Richard, Senior Manager Audit & Accounts
“I joined the audit and accounts team as a manager in 2015. I started my career working for independent firms before progressing to a role with international accountants, but found that I really missed the job satisfaction of working in a small team. I wanted to be considered more than a unit of time, and felt that working at Hall Morrice would be varied, interesting and, ultimately, rewarding.
“I now provide a full range of audit and accounting services to a range of clients from locally-based owner-managed business to multi-national operations across a range of sectors from oil and gas to retail.
“Working with Hall Morrice has not only allowed me to progress and develop, as I’m now responsible for a team of junior staff ranging from university students, graduates to qualified CAs. I work alongside them, helping them realise their full potential and giving them as much support as possible in developing their career.
“The idea of teamwork is ingrained into the psyche of Hall Morrice and I know that if I want to give the best possible service to my clients, then I know that my team needs to stay motivated and get the support they need to reach their own career aspirations.”
“If you would like to progress into a more senior position, ask a colleague who is in the role that you are aiming for to mentor you. Have regular, informal meetings with them to get their advice and keep a portfolio of work to show them so they can see if you are on the right track.”
Louise, Senior Manager Audit & Accounts
“I joined Hall Morrice as a trainee and in under 10 years progressed through the ranks to my current role which is focused on a wide range of different client sectors. I have no doubt that part of my success is being part of a mid-tier firm where graduates are exposed to work at the coalface of a general practice accountancy firm from their very first day in the job.
“I joined Hall Morrice mid-way through my accountancy qualification and I haven’t looked back – my skills and abilities developed immensely because of the support and structure that all the graduates in the firm receive.
“Right from the start I was able to play an active role in client work: I was closely monitored by my managers and given meaningful tasks to complete.
“Hall Morrice is big enough to have real experts on the team, but small enough to have a family feel. From talking to friends who graduated at the same time as me, it is clear that Hall Morrice has a much wider knowledge and understanding of graduate development, particularly in relation to CA subjects.”
“When I was a student I was certainly impressed by the idea of working for an internationally known brand and there is always quite a scramble to get one of the coveted graduate posts. It could be the right move for some, but I would definitely urge students to dream big but at the same time think small in terms of the firm that you want to start your career with.”
Michael, Analyst Audit & Accounts
“Even before I did my placement year at university, I knew that I wanted to go to a small or mid-sized firm and when I was asked to interview with Hall Morrice I had a feeling that I’d really landed on my feet.
“I remember the day of my interview really well. I met with Shonagh Fraser, the partner who is involved in recruitment and training, and it lasted for 90 minutes. In the first half of the interview we talked about university and my progress, and in the second half we spoke about ICAS and what road I would want to take with a training contract.
“It quickly became clear that Hall Morrice was really focused on its staff and developing them. That’s how things started out, and now I am with Hall Morrice full-time I can say with absolute confidence that they go above and beyond to provide a supportive environment.
“What Hall Morrice has done is to create a bespoke training pathway for graduates, where the learning experience continues right after leaving university – there is no gap in the process. They have managed to build a new flexible training pathway, specifically for me, with clear milestones: I’ll take my first exam in December and all being well I will qualify in June 2020.”
“When applying for graduate positions, take time to do research and look for firms that have a proven track record in graduate development. Ask questions about their training schemes and what kind of support they provide, for example will you be able to get real hands-on experience or will your understanding of exam questions come from what you have read in a text book.”
