Amber Dickinson

I joined Goodman Jones fresh out of Nottingham University with a degree in Classics – which is about as far from accountancy as you can get! However, I knew I wanted to work in the Finance industry and the ACA is one of the best qualifications for gaining an appreciation of different corporations and the types of business issues they face as well as a thorough technical knowledge of audit, tax and corporate reporting.

I chose Goodman Jones because of the open and welcoming culture that was palpable from the minute I walked in for interview. There is a real sense of community and caring from partner level down, and I liked the fact that everyone is approachable and friendly regardless of department or rank. The camaraderie amongst the trainees is as strong now, that I am in my third year, as it was when I first joined. From the outset we are encouraged to learn by asking our peers and it is so fulfilling to be able to explain and share my knowledge from the past two years with the new intake of trainees.

The technical training for the ACA exams is provided by First Intuition, whose London branch is conveniently located about 30 seconds away from the office! The service and support they provide is excellent and due to their size, you get a very personalised approach to your tuition. This is mirrored by the on-the-job audit training and responsibility you are given from your very first day. As a first year, your time is split evenly between accounts preparation work and audit jobs, and as a second and third year you get the opportunity to lead audits and be responsible for complete audit files.

We have a wide variety of clients across multiple sectors (construction, media, retail etc) so it is great for getting exposure to different sizes and types of companies and charities and how they are run. Often if you’ve worked on an audit in your first year, you are able to lead it in your second or third year; this enables you to get a tangible sense of your own development and allows you to foster and build on your relationships and interactions with the clients.

It’s not all work though - we have a lively social calendar and are weekly regulars at the local bar! One of the things I value most is the work-life balance that working at Goodman Jones gives you. Our office is located in lively Fitzrovia, only a few minutes away from London’s West End and Oxford Street; and it is not uncommon to spend a lunch break watching the film crews that shoot in the square!

If I had to choose three words to describe my experience of working for Goodman Jones, I would choose; mentored, involved and engaged. Goodman Jones is somewhere that nurtures and supports its trainees, listens to its employees and values their feedback. Most of all, we are inspired to continually improve and be excited about the people we work with and the work that we do.