Last month I became a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Accountant! Saying it out loud it still feels surreal. I have been on quite an adventure since Alison hired me in July 2007. I have graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy, married, been on an OE, had a baby, started building a house and met a lot of lovely people along the way.  

An accounting career is by no means where I thought I would end up; I was initially studying conservation and environmental management at Northtec. Knowing I wanted to stay in Kerikeri I considered my job prospects and was still undecided when I saw PKF Poutsma Lemon Limited (formerly Horwath Poutsma Ardern Limited) advertising a job in their Paihia Office. So off I toddled with my CV, nervous as heck to drop it off personally at the Paihia Office (I lived in Kerikeri at that time). Shortly afterwards I received a phone call requesting an interview in the Kerikeri Office , not the Paihia Office as had been advertised.

Interview day rolls around and I'm really nervous (I had only experienced one job interview as I stayed at my former job for 7 years– thank you Kerikeri New World). I became even more nervous as I bumped in to Alison in town while wearing civvies! Anyhow the interview must have gone well because I am still here today 8 years later!.

The Chartered Accountancy journey is a long but fulfilling one, I took a slightly different path to most and completed my studies while working rather than going to university full time. The journey usually goes a bit like this:

1)      Obtain a three year degree while completing the paper requirement specified by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. When I first started there was a requirement to complete four years of university study, I completed 7/8 of the fourth year when the rules changed again back to three years!! (of course!). I completed my papers by correspondence through Massey University so it took me a lot longer than three years to graduate.

2)      Obtain three years practical work experience under the guidance of a mentor who is a member of the Institute (thank you Alison).

3)      While working, candidates are required to complete further study in the form of a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. This consisted of four core modules specialising in Audit & Assurance, Taxation, Management Accounting & Applied Finance and, Financial Accounting & Reporting. Then finishing with a Practical Module which brought together all the others as well as our work experience. This also required attendance at three full day workshops in Auckland and a lot of group work.

I, of course, do everything 110%. I had my baby girl Mackenzie two weeks before my taxation exam. She went with nana to a friend in Whangarei while I sat the three hour exam. I was also still feeding her through the Capstone Module as she was very young; those full days were interesting and a bit uncomfortable!

My whole journey has been worth it and I am so glad I responded on a bit of a whim to the job advertisement all those years ago. Thank you so much to my mentor Alison Lemon, for firstly hiring me and then supporting me through all of my studies. I am looking forward to actually receiving my certificate "officially" next year.

Well that's all from me for now. Have a very Merry Christmas. Keep safe and see you in the New Year. Our Kerikeri Office is closing at 12pm on Wednesday the 23^rd of December and re-opening on the 18^th of January at 8.30am.