What attracted you to join William Buck?
At the early stages of your accounting career, you either know that you want to work for one of the big four, or you want to find a firm that resonates with you and your beliefs, which was my situation. I was familiar with William Buck because throughout university I used their app that simplifies accounting calculations. As a tech enthusiast, I appreciated that the firm was modern and aligned with current trends. During the interview process, I was able to discuss relevant projects like dashboarding and Power BI, which impressed the interviewers.
What have you gotten out of your role with William Buck since joining?
I’ve been able to drive change and see it in action at William Buck. Throughout my journey, I have been able to see how my ideas and intellectual property are being used, which is something I would not have believed possible when I started five years ago. I thought that I would have to be further along in my career to implement ideas and projects and have that kind of positive impact on the firm.
What are some of the highlights you’ve experienced at William Buck?
Being given the opportunity to create and set up intellectual property and see change happen have been amongst my top highlights at William Buck. This firm has given me the opportunity to drive change, not only within the firm but also with clients. I’m able to recommend strategies to clients and more often than not, they take it onboard to improve their own operations.
How has your career progressed at William Buck?
I progressed from a graduate to intermediate accountant, then to senior accountant, where I then pivoted to optimisation analyst, with the goal of becoming a Virtual CFO in the near future.
Progression for graduates typically follows a structured path: you complete your work, achieve chartered accountancy and gradually take on more complex tasks. As you gain confidence and understanding, new opportunities arise. I chose to specialise in technology, which gave me a chance to work on implementing our Active Work Paper Suite. With support from our partner group, I developed my role as an optimisation analyst, which was tailored to my strengths. This proved to me that I had chosen a firm that is actually willing to work with its staff to help them develop and expand.
Where do you see your career going in the next five years?
I see the accounting industry shifting away from compliance and towards an advisory approach. This transition presents opportunities for both me and the firm to add value, especially as businesses begin to leverage AI and innovative technologies. While some clients understand these advancements, others still view basic technology like automated emails as groundbreaking. This gap creates ample opportunity for us to drive real change and help clients adopt new technologies.
What’s the best thing about working at William Buck?
Working at William Buck allows me to impact decisions and the firm’s direction. My past experience enables me to participate in meetings and discussions where I can add value, and my input can directly influence outcomes.
