Natasha Robson
2016 Accounting and Finance BSc graduate Natasha is Audit Assistant Manager at Azets in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
About Natasha
Nationality: British
Current role: Audit Assistant Manager at Azets
Current location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Studied: Accounting and Finance BSc
Graduation year: 2016
Interview
Since graduating, what have you gone on to do?
Since graduating in July 2016, I had been working towards my ACA chartered qualification at a medium-sized firm in Newcastle. Day-to-day, I prepared accounts for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies, completed bookkeeping tasks, submitted VAT returns and also regularly participated in audits.
Is that what you planned to do before starting university?
Yes, by choosing to study Accounting and Finance as a degree I wanted to continue my education and become chartered whilst gaining practical work experience.
What was your favourite thing about your course?
The variety of modules we had the option to take meant that I could tailor my learning to my strengths.
Did you complete a placement year/study abroad/summer internship during your time at Newcastle?
During my second and third year, I completed a six-week placement at Ryecroft Glenton. This showed me what a job and practical work would actually be and confirmed it was what I wanted to do. It also got my toe in the door and they offered me a graduate job for the following year!
During that summer I also completed three weeks at a builders' merchant in their finance department, which was enough to know that I wanted to work in practice rather than industry.
What extra-curricular activities or societies were you involved with during your time here?
I was the President of the Women's Rugby Club at Newcastle University for two years.
How do you see future technologies or new ways of working (future of work) affecting your sector?
The introduction of making tax digital is changing the face of accounting with cloud-based software being the only option going forward.
The sector is increasingly becoming more digitised and the expectation of real-time, accurate information is now the norm. Therefore, emphasis on the advice and humanised side of numbers is the real key to future successes.
Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
Hopefully as a fully qualified and successful accountant, still playing rugby and most of all happy!
Join a club or society, this will allow you to meet people who will change your life and give you access to so many opportunities!