Gaining wide-ranging experience from the get-go

I started with Crowe four years ago, fresh off the back of an undergraduate degree at Queen’s University Belfast. I actually began my professional career with Crowe in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, and although not ideal circumstances to join a new team, those within Consulting ensured that I was warmly welcomed to the company and had me quickly embedded into the team.

Having decided to pursue the ACA qualification with Chartered Accountants Ireland, the opportunity to work in a financial advisory role within a Consulting team attracted me to the company. Personally, I liked the thought of exposure to a wider variety of work than that offered by the more typical accounting training routes in audit and tax. Crowe provided me with this platform, whilst still granting the necessary time to undertake my studies outside of work hours. Classes always took precedence over any work commitments in this respect!

Related to this, a big positive about working here is that Crowe are not rigid in their working hours, and as a keen sportsman, this flexibility allows me the freedom to attend football training and matches, along with any other personal events that can crop up during the year.

Throughout my trainee contract with Crowe, I have progressively assumed more responsibility in my role as a Consultant and through this, I have learned a great deal about a wide range of areas in the public and not-for-profit sector. This learning has been constant from the get-go, from those early days taking notes in client consultations during the pandemic through to the present day, where I am leading client projects as a Senior Consultant and presenting reports to organisations' boards and senior management. In Consulting, no two days are the same, and an ever-changing and expanding client portfolio has seen me undertake internal audits in the UK, complete a three-month secondment in an insurance broker, and travel to the UAE for a project.

As an ambitious recently qualified Chartered Accountant, I am looking forward to continuing to climb the career ladder. Crowe offer a structured career growth plan to facilitate this progression, and so I am excited to see what I can achieve in the next few years.