Trainee chartered accountant aims for new heights

Keen hiker and former apprentice Laura Walker is aiming for new career heights at Baines Jewitt.

The 22 year old from Middleton St George has recently joined our Stockton-based firm, as a trainee chartered accountant.

As one of a number of recent recruits, Laura is delighted to join our growing practice, which has a long history of developing its own talent.

“My career journey began when I started an apprenticeship after finishing my A Levels at sixth form, as I didn’t want to go to university. As part of my four-year apprenticeship I started out at a Darlington firm as a trainee accountant, where I completed Level 3 and Level 4 Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualifications with support from a local college.

“This opened up the idea of gaining further experience and becoming a chartered accountant within a larger Teesside firm and Baines Jewitt fitted the bill perfectly. As well as ongoing training and development, there are plenty of progression opportunities within the firm too.  There are also people here who are a similar age and at the same career stage as me, which appealed.

“As a trainee chartered accountant within Baines Jewitt, I am currently assisting with the preparation of accounts for a variety of clients, including sole traders and partnerships. Beyond that I am looking to help with limited company accounts and I also have some audits coming up.  In addition to the practical hands-on experience at work, I have recently walked the Three Peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – and am studying towards qualifications in Audit & Assurance and Law. I will then move onto further exams at professional and advanced levels,” explains Laura.

On welcoming Laura to the firm, Baines Jewitt director Don Adams said:  “We are delighted that Laura chose to join Baines Jewitt, where she is already proving to be a valuable member of the team.  In return, she benefits from a competitive salary, an attractive employee-based benefits package and our employer-supported professional training programme, which includes paid study leave and good routes for career progression.

“By planning ahead and attracting hard-working, ambitious individuals like Laura, we are able to provide a first-class service to our clients and support our firm’s period of significant growth as the demand for our accountancy, financial and business services continues to increase.”