National Apprenticeship Week 2024

Josh Bond – Healthcare

Name

Josh Bond

Department / Role

Healthcare Tax – In the first year of studying towards the AAT qualification. It will be 4 years in total.

What were you doing before joining RMT Accountants & Business Advisors?

I was at Sixth  Form studying English Language, Psychology, and Sport.

So. how did you end up in an accountancy apprenticeship? 

I thought it would be a quicker way to build skills and knowledge. It’s more hands on, easier to settle into a work environment in the long term and pretty much guaranteed employment.

I learnt about apprenticeship opportunities though careers evenings at school. It just sounded like the best fit for me. I had done some work experience in the financial sector which I enjoyed so felt like accounting would be a good place to start.

I had interviews at a few local companies before deciding RMT Accountants was the best fit for me.

What made you choose RMT?

I had a good feeling from the start. The interview experience was as pleasant as an interview can be! I felt like they wanted to know me as a person and didn’t only care about what looked good on paper. They had a more approachable feeling compared to the bigger companies. Based on my own research, and local reputation, I liked the sound of RMT the best.

The medical accounting sector is quite specialist. How did you come to join that team?

I originally applied for an accounts role as I thought it would give me a broad knowledge of the business. However, after my first interview and mentioning my interest in tax, Stephen recommended I interview for the medical tax team instead so I could explore that further.

What do you enjoy most about the role?

It’s a great team! We get on really well and it’s a strong team in terms of qualifications so I’m learning a lot from them. It’s also continuously growing so I’m looking forward to the progression opportunities. I enjoy speaking to clients and building relationships. I get to be involved in everything as I’m still learning and want to pick up as much knowledge as possible.

How would you sum up RMT in 3 words?

Professional, fun, challenging.

What is the best thing about working at RMT?

There’s a new challenge every day and I like being tested.

What is the social side of RMT like?

Honestly, better than I thought it would be. There are lots of other apprentices, regular events and everyone is approachable. I have a good work / life balance and can switch of when needed.

What are the next steps?

I’d like to do the CTA qualification which is 3 more years of studying following AAT. I would just like to progress as much as possible in the role and I can see it happening with RMT.

James Hopkinson – Audit

Name

James Hopkinson

Department / Role

Audit – Three years in to obtaining the AAT qualification.

Where were you before joining RMT Accountants & Business Advisors?

I went straight into an apprenticeship after 6^th form. I didn’t think uni was a good fit for me and I wanted to earn money instead of gaining debt. I think I suit more hands on, practical experience.

School didn’t give us a lot of information on apprenticeships so it was something I had to look into myself. I initially started studying for the AAT qualification with KPMG and was there for two years.

I was extremely conscious of the corporate environment and culture so was thankful to be able to continue my studies elsewhere. I looked into local practices and, like many others, have family members who spoke highly of RMT so was pleased to get an interview.

So, in comparison, why did you decide RMT would be the best fit?

As an apprentice, their attitude towards exams and their priorities are different. I can speak to the directors on a personal level about my studies and work opposed to it being outsourced. It was reassuring to be working closely with the senior team and learning from them from the start.

I knew I would be given more responsibility and have the opportunity to work on all aspects of a case opposed to just one small part. The team is so collaborative here that I have a much better understanding of the accounts side of things instead of just a small part of an audit.

Why did you want to specialise in audit?

You are able to get into the nitty gritty of different businesses. I can see the ins and outs of the business, including the culture, as I get to go out on site and meet them. It’s a great way to learn other skills including how to deal with different types of people.

What is the best thing about working RMT?

I’ve had exposure to all types of audit work with support from the who team along the way.

How would you sum up RMT in 3 words?

Welcoming, dedicated and fun.

What is the social side like?

I love the social side! There are a lot of apprentices here but also a good mix people throughout the practice. There is always something going on like our quarterly socials which always involve a new activity. We also get to try food from some of our hospitality clients like Fat Hippo and Dosa Kitchen which is always a bonus.

Do you think you have work/life balance?

Yes, I would say so. Most people do a standard 9-5, but it’s flexible, and people will chip in as and when is needed. This is unlike my previous experience.

What are the next steps in your career?

I will go on to complete the ACA level 7 and probably continue in audit. There are definitely career progression opportunities at RMT I would like to take advantage of when the time comes.

Natalia Kostenko – Business Services

Name

Natalia Kostenko

Department / Role

Business Services – In the first year of studying towards the AAT qualification.

What were you doing before joining RMT Accountants & Business Advisors?

I was at studying a BTEC in Business Studies at Newcastle College. My modules included Finance, HR, and Marketing.

So, why did you choose to go into accounting?

I enjoyed, and was good at, the finance module in Business Studies so thought it would be a good fit. Also, my mum is an accountant, so I know the profession well.

How did you find out about apprenticeships?

It was talked about in college. We had careers talks and I also knew other people who had chosen to do one. It seems to be a highly encouraged way to get into accounting.

And how did you find out about RMT?

I have a family friend who knew of RMT’s reputation through people already in the practice. They told me RMT took on apprentices, so I quickly applied! The other options I looked at were either too far away or not at the right level. There didn’t seem to be a lot of choice locally in my opinion, so I was pleased when this came up and ticked all the boxes.

Did you have a specific department in mind?

No, I didn’t mind at all but I’m happy to be in business services. It pulls a lot of different departments together. I would still be interested in seeing what other departments have to offer which is an option throughout my apprenticeship.

What do you enjoy most about the role?

I really like the team and the overall environment. Everyone has been very supportive which is appreciated when starting somewhere new. I’m learning a lot from the team, many of whom have been here for years, and some that started as apprentices. It’s been a great experience so far.

How would you describe RMT in 3 words?

Organised, collaborative, resourceful.

What is the social side of RMT like?

There are loads of different events and activities going on across the firm but also on a team-by-team basis which is nice.

What are your next steps?

I would like to do the ACCA qualification which is another 3 years of studying. Hopefully I will still be with RMT as everything is going well so far!

Aidan Duke – Business Services

Name

Aidan Duke

Department / Role

Business Services – In the first year of studying towards the AAT qualification.

What were you doing before joining RMT Accountants & Business Advisors?

I was at Sixth Form studying Business, Economics, Math & PE.

Why did you choose the apprenticeship route?

I knew I didn’t want to go to university as I just never felt like it was the right option for me. I also didn’t want to have the debt burden and I’m much better at learning on-the-job.

How did you find out about apprenticeships?

I had seen apprenticeships come up on job sites when looking for entry level options. Unfortunately, my school never really went through all the potential paths to further education and really only pushed university so I’m glad I came across them in my own research.

So, what made you choose accounting?

I was generally interested in finance at first however, through my Business A Level, it became more about how businesses function as a whole. An accountant, or accounting knowledge, is crucial in any business so I thought it would be good to learn about companies from this aspect and see how I could develop a career.

What made RMT stand out?

I applied to a few local accountants of various sizes but I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for.  When I saw that RMT were hiring apprentices I  favoured them immediately. I knew of their reputation through my family who have worked with their advisors. The benefits of working here are better than larger companies from what I’ve heard and there is more flexibility to explore roles throughout the practice.

Are you enjoying Business Services?

Yes, I think it’s been a great place to start. I’m getting an insight into how different types of businesses work and I like being able to work closely with other departments. I am looking forward to learning more about the work other departments do and just getting involved as much as I can. So far, I’ve had a lot of exposure to real work, so I hope that continues.

How would you describe RMT in 3 words?

I would say fun, supportive and friendly.

Is there a good social side?

100%. There’s a good mix of people, including a lot of other apprentices and people who have stayed beyond qualification, which is good to see when thinking about my own progression. It’s great when there is an event on, but the office generally has a nice atmosphere.

What do you think comes next?

I think it would be good to get hands on experience in another department in future. I will also look to do the ACCA too