Supporting our trainees through their ICAEW exams

Professional exams are an important part of becoming a Chartered Accountant. Here, we believe they should be only one part of a much wider learning experience.

Members of our team are currently progressing through professional accountancy training, including the highly regarded ICAEW ACA qualification.

Completing the ACA involves demanding technical study alongside practical work experience and professional development.

That combination is exactly why we place such an emphasis on supporting trainees both inside and outside the exam room.

Alexander Knight & Co is an accredited training employer and provides structured support for colleagues undertaking professional qualifications.

That includes support towards exam fees but equally importantly our trainees are able to put what they learn into practice with real clients. From relatively early in their careers, team members gain experience across accounts preparation, audit, tax and other areas of the practice, working alongside experienced colleagues and dealing with a diverse client base.

We do not want somebody to reach the end of their exams with excellent theoretical knowledge but little understanding of how an entrepreneurial business actually operates! Our trainees are also encouraged to develop the wider skills increasingly expected of modern accountants, including communication, teamwork, commercial awareness and the confidence to build strong relationships with clients.

Those skills complement the technical knowledge developed through professional study.

Alison Spier, Head of HR & Training at Alexander Knight & Co, said:

“The ICAEW exams are demanding and anybody progressing through them deserves recognition for the amount of work involved.

“Our role is to give trainees the support and practical experience they need alongside their studies. Passing exams is important, but ultimately, we want to develop rounded, confident professionals who understand clients and understand business.

“We take a personal interest in each trainee’s development and it is incredibly rewarding to see them progressing through their qualifications and taking on greater responsibility within the firm.”

Investment in trainees is also investment in the future of Alexander Knight & Co. We are proud to develop talented people at the start of their careers and give them the opportunity to build those careers right here in Hale.

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