Staff Case Study – Hayley Taylor

Education, where did it all start?

My secondary education took place at the Richard Lander School in Truro, where I attained 2 ‘A’s, 4 ‘B’s and 3 ‘C’ grades in my GCSEs. I left there in 1996 and went on to the Sixth Form at Truro College, where I took A-Levels in Sociology, Communication Studies, General Studies and Islam and Philosophy.

Having passed my A-Levels, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I did know that I did not want the financial burden of going to university, nor the prospect of moving out of the area. Whilst at secondary school, I undertook some work experience with an accountancy firm in Newquay, which I’d enjoyed. When I saw Walker Moyle’s advert for a Trainee Accountant offering the ability to earn a salary alongside having all my training paid for, as well as learning on the job, it made a lot of sense to me.

What professional qualifications have you done since joining Walker Moyle?

I joined the practice in 1999 and began studying for the Association of Accounting Technician (AAT) qualification at Cornwall College, successfully passing my exams in 2002.

From there I went on to study for the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification. This involved me doing day release at Cornwall College, working for Walker Moyle during the rest of the week and doing lots of private study during evenings and weekends, but it was worth it! I qualified as Chartered Certified Accountant in 2006 and have since become a Fellow of the ACCA.

Interestingly, two of the highest grades I received whilst studying for my ACCA exams were for Business Tax and Financial Reporting, areas of accountancy which form the crux of what I do on a day to day basis now.

How has Walker Moyle helped with your studies?

I can honestly say that the support I have had from Walker Moyle has been fantastic. The practice is keen to develop its staff, helping them to achieve their desired goals in any accountancy, tax or audit related area. The Practice has paid for all of my courses and exams and given me paid time off for revision and exam leave. In addition, they have given me a diverse range of client work to do, which has further developed my experience, but also contributed greatly to putting the theory into practice.

Over and above the support I have had with my studies, I have been given advice and support when needed on personal matters, such as buying my first car and my first house!

What type of work do you currently do?

I manage a portfolio of clients from a variety of business sectors including farming, furnished holiday lets and construction. My clients are a mix of sole traders, partnerships and limited companies, so their demands are very different as is the work I do for them.

Generally speaking though, I prepare accounts and tax returns for all my clients, helping them to comply with the relevant regulations and to file the appropriate returns and paperwork within the allocated deadlines.

I had my first baby in November 2016 and when I am not in the office I am now kept very busy at home!

What advice would you offer to anyone considering a career in accountancy?

Accountancy is a great career to get into as it’s so diverse. As an ‘accountant’ you could be working in an accountancy practice like me, working in a accounts or finance function in a business or public sector organisation, or you may decide to set up your own bookkeeping or accountancy practice. There really is no end to where you can take this career.

Studying for the AAT qualification at the start of your career will give you great experience and a good foundation in accountancy. From there you can decide which type of organisation you’d like to further your accountancy career in. I chose to be an accountant in practice, which then opened up new avenues for me to explore, such as auditing, accounting and taxation. It also gave me experience across different sectors such as businesses, charities and academies.

Accountancy is definitely not a boring career, there’s lots of scope to do things which are interesting, challenging, and which are fun to be involved with.