A training contract gave David Ruddell the opportunity to explore a career in accountancy.
Read how he became a Principal Accountant at Wylie Ruddell
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I trained at PwC for four years to become a Chartered Accountant. I mainly worked in the Assurance department on audit engagements in Northern Ireland and in England. I moved to AR Wylie & Co as a Chartered Accountant in 2010 which had just been set up by former PwC Partner Alan Wylie. I joined an experienced team at AR Wylie & Co and this created an excellent environment where I was able to learn and develop new skills to complement my background in auditing. I was made partner in 2016.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I enjoyed Maths and Physics at school as I enjoyed the precise nature of calculations. Numbers and calculations came more naturally to me than English. There is a common misconception that you need to be good at maths to become an accountant, this is not the case, however you do need to be comfortable working with numbers.
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I have a keen interest in the agri-sector and so I studied at the College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and Queen’s University Belfast completing a BSc (Hons) Degree in Agricultural Technology. I was fortunate in year two to take part in an exchange program where I spent a semester studying at Michigan State University. My degree course included a work placement year where I gained work experience in USA and New Zealand.
How did you get into your area of work?
I applied for a trainee position at PwC through the Milkround process. At that stage I was not certain that an accountancy career was for me. Alternative job offers at the time included a farm management position in Saudi Arabia so had I not secured my position at PwC I suspect my career would have been very different. I was delighted to receive a job offer from PwC and accepted as they had great support for trainees and it would open many doors in terms of future job opportunities.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Not at all. I started with PwC still not sure what the long-term future might hold in terms of career. As my training contract progressed it became clear to me that I wanted to pursue a career in a local accountancy practice catering for local business. It also offered an opportunity to work with the local agri-food sector.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
No. I entered accountancy as a ‘non-relevant’ graduate. The only thing you need is a willingness to work hard and learn.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
Yes. There is an excellent path for school leavers who will come into the profession as Trainee Accounting Technicians. After becoming an Accounting Technician you can commence a training program to become a Chartered Accountant.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Communication is the key to success in any job. The ability to effectively communicate with clients and colleagues in both written and oral form is the most important personal skill that we all can improve upon.
What does a typical day entail?
Genuinely every day is different. As an accountant in practice you are speaking with different clients each day and I really enjoy that variety. Typically, I start my day by checking my emails and answering any overnight queries I’ve received from clients. At Wylie Ruddell, we are proud that our steady growth over the last ten years has been through client retention and referrals from existing clients and professional peers. We don’t take this responsibility lightly and providing our clients with a quality advice and service has always been key to our success. Due to the nature of the job, there are lots of deadlines to work to for each client, so I prioritise my day based on what needs done. We provide a wide range of services to support all aspects of business including a range of Compliance Services; Support Services, Consultancy and Systems Advice and I would spend most of my day working with colleagues and liaising with clients to support their requirements.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspect of my job is helping a client to overcome a particular challenge they have been dealing with. This could be regarding succession planning or tax planning. The most challenging aspect would be dealing with situations where business owners have differences that they cannot resolve. Quite often it can be a family business and much is at stake in terms of finance and personal relationships. Successful resolution of these cases provides a great sense of job satisfaction.
Why is what you do important?
We provide an essential service to our clients. This has been very clear over this past 12 months where clients required support interpreting the numerous government support packages to help them to survive the Covid-19 crisis. “The best aspect of my job is helping a client to overcome a particular challenge they have been dealing with.”
How has COVID-19 impacted your business/role?
2020 was the most challenging year in our 10 years of trading. Whilst we had all the technology in place for working from home, we mainly worked in an office environment. Microsoft Teams and Zoom has become the norm but nothing beats face to face (even if it’s socially distanced) communication.
What adjustments have you had to make?
The main adjustment has been working from home. We had the system in place to do so, but as a growing team of 14 employees, our main priority was to ensure that our employees made the adjustment from working in the office to working from home, whilst ensuring we provided the same quality service our clients know to expect from Wylie Ruddell. I’m proud to say that this is an adjustment we as a company were able to do seamlessly.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Determine which path is most suited to your personal circumstances. Find a good firm to train with and be willing to work hard.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
As I mentioned, I’ve always had a keen interest in the agri-sector and was always an industry I was passionate to work in. AtWylie Ruddell, we have developed a busy client base in this thriving sector so I am pleased that I can support it through the work I carry out.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Don’t panic. Remember that everyone has a first day at work and your colleagues are there to help you as much as you are helping them.
Describe your ideal day off.
An enjoyable day in Portrush with my wife and kids.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Do your homework, gain some experience and remember first impressions are key
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