We’re back with another team spotlight and this time we’re celebrating and catching up with Alisha, who was recently promoted.
Tell us about your role
I was a cloud accountant but I recently got promoted and I’m currently moving into my new role which has been great. I’ll mainly be working in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) which I’m really excited about. On a day-to-day basis I’ll be involved with management processes, cashflow processes, month end reports, onboarding clients and working alongside them to make sure they’re getting the most from their services.
What made you want to be an accountant?
After I finished my A-levels, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I studied maths, music and chemistry and knew I didn’t want to go to university. I spotted an accounting apprenticeship opening and, on a whim, decided I’d give it a go.
It ended up working out really nicely and made me realise that my interest in finance and accounting had always been there as when I was younger, I liked fundraising and helping charities with their finances. I finished my apprenticeship and moved on to my next level which I completed with Blu Sky, so I’m now a fully qualified accountant! I will be moving on to my chartered accountant studies next which I’m looking forward to.
What made you want to be a financial planning and analysis accountant?
I know that I like variety and working closely with clients and that’s what financial planning and analysis is all about. It’s a role that’s really well suited to me as I enjoy engaging work, where I’m not stuck looking at what has happened but can help clients look ahead instead. I like chatting to people to find out more about their goals, then getting their reports and accounts into a place where they can go forward and make informed decisions. It’s also really rewarding and it’s great to make a difference.
What is your favourite part about working at Bly Sky?
I definitely have more than one favourite part. First is the amount of variety I get. One day I could be dealing with management information, the next I’m helping with strategy then the day after I’m out all day in Manchester networking and catching up with clients.
Next is the team because they’re so open to helping out and sharing knowledge. I’ve had experiences before where I’ve been made to feel like a burden because I’ve asked for help, but that just isn’t the case at Blu Sky.
Last but not least is how rewarding the job can be. It’s really nice when a client shares how you’ve helped them and says thank you, it means a lot. I really enjoy having a positive impact, whether that’s with a client or a team member.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
I would definitely say it’s don’t be afraid to slow down a bit. When I first started my accounting qualifications, I absolutely flew through them. As they started to get more in depth and challenging, I expected to keep the same pace and found it hard to keep up with my expectations. It took me awhile to get comfortable with the fact that it’s not always going to be as quick. I now know that it’s absolutely fine to slow down and pace yourself.
What’s a fun fact about you that people might not know?
I play piano and sing in a band! We mainly perform covers at weddings and corporate events. I really enjoy it and have played piano since I was a teen. Before I was in the band, I used to play piano and sing solo, but being in a group gives me so much more variety.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who’s considering becoming an accountant?
Make sure you experiment and don’t be afraid of change. There are so many options in accounting. At one point I thought I wanted to focus on audit, but I tried it and changed my mind. You should try all different avenues and you’ll find the stuff you like and dislike. Trying everything will help you find your niche and what you enjoy will become obvious.
Find out more about our team
We’ll be back with another team spotlight soon, in the meantime you can follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to see what the team are up to.
