insideKENT Magazine Issue 48 - March 2016 | Page 137

BUSINESS

EDUCATION IS
KEY TO
BUILDING FOR
THE FUTURE
Paul Nixon

QUALIFICATION SUCCESS IS RIFE AT WILKINS KENNEDY’S KENT OFFICES AT
THE MOMENT. IN JANUARY, FOUR MEMBERS OF STAFF IN ASHFORD
CELEBRATED EXAM SUCCESS, JOINING FELLOW ASHFORD STAFF MEMBER,
ROSIE TURNER, AND MICHELLE STEVENS FROM THE ORPINGTON OFFICE
WHO ACHIEVED THEIR QUALIFICATIONS LAST SEPTEMBER.
Amy-Grace Hammond, Eddie Taylor, Reece
Wootten and Ronnie Yau from Ashford all
achieved their ACA qualification – recognised as
one of the most prestigious professional
qualifications in the UK. Rosie was also an ACA
qualifier and Michelle passed an ACCA
qualification, making her a certified Chartered
Accountant. All will now become fully qualified
team members looking to develop the next stage
of their careers.
Wilkins Kennedy actively encourages students
and young people to train with the firm in order
to develop themselves and achieve their full
potential. Their fresh ideas and an enthusiasm
to learn are extremely beneficial to us. In addition,
youngsters often come fully-equipped with
practical IT skills and so, when it comes to using
cloud accounting, for example, they are ready
to hit the ground running. In fact, many highly
experienced staff and Partners find themselves
learning a thing or two from our students!
In terms of culture, we also recognise that bringing
more young people in to Wilkins Kennedy
produces new blood in to a firm that is 133 years
old – and that is something really important to
us. Despite our age, Wilkins Kennedy has a
diverse and varied employee group but we pride
ourselves on creating and growing our staff’s
knowledge and expertise, even after they are
qualified. We do this through effective and ongoing
training and development programmes, so that
they can achieve their career aspirations as
quickly as possible. The right candidates can
move to Partner level at a young age – and we
have some of the very best Partners on board.
Not only does this mean we are well placed to
offer more young people an excellent career path

and an incentive to stay with us for the long term,
but we are also an attractive place to come to
work. Word quickly spreads about our trainee
and apprenticeship programmes that we have
on offer and we are frequently approached by
colleges and parents asking about our latest
placement opportunities.
But, for many students, the idea of studying at
a university can be a daunting one – and a
prospect which these days can be financially out
of reach for many. However, if a career in
accountancy is something that interests you, a
degree is not the only route.
If you choose to be a chartered accountant, you
gain a professional qualification which can work
flexibly for you too. Many people choose to use
their qualification as a stepping stone to move
into general management or set up their own
business. It is a vast area of specialism, after all,
everyone from hospital trusts to film companies
need an accountant! But, you can decide what
interests you – and then you can focus on it!
If you’d prefer not to pursue the university route,
you can also get to a career in accountancy with
A-Levels, followed by either an AAT or CFAB
qualification, or you can take the CFAB (Certificate
in Finance, Accounting and Business) which will
take you to the first level of the ACA chartered
accountancy qualification. It is also possible to
undertake an AAT-ACA fast track where you can
work at the same time as studying for the AAT.
If university is right for you, then you can expect
to study for a minimum of 3 years, plus an
additional 3 years for your ACA qualification. A
degree in business, accountancy, economics or
law may mean you 6