Here's what Sophie had to say:
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a Director?
My first experience of working in accountancy was during work experience from school. When I completed my Highers at Mintlaw Acadamy I decided not to attend university and joined SBP as an Accounts Assistant in November 2013. When I first started I had very little accounting knowledge, but by working with my colleagues and being able to learn from them, I started my learning journey focusing on work such as accounts preparation, bookkeeping and VAT returns. Shortly after I then began my Association of Chartered Certification Accounts (ACCA) exams. In 2019, and after 13 exams, I became a fully qualified accountant and am proud to say that I have now manage a client base with over £300,000 worth of fees.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
My role is really varied which I find exciting and rewarding! My focus and speciality lies in accounting, corporate tax and personal tax providing proactive guidance and support to my clients. Additionally, I oversee daily operations at the Peterhead office with a team of 10 and work closely with SBP's Management Team to develop our internal processes and contribute to the achievement of the firm's strategic ambitions.
What do you enjoy most at SBP?
There are lots of things that I enjoy here at SBP, but the people I work with are on top of the list (and yes, my father and Managing Partner, John, is included in this!) From the assistance I got at the start of my career to the client work I do today, the amazing support of our whole team makes every day a pleasure to work alongside them. Personal development is also a big focus here; I recently started a Leadership Development Program with five members of the management team to improve our management skill set which has been interesting and very enjoyable.
What advice would you give young people entering the industry?
I hope I can be an inspiration to those that are about to start their career in accountancy and I aim to give the same support I was shown to all of our new starts. I would encourage school leavers to explore the options available to you and do what you feel is right. I think a lot people assume you have to go to university to become an accountant, but that isn't the case. There are opportunities to begin work straight from school or college enabling you to gain invaluable experience in the workplace whilst studying in your own time to become a fully qualified accountant. Find a workplace that develops you to ensure you fulfil your potential and surround yourself with people who want to help you on your journey.
SBP Accountants & Business Advisers (SBP), a leading North-east accountancy firm with offices in Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Banff, has announced the promotion of Sophie Hannah to the position of Director.