Press Releases
September 2011
The sky's the limit for accountancy student
An accountancy student got more than he bargained for after experiencing a flying lesson on the first day of a work shadowing placement at Essex-based Chartered Accountancy firm Rickard Keen.
Seventeen-year-old Stuart Mercer, who is currently studying for his A-Levels at Palmer's College in Grays, took to the air after visiting one of Rickard Keen's clients –Sussex Flying Club, based at Shoreham Airport– with practice partner Noel Kelleway.
This was followed by a visit to the client's house where the pair was shown a large number of superbikes and military jets that had been collected and refurbished over the years.
It certainly turned out to be more than the average day in the life of an accountant.
"The first day I had shadowing Noel was a very unexpected one to say the least," said Stuart.
"On the first day I was lucky enough to visit the Sussex Flying Club and meet an individual who has been a client of Rickard Keen for more than 30 years.
"After being given a tour around the company I was given a fantastic opportunity to participate in a flying lesson while Noel and his client had a meeting.
"This was the first day in the life of a Chartered Accountant that I had experienced, however I had to be constantly reminded that this was not the average day in the life of an accountant.
"I soon found out this to be true the next day – where unfortunately no flying lessons were taking place."
Stuart is currently undertaking a two-week shadowing experience with the award winning accountancy firm.
He said: "Being a student at a public college studying accounting, all I knew about accounting was the numerical/number crunching side of accounting and believed this was the majority of work undertaken by a Chartered Accountant.
"I soon learned that this wasn't the case and that actually solving businesses and clients' problems was a huge part of the work of Rickard Keen, not just the numerical side of things that I had experienced."
Noel Kelleway added: "It was great to have Stuart around the office and made us see things in a somewhat different light from his point of view.
"I'm sure he gained much from the experience and achieved a far greater understanding of life as a Chartered Accountant."
Rickard Keen was named Training Firm of the Year at the Essex Accountancy and Business Awards, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), in May; the second time the firm has won an ICAEW award in Essex after scooping the Accountancy Firm of the Year accolade last year.
Rickard Keen has offices in Basildon and Southend.
For more information, please contact Rickard Keen on 01702 347771 or visit www.rickardkeen.co.uk.