Why choose an accountancy career with Perrys?

There’s a common misconception that accountancy is a bit dull, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there’s a wealth of career options awaiting you, and as a trusted professional, you’ll be helping to make a major contribution to your clients’ business success.

Perrys was started 40 years ago and since then we have been helping businesses and individuals with a wide range of accountancy needs across a variety of disciplines.

The cornerstone of this work is or Perrys Purpose – the values we strive towards every day. Through this, we aim to:

• Provide opportunities for all
• Deliver a personal service
• Ensure honest and clear communication at all times
• Create a friendly, flexible and engaging environment
• Provide support and stability for success
• Create a place where we are proud to work

Our staff are the foundation for everything we stand for at Perrys. Everyone at Perrys has a part to play in making sure we maintain the Perrys Purpose and create a culture we all want to be part of.

Here at Perrys, we are extremely proud of our team, many of whom have been with us since they started their careers.

Here, we spoke to three of them to find out more about their work and what life is like at Perrys.

 

Samantha Corse, Company Secretarial Manager, West Malling 

Sam has been with Perrys since 1989, having started with us as a trainee. Since then, she has qualified and moved into management and is our Company Secretarial Manager.

Why did you choose to become an accountant?

It wasn’t a conscious decision at all. After I left school, I saw an advertisement for a trainee position with Perrys and thought I could give it a go. I applied, got the job and haven’t looked back since. Sometimes fate means things work out!

What do you specialise in and why did you choose to go down this route?

My specialism is company secretarial. After progressing as a trainee and qualifying as an accountant, I worked for the senior partner as the manager. In 1997, I had my first child and, after returning from maternity leave, I wanted to find a discipline that I could focus on fully within the hours of my job. Dealing with company secretarial matters was an excellent fit. My accounting background combined with my management experience meant I could dedicate the hours I worked fully to this area.

What do you like most about working at Perrys?

There are so many things – too many to list! The fact that as of April 2023 I have worked for Perrys for 34 years probably answers this question best!

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in accountancy?

Do not dismiss it because you think it isn’t for you or is boring. It is anything but!

 

Dan Powley MMath FCCA, Consultant, Tunbridge Wells

Dan joined Perrys in October 2013 as a trainee accountant after graduating from the University of Warwick with a Master of Mathematics degree that same year. He qualified in 2017, winning two global prize winner awards along the way. Daniel now manages our Tunbridge Wells office organising and overseeing audit assignments, compliance work and training junior members of the team.

Why did you choose to become an accountant?

When I was nearing the end of my university degree, I wanted to find a career where I would be exposed to a wide range of businesses and be able to experience lots of variety in my day-to-day work. I had undertaken a two-week work experience placement with another firm nearby when I was 16, and, having had a positive experience there, I felt that accountancy would be the right choice for me.

What do you specialise in and why did you choose to go down this route?

I specialise in a few areas! I am one of a few audit managers at the practice, so I am heavily involved with audits throughout the year. I also handle a large number of tax returns for individuals, especially during the busy tax season, as well as some of the more technical accounts preparation. I like having a variety of areas to work in, so that no two days are the same!

What do you like most about working at Perrys?

We have a really friendly, welcoming and collaborative environment here at Perrys. We have the benefits of working in small, tight-knit office with the experience and knowledge of the wider firm readily available.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in accountancy?

Practical experience is crucial, so working in a practice environment is ideal. The accounting qualifications are important too – working towards these while learning on the job will complement one another.

 

Scott Jiggins AAT ACCA, Director Perrys Audit, London

Scott joined Perrys in 2013 and works as part of the accounts team in London. Since qualifying in AAT and ACCA, Scott has become a Director for Perrys Audit and is mainly focused on the audits of various sized companies in different industries. He is also involved in statutory accounts preparation, corporation and personal tax, as well as providing other accounting and financial advice to clients.

Why did you choose to become an accountant?

While I was at secondary school, I spent time at a firm of accountants as part of my work experience. When I left school, I decided to follow this up and studied AAT at college. This went well and it turned out I was a natural, so I decided to become an accountant full time.

What do you specialise in and why did you choose to go down this route?

I specialise in audit and financial reporting. These were areas of interest to me and my main strengths while studying, so it was a good fit. In practice, working in audit has meant that I get to meet all sorts of people at our clients’ businesses and learn more about how they operate in their respective industries.

What do you like most about working at Perrys?

The career opportunities that are available. The location and setup of the offices across London and Kent is a real advantage – we work as small teams in each office, but still have the chance to work with our other colleagues across the firm.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in accountancy?

Start working towards an accountancy qualification so you can build on the basic knowledge. Working at a firm of accountants in a training contract will mean that your training costs will be covered. It also gives you the practical experience, which is important.

Want to find out more?

The road to becoming an accountant is paved with exams, so you’ll need to be prepared for some serious studying, but if you’re ambitious, the sky really is the limit! All you need now is to take your first step …

If you’d like to know more about a career with Perrys, please contact us and start your journey towards becoming an accountant with us.