ACA Trainees: A look inside the onboarding journey

Earlier this month, we welcomed Catalina Serdenciuc, Ruaidhri Morris, and Tim Henderson as our new ICAEW Trainees. Here, we sat down with them to find out why they chose Simmons Gainsford and their experience of the onboarding process so far.

They have already been busy getting to know their ‘SG buddies’ and future work colleagues (having attended our annual summer social on 11 August) and have since spent a short period of time at our East Sussex office familiarising themselves with some of our other departments such as internal accounts, outsourcing, and payroll. Here they have also received the best learning experience possible in respect of understanding and completing clients’ accounts.

Catalina Serdenciuc left Romania to study at UCL (BSc Statistics & Management for Business & MSc Management). She loves travelling to new countries so, at school and university, managed to join projects which took her to Germany, Finland, Dubai, and Belgium.

She said: “The main reasons I chose SG was because of the company culture and benefits. I also received a very good impression from the in-person interview.  The onboarding process has been smooth. Having buddies really helps us to adjust to the new circumstances and it also presents us with multiple points of contact with whom we can communicate.”

Ruaidhri Morris from East Sheen (BA Hons Geography & MSc Management) was a child ski-racer so he feels right at home on the black runs. GCSEs put a halt to skiing competitively but we think he still enjoys the occasional slalom when on holiday!

He said: “I was really impressed by the recruitment process of HAT and then with my experience when I joined SG.  It’s been a breath of fresh air from previous experiences with larger firms. At interview, I was very easily ‘sold’ SG by both Kate Garvie (Head of HR) and Tom Jeffries’ (Associate Partner) passion and enthusiasm. I felt very encouraged about SG being a place that I could fit into well. A tour of the office and glimpses of my potential daily views of London at the close of the interview was the cherry on the cake.

There has been a lot of information to take on (onboarding, in-house and external training, as well as accounts prep) but it has been very rewarding and everything is starting to make sense. So far, I would say that my decision is proving to be the right one!”

Tim Henderson from Leicestershire (BSc Hons International Economics) had an opportunity to study abroad for a year and chose Slovenia. He really enjoyed his time there and made some great friends with whom he remains in touch.

He said: “I liked the idea of joining a mid-sized accountancy firm so I could experience working on a diverse range of projects with all members of a team from juniors to partners, as well as being able to benefit from joining with a cohort of trainees on a set pathway rather than joining alone. I also really liked the work culture and atmosphere at SG and felt that I would enjoy working with the people here. SG is very supportive of their trainees’ development, such as giving time to study for the ACA exams at college, which has really helped me progress.

Onboarding has gone smoothly. I was assigned two buddies to assist me with problems or questions that I may have, which has been very helpful. Meeting the rest of SG at the summer party was also nice as it allowed me to get to know other people from a range of different teams – my first week in the office was made a lot easier by recognising a few faces from the party.”

(Unfortunately Tim couldn’t be in the photo as he has suffered a broken wrist/ Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery)

We work hard to get the right balance for our trainees. We start with a gentle settling in period, where they will get to know their team members and fellow colleagues and then start to gain an understanding of their role as a future accountant, as well as the culture and expectations of the firm.

We gradually introduce the right tools and resources to guide and support them. Two of our established ACA trainees, Alyce Perry and Will Holden deliver an in-house training programme titled: An introduction to SG’s systems and softwares, and we work with an external training provider who helps to build their skills in the areas of organisation, managing priorities, teamwork, and communication.

Will commented: “As someone who went through the training process myself (I joined as an AAT apprentice and am now sitting my advanced ICAEW ACA exams) I am proud that I am trusted to deliver the initial internal training sessions for new trainees. This shows the career and personal development opportunities available at SG. It also allows Alyce and I to connect with the new members of staff and, in turn, encourages them to engage with the sessions and tasks we have set.

The knowledge and skills that the new trainees have already demonstrated has been extremely impressive, and I look forward to working with them in the near future. For now, lunching with them in the West End will have to do!”

In addition, Daryush Farshchi-Heidari (Senior Training Partner & QPRT) commented: “Welcoming new accountancy trainees lays the foundations for the future success of the firm. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm are invaluable assets that drive innovation and excellence in our profession.”

Are you a graduate or school leaver?

We are pleased to be partnered with the HAT Group of Accountants to offer ACA and AAT training programmes which begin in January and August each year. So, if you are a graduate wishing to gain the ICAEW ACA qualification or a school-leaver/someone with work experience who now wishes to gain the AAT qualification, we would love to hear from you.

More information: https://www.sgllp.co.uk/graduates-and-school-leavers/