Andrew Service
- Tell us a bit about your personal background
I'm from a small town called Darvel which is south of Glasgow in Scotland. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, skiing and sailing.
- What is your educational background?
I went to primary school in the town I lived in, attended a state secondary school called Loudoun Academy and then moved to Newcastle to go to University.
- Did you enjoy your time on the programme?
Absolutely. The great thing about the course is that, due to the small class sizes, everybody gets to know each other really well. Also from the work placements, you get the opportunity to experience, live and work in another city across the UK whilst still coming back to Newcastle every year. In the end you come out of it part-qualified, with a degree and with work experience - meaning that there is only a year left after University until you are a fully qualified accountant.
- What are you doing now?
Once I graduated I moved to PwC in Bristol where I worked for a year whilst completing my professional exams. I had worked in the Bristol office for my placements. I then moved overseas with PwC to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean where I am currently working.
- How has your programme helped develop your career?
The way the course is structured means that it only takes a year after University until you become fully qualified, which is when the opportunities really open up. If I had not done the course, I wouldn't be in the Cayman Islands right now. So for me the course has meant that I have worked in the UK and overseas early on in my career, which I'm hoping will come in helpful later on.
- How easy was the transition from the degree to full-time working life?
It was very easy. The fact that you had completed placements meant that you knew what work you were going to be doing, and if you went to the same office full-time as you did your placements in (like I did), the people were familiar and so it was a very smooth process.
- Describe a typical day now.
A typical day at work involves a five minute commute along the Caribbean coast to the office, followed by a day in work auditing hedge funds or banks before leaving to catch the sunset by the beach in the evening, all in hot temperatures! And then the weekend involves going to the beach, diving and relaxing!
