticeship in a small accountancy practice when I finished my A Levels, then moved to a slightly bigger firm before joining Bevan Buckland. I decided to leave Bevan Buckland after six years but, within eighteen months, returned to the firm.
Q: What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work?
Helping people. The nature of the problems/concerns that our clients face can be quite significant. There is no better feeling than seeing or hearing their relief when you tell them you have fixed their problem.
Q: What is your vision for the practice’s future?
I expect that the practice will continue to grow. We are constantly upskilling and becoming experts in more areas, plus our training academy is outstanding. It is shaping the future of Bevan Buckland, and I think it looks promising.
Q: What keeps you at Bevan Buckland?
The people. It is a highly pressured, deadline-driven environment, yet the office has a very relaxed atmosphere. Everyone is friendly, and Bevan Buckland is very flexible with hours, which enables work-life balance.
Q: What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring accountant/someone just starting their career?
It can be daunting to start with as there is so much to learn and many examinations involved. Don’t let this put you off. Ask your colleagues as many questions as you need to, and don’t compare yourself to others, as we all have different strengths/weaknesses. Take it one step at a time, and you will get there.
Q: Are there any expectations you had about this career path that you have found differed from reality, in either a good or bad way?
Yes. It is probably a lot more stressful than I’d anticipated, but also more rewarding.
Q: What skills are the most crucial to succeeding in this career? What type of person do you need to be?
It would help if you were a logical/methodical thinker with effective communication skills. You also need to be good with numbers and be able to cope with pressure.
Q: How do you continue learning and growing as a professional?
Every day is a school day in this job, purely down to the varying needs of clients and the different types of businesses we deal with. However, I also attend courses throughout the year to keep up to date with changes in legislation and read technical articles.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
I used to worry about speaking to clients in case I didn’t come across the way I should or didn’t know the answer to their query. Someone told me not to worry about that, just be myself, and if I don’t know the answer, say that I don’t know, but I will find out. This has definitely worked for me, and I have built some great relationships with clients over the years.
Q: If you were to redo your journey, would you change anything?
Probably not. Mistakes make you who you are today, so without them, I wouldn’t be where I am, working in a role at a firm that I am incredibly proud of.
Q: How do you think the accounting industry will change in the next 5 to 10 years?
It isn’t easy to say. Things constantly change technology-wise. I would imagine we will place more and more reliance on IT. Also, January is always particularly busy with the self-assessment deadline, but HMRC will require quarterly tax returns instead of annually in a few years. This will inevitably add pressure throughout the year but hopefully reduce the stress of January.