1 00:00:01,410 --> 00:00:04,650 Maiki Lynch: Hey there, I'm Maiki Lynch and I'm an accountant. And in this 2 00:00:04,650 --> 00:00:07,950 Maiki Lynch: series from ACCA, I'm sitting down with some other accountants 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,679 Maiki Lynch: and people who work in finance to lift the lid 4 00:00:10,679 --> 00:00:12,840 Maiki Lynch: on some of the common myths you might have fallen 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:18,419 Maiki Lynch: for about this awesome career path. This week we are looking at one 6 00:00:18,420 --> 00:00:22,230 Maiki Lynch: of the core questions people tend to have about these jobs. Namely, 7 00:00:22,650 --> 00:00:26,310 Maiki Lynch: isn't accounting and finance basically just maths? Do you need 8 00:00:26,310 --> 00:00:29,580 Maiki Lynch: to be a maths genius? And can you make a career in accounting 9 00:00:29,759 --> 00:00:40,620 Maiki Lynch: without a maths degree? Let's find out. This is By All Accounts. Ah, maths, 10 00:00:41,250 --> 00:00:42,930 Maiki Lynch: for some of us, just the word can send a 11 00:00:42,930 --> 00:00:46,409 Maiki Lynch: shiver down the spine, conjuring memories of school and protractors 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:50,999 Maiki Lynch: and calculators and quadratic equations and worst of all: maths tests. 13 00:00:51,210 --> 00:00:54,209 Maiki Lynch: Then there's the opposite, the people who love maths and 14 00:00:54,270 --> 00:00:57,779 Maiki Lynch: numbers and even have degrees in the subject. But do 15 00:00:57,780 --> 00:00:59,880 Maiki Lynch: you need to be one of these people to progress 16 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:03,959 Maiki Lynch: in careers that involve some numbers like accounting? For me, 17 00:01:04,530 --> 00:01:07,740 Maiki Lynch: I'm one of those people that has always enjoyed maths. 18 00:01:08,309 --> 00:01:10,410 Maiki Lynch: I found if I really understood what I was trying 19 00:01:10,410 --> 00:01:13,770 Maiki Lynch: to do with practice, I didn't need to remember anything 20 00:01:13,770 --> 00:01:17,880 Maiki Lynch: at all, and that's brilliant. In over 10 years of teaching, 21 00:01:17,970 --> 00:01:20,880 Maiki Lynch: I found it is exactly that practice element that can 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,789 Maiki Lynch: get those students who love maths and those who haven't 23 00:01:23,789 --> 00:01:26,490 Maiki Lynch: touched the subject in years to where they need to be, 24 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:31,289 Maiki Lynch: mathematically speaking, through their accountancy studies. So I found two 25 00:01:31,290 --> 00:01:34,230 Maiki Lynch: people who currently work in accounting and finance to ask, 26 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,470 Maiki Lynch: do you need a maths degree to enjoy these jobs? 27 00:01:37,950 --> 00:01:40,020 Maiki Lynch: First up, Kyle Simpson, welcome. 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:42,541 Kyle Simpson: Thank you. Thank you for having me here. 29 00:01:42,541 --> 00:01:42,542 Maiki Lynch: And Ben Kewin. Hello. 30 00:01:42,542 --> 00:01:42,602 Ben Kewin: Hello. Thanks for having us. 31 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,109 Maiki Lynch: So what do you think? Kyle, I'm going to come 32 00:01:46,109 --> 00:01:49,019 Maiki Lynch: to you first. Do you need to be amazing at 33 00:01:49,020 --> 00:01:50,909 Maiki Lynch: maths to work in accounting and finance? 34 00:01:50,909 --> 00:01:54,840 Kyle Simpson: I don't think so because I'm just exactly opposite of 35 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:58,050 Kyle Simpson: amazing at math. If I look back at my school days, I 36 00:01:58,050 --> 00:02:03,359 Kyle Simpson: never liked particularly math. My school grades were kind of 37 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,170 Kyle Simpson: reflective of that, and when I was studying accountancy I 38 00:02:07,170 --> 00:02:10,619 Kyle Simpson: didn't really feel that there was a overall huge area 39 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:16,018 Kyle Simpson: where you need very technical math skills like plus, minus, multiply, divide. 40 00:02:16,169 --> 00:02:18,540 Kyle Simpson: That's kind of the basic principles I had, but that 41 00:02:18,719 --> 00:02:20,969 Kyle Simpson: got me through all the exams I needed to pass 42 00:02:20,969 --> 00:02:24,029 Kyle Simpson: to be qualified. So I don't really think it's essential 43 00:02:24,029 --> 00:02:26,221 Kyle Simpson: to have extensive maths knowledge to become an accountant. 44 00:02:26,221 --> 00:02:30,268 Maiki Lynch: That's really encouraging to hear, particularly for those who perhaps 45 00:02:30,450 --> 00:02:33,059 Maiki Lynch: maths isn't their favorite subject. Ben, can we come to 46 00:02:33,059 --> 00:02:34,859 Maiki Lynch: you with the same question? Do you think you need 47 00:02:34,860 --> 00:02:37,350 Maiki Lynch: to be amazing at maths to work in accounting and finance? 48 00:02:37,559 --> 00:02:40,409 Ben Kewin: So I'm quite the opposite to Kyle there of... I was always 49 00:02:40,410 --> 00:02:42,509 Ben Kewin: into my maths in school. When I started doing my 50 00:02:42,510 --> 00:02:44,490 Ben Kewin: accounting exams, I always thought that there was quite a 51 00:02:44,490 --> 00:02:47,100 Ben Kewin: big maths implication on it. I was actually quite upset 52 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:49,530 Ben Kewin: by the time I came to qualify, because there's not 53 00:02:49,530 --> 00:02:52,019 Ben Kewin: really that much complicated maths in there! So I think 54 00:02:52,020 --> 00:02:53,520 Ben Kewin: that that is very much one of the things that 55 00:02:53,580 --> 00:02:55,860 Ben Kewin: all the way throughout everyone's always like, " Oh, you've got 56 00:02:55,860 --> 00:02:59,400 Ben Kewin: to do loads of maths. It's very maths based." You 57 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,200 Ben Kewin: deal with a lot of numbers, but it's more about 58 00:03:01,230 --> 00:03:02,970 Ben Kewin: the trends and the patterns and the numbers than it 59 00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:05,940 Ben Kewin: is with actually messing around with them and doing complicated maths. 60 00:03:06,570 --> 00:03:08,699 Maiki Lynch: So coming from a different viewpoint there, but you're kind 61 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:12,060 Maiki Lynch: of landing in the same place, a similar conclusion that 62 00:03:12,660 --> 00:03:14,729 Maiki Lynch: there isn't too much maths. There is some maths and 63 00:03:14,730 --> 00:03:17,369 Maiki Lynch: it is helpful, but there's, there's not perhaps too much 64 00:03:17,369 --> 00:03:21,330 Maiki Lynch: or as you may have expected going in from the outset. Kyle, 65 00:03:21,330 --> 00:03:22,710 Maiki Lynch: I'd like to come back to you. Can we ask 66 00:03:23,310 --> 00:03:24,030 Maiki Lynch: what your job is? 67 00:03:24,180 --> 00:03:27,299 Kyle Simpson: I'm currently working as a finance manager at an all- 68 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:31,409 Kyle Simpson: through school in Northumberland. I work with one finance officer, 69 00:03:31,410 --> 00:03:34,890 Kyle Simpson: but basically responsible for everything to do with school finance, 70 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,820 Kyle Simpson: financial reporting, all the way to petty cash expense claim, 71 00:03:38,820 --> 00:03:42,960 Kyle Simpson: those more sort of administrative tasks. It just involves day- to- 72 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,350 Kyle Simpson: day school life, plus a bit of technical finance skills 73 00:03:46,410 --> 00:03:48,660 Kyle Simpson: as in when I need to do sort of reportings, 74 00:03:48,990 --> 00:03:53,250 Kyle Simpson: but it also has allowed managerial tasks to run the 75 00:03:53,250 --> 00:03:57,360 Kyle Simpson: scope from business perspective while principals are focused on education 76 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:57,810 Kyle Simpson: side of it. 77 00:03:58,650 --> 00:04:01,920 Maiki Lynch: That's quite a lot of numbers for someone who admitted from the 78 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,450 Maiki Lynch: outset that numbers weren't really their bag, if you will! Do you have 79 00:04:06,450 --> 00:04:07,140 Maiki Lynch: a maths degree? 80 00:04:07,559 --> 00:04:11,549 Kyle Simpson: I don't have any degree. Well, actually I dropped out 81 00:04:11,549 --> 00:04:14,640 Kyle Simpson: of high school, which is equivalent secondary school in the UK, 82 00:04:14,730 --> 00:04:18,630 Kyle Simpson: and I took an exam to be equivalent of high 83 00:04:18,630 --> 00:04:23,670 Kyle Simpson: school graduate. So as a formal education, that's my final education. 84 00:04:23,790 --> 00:04:26,729 Kyle Simpson: And in that, the pass mark was 50 for each 85 00:04:26,730 --> 00:04:30,000 Kyle Simpson: subject and maximum score is 100, and on average I 86 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,410 Kyle Simpson: got something like 88. 5 across all subjects, on average. 87 00:04:34,650 --> 00:04:37,320 Kyle Simpson: But there was one subject that brought the score down, 88 00:04:37,380 --> 00:04:41,040 Kyle Simpson: that was math, and I got 50 out of 100 and that was 89 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,000 Kyle Simpson: just literally passing mark. But I managed to start accountancy 90 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,919 Kyle Simpson: training and become qualified two years ago. 91 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,840 Maiki Lynch: Congratulations. You were able to start that accountancy training without 92 00:04:51,900 --> 00:04:55,529 Maiki Lynch: having a degree or without having another qualification to get 93 00:04:55,529 --> 00:04:55,950 Maiki Lynch: you there? 94 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,558 Kyle Simpson: Yes, there was a slightly different pathway when I started. Effectively, 95 00:05:01,559 --> 00:05:03,629 Kyle Simpson: it's exactly the same training as if you start the 96 00:05:03,630 --> 00:05:07,200 Kyle Simpson: full ACCA qualification. But for those people who didn't have 97 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,010 Kyle Simpson: sort of entry qualification, so effectively, even though it was 98 00:05:11,010 --> 00:05:14,639 Kyle Simpson: slightly different way around, I could start my ACCA journey 99 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:16,409 Kyle Simpson: without any more formal qualification. 100 00:05:17,849 --> 00:05:19,469 Maiki Lynch: I love that and I'm aware of that as well, 101 00:05:19,469 --> 00:05:23,609 Maiki Lynch: that we are one of the professions where you can come in without 102 00:05:23,609 --> 00:05:26,160 Maiki Lynch: having a degree and you can still move through and 103 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,969 Maiki Lynch: get that chartered status, but you build that foundation without 104 00:05:30,150 --> 00:05:32,580 Maiki Lynch: that being a degree or without that being A levels. 105 00:05:32,910 --> 00:05:34,770 Maiki Lynch: Ben, I want to come back to you and just 106 00:05:34,770 --> 00:05:37,799 Maiki Lynch: ask you a very similar question. Can you tell me 107 00:05:37,799 --> 00:05:40,050 Maiki Lynch: about your job? What do you do, where do you work? 108 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,900 Ben Kewin: So currently I work at Crowe Isle of Man. I'm 109 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:45,960 Ben Kewin: a Client Accountant. So we get books in, do a 110 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,450 Ben Kewin: lot of debits and credits, lots of bank recs. When 111 00:05:48,450 --> 00:05:50,938 Ben Kewin: you obviously get your big clients do their bookkeeping as 112 00:05:50,940 --> 00:05:53,159 Ben Kewin: well on the side. We deal with quite a lot 113 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,979 Ben Kewin: of trusts, quite a lot of big companies as well. 114 00:05:56,219 --> 00:05:58,199 Ben Kewin: Most of the stuff that we do is normally Isle 115 00:05:58,199 --> 00:06:00,210 Ben Kewin: of Man based, which is normally a lot of investments, 116 00:06:00,449 --> 00:06:02,040 Ben Kewin: but then also there's quite a lot of stuff going 117 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:02,790 Ben Kewin: on in the UK. 118 00:06:03,390 --> 00:06:08,428 Maiki Lynch: Lovely. You talked about loving maths. Do you have a maths degree? What's your background, 119 00:06:08,428 --> 00:06:08,940 Maiki Lynch: your relationship with maths? 120 00:06:08,940 --> 00:06:13,110 Ben Kewin: So I did maths for the maths and physics as my A- levels, 121 00:06:13,710 --> 00:06:16,020 Ben Kewin: and then when it came to going to uni, I went 122 00:06:16,020 --> 00:06:18,719 Ben Kewin: to university to do a degree in maths and physics. I 123 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,060 Ben Kewin: lasted for three weeks and then dropped out of uni. 124 00:06:21,330 --> 00:06:23,520 Ben Kewin: Then I started as a trainee auditor, did that for 125 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,000 Ben Kewin: a bit then for multiple reasons, mainly that I wasn't 126 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,670 Ben Kewin: mature enough to be working, I left. I went to 127 00:06:29,670 --> 00:06:32,850 Ben Kewin: then go do a second degree. This one was in accountancy, 128 00:06:32,910 --> 00:06:34,709 Ben Kewin: but it was on the Isle of Man where we 129 00:06:34,709 --> 00:06:37,770 Ben Kewin: don't have a specific university. We've got a college which 130 00:06:37,770 --> 00:06:41,279 Ben Kewin: is then linked to the University of Chester. I was 131 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,620 Ben Kewin: there for a year. Then COVID hit. So from that 132 00:06:43,620 --> 00:06:45,450 Ben Kewin: I then dropped out of that as well and that's 133 00:06:45,690 --> 00:06:48,928 Ben Kewin: when I then started doing my ACCA training. So... 134 00:06:48,928 --> 00:06:48,988 Maiki Lynch: Wow. 135 00:06:49,259 --> 00:06:51,060 Ben Kewin: I've not dropped out of one, but I've dropped out of two 136 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,609 Ben Kewin: uni degrees and then I've still ended up becoming fully qualified. 137 00:06:53,609 --> 00:06:57,719 Maiki Lynch: Okay. So you are fully qualified, you are a chartered accountant as well. 138 00:06:57,900 --> 00:06:58,140 Ben Kewin: Yeah. 139 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,428 Maiki Lynch: Congratulations. I think that really shows that career paths are 140 00:07:02,428 --> 00:07:06,089 Maiki Lynch: not just linear. They're not just go to university, get 141 00:07:06,089 --> 00:07:09,779 Maiki Lynch: that degree. When you finished, when you got that text 142 00:07:09,780 --> 00:07:12,870 Maiki Lynch: message or that email that said, " You've finished the qualification, 143 00:07:12,870 --> 00:07:14,580 Maiki Lynch: you've passed all of your exams," how did you feel? 144 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,250 Ben Kewin: It was brill! It was really nice to know that 145 00:07:18,510 --> 00:07:20,610 Ben Kewin: you've reached the end and there's a point whereby you 146 00:07:20,610 --> 00:07:22,860 Ben Kewin: never actually have to do anything again. If you did 147 00:07:22,860 --> 00:07:26,219 Ben Kewin: want to continue doing more qualifications and everything, you could do, 148 00:07:26,219 --> 00:07:29,220 Ben Kewin: but it would be entirely your call. However, having that 149 00:07:29,609 --> 00:07:32,910 Ben Kewin: ACCA stamp after your name just opened so many doors. 150 00:07:32,910 --> 00:07:35,070 Ben Kewin: Having that means that you are set and you're going 151 00:07:35,070 --> 00:07:37,470 Ben Kewin: to at least always have a comfortable life and you 152 00:07:37,470 --> 00:07:39,570 Ben Kewin: never have to really worry about getting a job. It 153 00:07:39,570 --> 00:07:43,319 Ben Kewin: was a really satisfying text to receive. 154 00:07:43,379 --> 00:07:46,139 Maiki Lynch: And I want to come back over here please for me, Kyle, 155 00:07:46,319 --> 00:07:48,689 Maiki Lynch: and just ask you a similar question about when you 156 00:07:48,689 --> 00:07:50,399 Maiki Lynch: got to the end of your studies, how did you feel? 157 00:07:50,730 --> 00:07:54,480 Kyle Simpson: I think it took a while for me. I mean 158 00:07:54,780 --> 00:07:58,319 Kyle Simpson: I immediately realized I did pass and it was very exciting, 159 00:07:58,650 --> 00:08:01,440 Kyle Simpson: but to actually feel it in my day- to- day 160 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,649 Kyle Simpson: life it took a while, because at that time I 161 00:08:04,650 --> 00:08:09,540 Kyle Simpson: was juggling a lot of things. I was buying a new house. 162 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:14,250 Kyle Simpson: My daughter was newly born, moved to Newcastle. At that 163 00:08:14,250 --> 00:08:17,010 Kyle Simpson: time I was working as an IT Auditor at one 164 00:08:17,010 --> 00:08:19,620 Kyle Simpson: of the big four firms, so the work was quite 165 00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:24,209 Kyle Simpson: busy as well. And doing the last professional stage papers 166 00:08:24,389 --> 00:08:28,560 Kyle Simpson: while doing all of that. And it was really probably the most 167 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,590 Kyle Simpson: difficult time of my life. And then I was so relieved, 168 00:08:32,070 --> 00:08:35,040 Kyle Simpson: one side excited, one side, relieved, but at the same 169 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,530 Kyle Simpson: time it's quite hard to believe I finally did it. 170 00:08:37,740 --> 00:08:39,750 Kyle Simpson: So it took me a while for a few weeks, 171 00:08:39,870 --> 00:08:42,600 Kyle Simpson: and then I thought, I looked back and I realized actually 172 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,710 Kyle Simpson: I did pass, everything's done and I've finished. And as Ben said, 173 00:08:46,710 --> 00:08:51,299 Kyle Simpson: I can now do whatever I want to do. It was definitely good, the best 174 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:52,110 Kyle Simpson: moment of my life. 175 00:08:52,590 --> 00:08:56,250 Maiki Lynch: Oh, that's so fantastic to hear. It really is. Just 176 00:08:56,250 --> 00:08:59,789 Maiki Lynch: want to take you to that journey. So you're saying 177 00:08:59,789 --> 00:09:03,179 Maiki Lynch: you're working as an IT auditor, you're moving, you've got 178 00:09:03,179 --> 00:09:07,590 Maiki Lynch: your baby, you've got a lot going on, maths also 179 00:09:07,590 --> 00:09:10,799 Maiki Lynch: in the mix there. How did you find studying for maths, 180 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,139 Maiki Lynch: particularly as you're moving towards the latter stages of the 181 00:09:13,139 --> 00:09:16,439 Maiki Lynch: qualification as someone who didn't have an initial love for maths, 182 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,560 Maiki Lynch: how did you find the maths within your studies? 183 00:09:19,770 --> 00:09:22,530 Kyle Simpson: I think if I use the example of our last 184 00:09:22,530 --> 00:09:28,380 Kyle Simpson: stage exams, like the strategic level papers, I see one 185 00:09:28,380 --> 00:09:31,469 Kyle Simpson: was business study and the other was financial reporting. And 186 00:09:31,469 --> 00:09:33,240 Kyle Simpson: I didn't feel like there was a lot of maths 187 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,119 Kyle Simpson: involved in those two. And I feel like the only 188 00:09:36,119 --> 00:09:39,390 Kyle Simpson: paper that really required a bit more advanced maths knowledge 189 00:09:39,390 --> 00:09:44,098 Kyle Simpson: was the advanced financial management. But even then I could 190 00:09:44,490 --> 00:09:47,610 Kyle Simpson: kind of teach myself by searching on Google. It wasn't 191 00:09:47,610 --> 00:09:50,549 Kyle Simpson: like a university level of maths, it was probably somewhere 192 00:09:50,549 --> 00:09:53,789 Kyle Simpson: around the secondary school level of maths. I happen to 193 00:09:54,270 --> 00:09:57,300 Kyle Simpson: not study as far as some other students might have 194 00:09:57,300 --> 00:09:59,520 Kyle Simpson: done because I dropped out of school. So for a 195 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,100 Kyle Simpson: lot of other students it might be still within the 196 00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:05,160 Kyle Simpson: limit of what they studied at school, but even if 197 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,360 Kyle Simpson: it's not, I think it was not that complex enough 198 00:10:09,389 --> 00:10:10,769 Kyle Simpson: that you could just learn as you go. 199 00:10:10,799 --> 00:10:14,310 Maiki Lynch: So just touching on some of what you've said there, 200 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:17,940 Maiki Lynch: what skills do you feel have turned out to be 201 00:10:18,090 --> 00:10:21,150 Maiki Lynch: most important to you working as an accountant? 202 00:10:21,420 --> 00:10:25,349 Kyle Simpson: One is professional skepticism. We, I think, hear about this 203 00:10:25,349 --> 00:10:27,450 Kyle Simpson: a lot in audit paper. But I think as an 204 00:10:27,450 --> 00:10:31,260 Kyle Simpson: accountant in this kind of time when the technology is 205 00:10:31,260 --> 00:10:35,610 Kyle Simpson: changing really fast and the business process is changing every 206 00:10:35,610 --> 00:10:38,130 Kyle Simpson: year by year, we see a lot of ways that 207 00:10:38,130 --> 00:10:41,099 Kyle Simpson: we've done things that worked in the past, but maybe 208 00:10:41,099 --> 00:10:44,429 Kyle Simpson: not quite the best way of doing going forward. And 209 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,210 Kyle Simpson: by exercising professional skepticism like this, having mindset of always 210 00:10:48,420 --> 00:10:51,900 Kyle Simpson: double checking are constructively challenging, whether it's the best way 211 00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:56,490 Kyle Simpson: or not, that kind of provide opportunity for development, whether 212 00:10:56,610 --> 00:11:00,328 Kyle Simpson: it's for the accountant like personal development or whether it's 213 00:11:00,330 --> 00:11:03,660 Kyle Simpson: for that workplace, the company. So that's I think one 214 00:11:03,660 --> 00:11:06,958 Kyle Simpson: of the key skills. And in line with that then 215 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:08,940 Kyle Simpson: if things are changing, if I've asked the question, is it 216 00:11:09,059 --> 00:11:11,189 Kyle Simpson: the best way? If it's not, what's the way forward? 217 00:11:11,429 --> 00:11:13,920 Kyle Simpson: And if we know what's the way forward, then the 218 00:11:13,980 --> 00:11:17,670 Kyle Simpson: adaptability to be able to learn. And I think we 219 00:11:17,670 --> 00:11:21,929 Kyle Simpson: have this requirement for continuing professional development. So in line 220 00:11:21,929 --> 00:11:24,630 Kyle Simpson: with that as well, we need to just constantly accept 221 00:11:24,630 --> 00:11:27,929 Kyle Simpson: the new things so that we are able to utilize 222 00:11:27,929 --> 00:11:31,500 Kyle Simpson: the technologies and different way of doing things that's available 223 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,990 Kyle Simpson: as we progress in our career and year by year. 224 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,000 Maiki Lynch: I love to hear an auditor to talk about professional 225 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,630 Maiki Lynch: skepticism. That rings true, and I think auditors will be 226 00:11:39,630 --> 00:11:43,650 Maiki Lynch: very happy to hear that too. And I just want 227 00:11:43,650 --> 00:11:45,630 Maiki Lynch: to ask about your career. Do you feel your career 228 00:11:45,630 --> 00:11:47,968 Maiki Lynch: has turned out as you expected? 229 00:11:48,059 --> 00:11:50,760 Kyle Simpson: Yes, in terms of direction, it did. I did have 230 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,420 Kyle Simpson: the idea of studying accountancy and I decided that when 231 00:11:54,420 --> 00:11:59,160 Kyle Simpson: I left Korean Navy I did some navigation sort of 232 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,140 Kyle Simpson: things and that had nothing to do with getting a 233 00:12:01,140 --> 00:12:03,810 Kyle Simpson: job on land. So when I left that job, I 234 00:12:03,929 --> 00:12:06,809 Kyle Simpson: just started from scratch and I met my wife back 235 00:12:06,809 --> 00:12:09,240 Kyle Simpson: in South Korea. So when she wanted to come back here, 236 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:11,220 Kyle Simpson: I need to decide what am I going to do 237 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,190 Kyle Simpson: to make living? And then I looked at what sort 238 00:12:14,190 --> 00:12:16,800 Kyle Simpson: of things can I do without a degree, without much 239 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,120 Kyle Simpson: saving to start with. And that's where I saw accounting 240 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,920 Kyle Simpson: as the way forward, because I looked at other professions 241 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,070 Kyle Simpson: and quite a few of them had barriers to entry 242 00:12:29,550 --> 00:12:32,490 Kyle Simpson: and accounting was one of the very few that didn't 243 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:35,910 Kyle Simpson: have barriers to entry. And I also felt that accounting is 244 00:12:35,910 --> 00:12:39,270 Kyle Simpson: kind of a core of any sort of organization, whether if they're profit- 245 00:12:39,270 --> 00:12:42,809 Kyle Simpson: making or not, or government... well without money, nothing really runs. 246 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:45,629 Kyle Simpson: So to me it gave me the idea that if 247 00:12:45,630 --> 00:12:49,439 Kyle Simpson: I choose to go become an accountant, I can start 248 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,579 Kyle Simpson: as an accountant, and there are so many other pathways that's available. 249 00:12:53,789 --> 00:12:59,130 Kyle Simpson: And whether if it's technical accounting like audit or tax or 250 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,270 Kyle Simpson: some other ways, or more leaning towards management if you are 251 00:13:03,270 --> 00:13:07,679 Kyle Simpson: more interested in that side of business. So I think 252 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,679 Kyle Simpson: I'm heading towards where I wanted to be. I'm still 253 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:15,000 Kyle Simpson: exploring what's my next step of my career, but it's 254 00:13:15,030 --> 00:13:18,150 Kyle Simpson: going toward the right direction and I'm really happy that 255 00:13:18,150 --> 00:13:20,670 Kyle Simpson: I could do that. The reason why I moved from 256 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,900 Kyle Simpson: more private sector to public sector was as an accountant, 257 00:13:24,929 --> 00:13:28,889 Kyle Simpson: I feel like once you're qualified, we can reasonably have 258 00:13:28,889 --> 00:13:34,410 Kyle Simpson: a financially comfortable starting point as a newly qualified accountant. 259 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,290 Kyle Simpson: So that means that from that point onwards, you could 260 00:13:37,290 --> 00:13:39,809 Kyle Simpson: either choose to do what you are doing at that 261 00:13:39,809 --> 00:13:42,449 Kyle Simpson: sort of newly qualified level or you could go all 262 00:13:42,450 --> 00:13:46,078 Kyle Simpson: the way up. But for me, because I spent so 263 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,309 Kyle Simpson: much time studying, I wanted to kind of adapt into 264 00:13:50,309 --> 00:13:54,330 Kyle Simpson: that level of new life and focus on something that's 265 00:13:54,750 --> 00:13:57,600 Kyle Simpson: a bit more meaningful. So something that I can give back, 266 00:13:57,929 --> 00:14:01,319 Kyle Simpson: which is why I thought possibly going into education sector, 267 00:14:01,349 --> 00:14:04,679 Kyle Simpson: particularly in the public sector and education, that is something 268 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,679 Kyle Simpson: that what I do, I can see what difference I 269 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:13,020 Kyle Simpson: do make in my workplaces. And also volunteering for this... 270 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,978 Kyle Simpson: ACCA has this early career ambassador, so the promoting thing, 271 00:14:17,250 --> 00:14:19,320 Kyle Simpson: those sort of things, I feel like I can give 272 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:23,549 Kyle Simpson: something back. So that's why I think it's really good 273 00:14:23,549 --> 00:14:25,590 Kyle Simpson: that I have those choices. 274 00:14:28,170 --> 00:14:31,140 Maiki Lynch: It's exciting to hear you talking about the next step. Coming back to you, Ben, has 275 00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:33,089 Maiki Lynch: it turned out as you expected? 276 00:14:33,510 --> 00:14:36,119 Ben Kewin: If you asked me when I was 18? No, it's 277 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,849 Ben Kewin: very different to what I expected. I did expect to go 278 00:14:38,849 --> 00:14:41,340 Ben Kewin: do a degree in math and physics, then probably go 279 00:14:41,340 --> 00:14:44,160 Ben Kewin: on, do a master's, potentially a doctorate, go on that 280 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:48,240 Ben Kewin: route. Even then when I came back, accountancy was always 281 00:14:48,870 --> 00:14:51,360 Ben Kewin: my plan B because both my parents were accountants, so 282 00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:55,230 Ben Kewin: it's in my blood. So it was always something that was 283 00:14:55,230 --> 00:14:56,910 Ben Kewin: always on the table. And so when I came back in 284 00:14:56,910 --> 00:15:00,389 Ben Kewin: and started that, but then I was an audit, I'm not 285 00:15:00,389 --> 00:15:03,540 Ben Kewin: an auditor, I did not enjoy that side of it. 286 00:15:04,020 --> 00:15:06,480 Ben Kewin: So then even then I still wanted to end up 287 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,359 Ben Kewin: being an accountant, but I decided to start taking a 288 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,090 Ben Kewin: different route towards it that then didn't turn out. And 289 00:15:12,090 --> 00:15:15,330 Ben Kewin: then I started again doing accountancy. But where I was 290 00:15:15,330 --> 00:15:17,879 Ben Kewin: working, I was essentially training up to end up being 291 00:15:17,879 --> 00:15:20,340 Ben Kewin: a teacher to then start training people to be accountants 292 00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:22,859 Ben Kewin: as well. I then didn't like the idea of standing 293 00:15:22,860 --> 00:15:24,510 Ben Kewin: up in front of a classroom and teaching. So after 294 00:15:24,510 --> 00:15:27,119 Ben Kewin: I qualified, that's when I then went more into the 295 00:15:27,150 --> 00:15:30,899 Ben Kewin: private sector and doing people's accounts instead. 296 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:33,359 Maiki Lynch: Working with clients. Lovely. What's your favorite bit? 297 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,400 Ben Kewin: My favorite part about everything that I've done is the helping 298 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,739 Ben Kewin: people side of it. So when I was working at 299 00:15:40,740 --> 00:15:43,560 Ben Kewin: the place where I qualified, all the students would always 300 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:45,480 Ben Kewin: come to us and they'd ask us for help. And 301 00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:47,910 Ben Kewin: being able to sit down with someone and go, " Right, 302 00:15:47,910 --> 00:15:50,219 Ben Kewin: I see that you're stressing out about something. Here's the 303 00:15:50,219 --> 00:15:51,809 Ben Kewin: way that you get around it. This is how we 304 00:15:51,809 --> 00:15:55,170 Ben Kewin: can help." And being able to put other people at 305 00:15:55,170 --> 00:15:57,660 Ben Kewin: ease and help people, that's always been my favorite bit 306 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,270 Ben Kewin: throughout everything. I've always been quite a social person so 307 00:16:00,270 --> 00:16:02,880 Ben Kewin: that being able to comfort someone and be able to 308 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,700 Ben Kewin: make someone feel better in themselves, that was always my 309 00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:06,480 Ben Kewin: favorite side of it. 310 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:10,020 Maiki Lynch: So just to bring it back to the topic of maths, do you think you need a 311 00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:14,730 Maiki Lynch: maths degree to work in accounting and finance? 312 00:16:14,850 --> 00:16:16,741 Ben Kewin: Oh, not at all. No. Without a doubt, no. 313 00:16:16,741 --> 00:16:16,742 Maiki Lynch: Kyle? 314 00:16:16,742 --> 00:16:16,743 Kyle Simpson: Not at all. I agree. 315 00:16:16,743 --> 00:16:23,759 Maiki Lynch: No? And if you could give advice to someone who's considering working 316 00:16:23,759 --> 00:16:26,520 Maiki Lynch: in accounting and finance, considering that as their career path, 317 00:16:26,849 --> 00:16:28,229 Maiki Lynch: what would that advice be? 318 00:16:29,580 --> 00:16:32,130 Ben Kewin: If it's someone who's in school, I'd say, whilst you 319 00:16:32,130 --> 00:16:34,320 Ben Kewin: can make sure that you get out there, try and 320 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,570 Ben Kewin: get some work experience, get a feel for what it's 321 00:16:36,570 --> 00:16:38,369 Ben Kewin: actually like to do the job, to see how it 322 00:16:38,370 --> 00:16:40,859 Ben Kewin: is, see if it is something that you like. And 323 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:42,899 Ben Kewin: if it is something that you get started on it 324 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:44,880 Ben Kewin: as soon as you can. The sooner you start it, 325 00:16:44,910 --> 00:16:47,100 Ben Kewin: the sooner you finish it, the sooner you finish it, 326 00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:49,290 Ben Kewin: the sooner that all those doors open up and you 327 00:16:49,290 --> 00:16:51,840 Ben Kewin: can crack on with the rest of your life, well, 328 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:52,740 Ben Kewin: in such a brilliant way. 329 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:54,840 Maiki Lynch: Kyle, any thoughts? 330 00:16:55,410 --> 00:16:58,110 Kyle Simpson: Yeah, absolutely agree. I think work experience, the most important 331 00:16:58,110 --> 00:17:02,069 Kyle Simpson: thing to start with, and especially because there are different 332 00:17:02,070 --> 00:17:05,879 Kyle Simpson: pathways available. Where possible, I would encourage younger student to 333 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,780 Kyle Simpson: look out for a lot of pathways that's available, especially 334 00:17:09,780 --> 00:17:12,478 Kyle Simpson: with the graduate scheme or apprenticeship and that sort of 335 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:16,770 Kyle Simpson: thing. Depending on which area of accounting you start from, 336 00:17:17,609 --> 00:17:20,009 Kyle Simpson: it might take some time to be able to switch 337 00:17:20,009 --> 00:17:23,309 Kyle Simpson: to something else. It's always possible to switch between different 338 00:17:24,180 --> 00:17:28,530 Kyle Simpson: roles in terms of accounting, but it's always better to 339 00:17:28,530 --> 00:17:31,170 Kyle Simpson: know where you're walking into and then know that you'll 340 00:17:31,170 --> 00:17:33,869 Kyle Simpson: be reasonably happy with why you can't 100% tell until 341 00:17:33,869 --> 00:17:34,829 Kyle Simpson: you actually start a job. 342 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,230 Maiki Lynch: I think that's such great advice from both of you, 343 00:17:37,230 --> 00:17:40,740 Maiki Lynch: getting that experience and just a bit of exposure to what the 344 00:17:41,190 --> 00:17:44,490 Maiki Lynch: work might entail I think is really key. That's it 345 00:17:44,490 --> 00:17:47,580 Maiki Lynch: from this episode of By All Accounts. Thank you Kyle 346 00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:49,920 Maiki Lynch: and Ben for chatting with me today. For a link 347 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,949 Maiki Lynch: to watch the video version of this podcast, check out 348 00:17:52,950 --> 00:17:56,129 Maiki Lynch: the show notes. With skills in accountancy and finance, you 349 00:17:56,130 --> 00:17:59,790 Maiki Lynch: can work in any business anywhere and turn your passion 350 00:18:00,029 --> 00:18:04,350 Maiki Lynch: into an exciting and rewarding career with an ACCA qualification. 351 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,198 Maiki Lynch: You can sign up to find out more by heading 352 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:13,168 Maiki Lynch: to accaglobal. com/ beyouanywhere. That link is also in the 353 00:18:13,170 --> 00:18:16,408 Maiki Lynch: show notes. See you next week. I'm Maiki Lynch and 354 00:18:16,410 --> 00:18:19,740 Maiki Lynch: this has been, By All Accounts. By All Accounts is 355 00:18:19,740 --> 00:18:23,880 Maiki Lynch: a Fresh Air Production for ACCA. Its Lead Producer is 356 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,929 Maiki Lynch: Eva Higginbotham and its Executive Producer is Annie Day, with 357 00:18:27,929 --> 00:18:30,688 Maiki Lynch: support from Sarah Moore. Yohan Forbes is the Videographer.