Natalie Mackie, Senior Accounts Assistant at SBP
We asked Natalie to share what a typical day in her role looks like at SBP, while also balancing her final year of studies at RGU.
Discussing her progression and journey into her role at SBP, this is what Natalie had to say:
Can you tell us about your journey to get where you are today in your career?
I left Turriff Academy after sixth year in 2018 to study Economics and Politics, at the University of Edinburgh, as I had a great passion for politics and my aspiration was to become a political advisor. However, after 2 months at university, I very quickly realised that this was not the path for me, and I moved back home to reevaluate.
I had enjoyed studying accountancy when I was at school but chose not to take this route as all I had heard about accountancy was the stereotype of accountants being 'boring'. I had then chosen accountancy as my elective subject at university, and it was the only class where I felt I could understand and enjoy the lessons. After reflecting on this, I decided to apply to go back to university the following year to study either accountancy or law, as this was another subject of interest. However, long before I had even chosen which degree subject I would go with, I decided to get myself a full-time job to make a little more money in the meantime. I ended up getting a job as a Business Advisory Assistant in an accountancy firm and within the first few weeks I knew that this was exactly what I was meant to do with my career. I then deferred my university place and I have not looked back since. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that accountants are not boring!
From there, I have spent 5 valuable years learning on the job and consistently developing my accountancy skills and knowledge. In September 2020, I started the Robert Gordons University Graduate Apprenticeship in Accountancy. This is a relatively new route to becoming a Chartered Accountant which combines a university degree along with the professional qualification.
After joining SBP in November 2023, I am loving every minute of it and I have recently been promoted to Senior. I am now coming towards the end of my fourth year on the Graduate Apprenticeship course and, provided that I successfully pass my next set of exams, I will be due to graduate from university with a BA (Hons) in Accounting this December. Following that, I will have one more year of professional exams to gain my ICAS qualification as a Chartered Accountant which should conclude in December 2025.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
One thing I love about my job is that there really are no two days the same. Each day presents new challenges, new clients and new tasks. It wouldn't be uncommon for me to show my colleagues a scenario and say “Well, I have never seen that before” and it always amazes me at how unique each client is.
However, a typical day in my role at SBP will normally start with getting set up, checking my emails and then making a list with my priorities for the day. This list changes daily, depending on different client deadlines and what matters are most pressing.
I will then set about getting through my list of tasks. This will normally include a mixture of accounts preparation, VAT return preparation, tax return preparation, reviewing accounts, requesting records from clients and dealing with any client queries.
This will also often include catching up with a client partner regarding clients that I am working on with them. This gives me the opportunity to give the client partner updates of where a job is at, letting them know if we need any information from the client, asking the client partner to check over any parts of the job for me and asking them for advice on any areas of complexity.
What do you enjoy most at SPB?
What I like most about working at SBP is definitely the people! Everyone in the company has been so welcoming and friendly. I very much feel part of a team here at SBP and everyone is happy to help one another out when it is needed. All of the managers that I work alongside are very approachable and have helped me in my development greatly over the last few months.
Being a people person, I also love working with clients and I find that being able to help them out with any questions or queries is very rewarding.
What has been your biggest challenge in your career and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge that I have faced so far would be juggling full time work and full time studying. When I first started out studying for my exams, I found it difficult to manage both commitments while not forgetting to neglect seeing family and friends and keeping up with exercise and hobbies. It took me a while but over the first year of study I managed to find a routine and technique that allows me to split my time appropriately between work and study while still giving each of them my full attention. I also now always ensure that I set aside time to do things that I enjoy while in the middle of busy exam times as I find this helps to keep my motivation up by giving me some time away from the books.
What is the best advice you have been given?
This might be a little boring but it something that has really stuck with me and helped me a lot in my exams. On my very first induction day for the Graduate Apprenticeship, the course leader told us all to never 'pretend study'. Meaning that if we are ever sitting staring at our books or our screens to fill in the hours when we are supposed to be studying then it is best to get up, get outside, or do something else for 5 or 10 minutes and then try to come back to it or even just change the topic altogether as a change can be better than a rest. This is something that I have always done when I catch myself 'pretend studying' and it has seriously increased my productivity.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I love to bake and The Great British Bake Off is up there with one of my favourite TV shows!