In this episode of the Human Too Podcast, host Hannah Macdonald chats with Andy Fitzsimmons about his unique journey from a chemistry degree to becoming the Commercial Director at Kaplan. Andy shares insights into his career path, the challenges of balancing work and study, and the importance of being authentic and empathetic in both personal and professional life. Tune in to hear about his experiences, the evolving landscape of the finance industry, and the role of community and creativity in his life.
In this episode of the Human Too Podcast, I chat with Libby Walklett, known as The Ethical Bookkeeper. We discuss Libby's journey from her early career in various jobs to becoming a qualified accountant and business owner. We discuss many topics including the importance of community, ethics in bookkeeping, and the challenges faced in the accounting profession. Libby reflects on her achievements, the significance of hobbies outside of work, and emphasises the need for resilience and support for young people in the industry.
In this episode I talk to Nikki Richmond, who is a Tax Exam Coach (on the AH platform), Career coach & Accounting, Maths & VAT Tutor! She’s also a Voiceover artist and she’s hosted a radio show.
After many years’ experience working in tax advisory at PwC (and a year teaching ACA) Nikki has turned her skills and experience towards coaching and training tax professionals so that they can thrive in their careers.
Nikki has over a decade’s experience working in VAT and also works as a freelance VAT specialist.
We had a wide ranging chat on this episode. I particularly enjoyed learning about some of the unspoken rules to progress and thrive in the Big4 environment. We also talked about returning to work after a career break, which is something she supports professionals with now.
And of course, we talked about a challenging time in Nikki’s life and what she learnt from that experience.
Nikki’s passion for tax really comes across and she’s the perfect person to speak to if you are struggling with a tax exam resit, whether through ATT/CTA or as part of ACCA and ACA exams!
Zoe Tanner is Founder and CEO at Sytrus, and a dabbling Angel Investor.
Zoe, decided not to go to university and instead studied AAT then went on to complete her ACCA studies.
In this episode we discuss exam fails, apprenticeships, becoming an entrepreneur, angel investing, the gender VC investment gap and more!
Matt Adamson is a Burnout and Career Coach, and features on the Accountancy Hub platform. He specialises in helping professionals achieve success sustainably in all areas of life, with his 20 years of corporate experience, most recently as an Executive Director at UBS
In this episode, Matt shares his personal experience with burnout, noting symptoms can be subtle and often go unrecognised. He reflects on the recovery process, the importance of therapy, and the lessons he learned about self-care and sustainability in one's career.
We discuss systemic issues in the workplace but the importance of personal choices as well. Matt is a big believer that as an individual we have agency in preventing burnout and developing sustainable success. Sometimes burnout can be about a disconnect to purpose, self-limiting beliefs, and even a distancing from family and friends.
This is a brilliant episode for anyone in a senior high pressure role but also accountancy and tax trainees who are in their early careers juggling work/study and a personal life.
In this episode, Ben Wilson shares his career journey to becoming an an ACCA Expert Tutor with his own tuition business focusing on helping students pass the Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) exam.
We chat about the challenges of balancing work and study, the key to success in ACCA exams, and the significance of networking and seizing opportunities in one's career.
We also explore Ben's recent ADHD diagnosis and the importance of understanding one's strengths and weaknesses in the workplace.
Thank you Ben!
In this episode, we chat to Career Coach Natasha Weller, who shares her journey from a corporate career to coaching. Natasha discusses the importance of workplace culture, how to navigate job hunting, and common themes she encounters with her coaching clients, including career confusion and setbacks. She emphasises the need for intentional career choices and the value of understanding one's own strengths and preferences in the workplace. We discuss the nuances of career fulfilment, the importance of positioning oneself for success, understanding transferable skills, and the human element of professional life.
In this episode, host Hannah speaks with Andrew Mower, an ACCA AFM tutor with a background in forensic accounting at PwC.
Andrew shares insights on the pressures of early career life, the importance of mindset for exam success, maintaining a work-life balance, and the realities of parenting while pursuing a career in accountancy.
Dr Jim is an education and business consultant. He specialises in 'resilient' leadership development, organisational culture and performance.
He is a Principal Education Advisor for Education Development Trust, a Senior Advisor for Independent Economics, Director of his consultancy services and co-founder of The Great Oracy Toolkit.
Themes in this episode: learning theory, polyvagal theory and anxiety, ethical leadership, workplace culture, careers.
https://www.drjimrogers.co.uk
https://www.greatoracytoolkit.co.uk
Mary is an associate at EY, specialising in both audit and consulting within the Commodities sector.
Prizewinner at the inaugural EY Foundation Enterprise Competition in 2024, and in 2025 taking on the additional role of Corporate Responsibility Lead in London, she is determined to use her position as a force for good.
With an Arts background (professional oboe player!), Mary has found the world of finance a rewarding place to work, where skills such as creativity, leadership and teamwork have helped her forge a path within one of the Big Four.
In this episode we chat to Tom Clendon, ACCA SBR Online Lecturer and Podcast Host. Themes include:
After finishing school at 16 years old Max started an accountancy apprenticeship with a small accountancy proactice in Altrincham. He studied AAT and then went on to become an ICAEW chartered accountant. After working as a member of their accounts team for six years he moved to UHY Hacker Young in Manchester as a senior member of their Cloud team. In the summer of 2021, Max moved to Accounts & Legal to take on the role of opening their new Liverpool office.
2024 marked the year he left practice, to work in the world of accounting tech for DEXT!
Themes in this episode include exam failures, apprenticeships, accountancy exams, dyslexia, careers and the accountancy industry.
Andy is an AAT & ICB qualified Accounting professional. He has over 10 years of related experience and is currently studying towards his CIMA qualification.
Andy is a huge advocate of the AAT and actively involved in supporting students and members in his spare time. He is also on the committee for his local branch network.
Andy is passionate about raising awareness for Mental Health, ED&I and LGBTQ+ within the workplace and community.
The main topics covered in this episode are:
As a single mum of two, Francesca decided 13 years ago that she wanted to create a better life for herself and her children so she went back into education to study her AAT Level 4 and trained at a top accountancy firm.
Francesca is the Founder and Managing Director of Future Cloud Accounting. She is also a Director and Trustee of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
Some of the themes in this episode include the challenges of running a business, overcoming all that life throws at you and having an unwavering dedication to better yourself, provide a brilliant service to your customers.
If women have equal leadership ability, why are they so under-represented at the top in business and society?
Find out in this special episode with author, consultant and NED Gill Whitty-Collins.
Website
https://gillwhittycollins.com/
http://linkedin.com/in/gillwhittycollins
https://instagram.com/gillwhittycollins
@gillwhittycollins
Twitter/X
https://twitter.com/gwhittycollins
@gwhittycollins
Link to buy book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Men-Win-Work-Inequality-dp-1910022497/dp/1910022497/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Gary Bandy has been a chartered public finance accountant since 1990. His career was mostly in local government and included 3 years as the Chief Finance Officer of a metropolitan council.
Gary has also taught public financial management at several universities in the UK as well as sharing his expertise with civil servants in places, including Rwanda, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan.
He is the author of two text books and writes examinations!
But most importantly, he’s hosting an Accountancy Hub webinar on presentation skills - he’s passionate about supporting accountants to both present and write effectively and with confidence.
"Football's Chartered Accountant". ACCA Accountant Jeff Narweh talks to us about hitting rock bottom during his journey to qualification, how to secure a role at the Premier League and what it means to have a growth mindset.
Sunny Yang was the youngest and first ever Chinese Chair of the Chartered Accountants Student Society of London (CASSL). He's currently working in Corporate Tax Advisory at EY under an apprenticeship and studying to be an ICAEW chartered accountant and CTA!
We discuss apprenticeships vs university, the importance of mental and physical health, what it means to be an accountant and how he’s faced failure - to FAIL is your First Attempt At Learning :D.
In this episode I talk to Sarah Beale who is CEO of the accountancy qualification AAT (the Association of Accountancy Technicians).
We discuss what it means to be a leader, workplace culture, inclusion and diversity and, as usual, the future of the accountancy industry.
Deborah has over two decades of board level leadership, chairing audit committees for many notable organisations.
In 2016 she founded Lean In UK Network - growing from six women to over 8,000.
She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and became the first black person to chair the London association in its 152 year history.
Sexism in the City: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43731/documents/217019/default/
Rebel Ideas: https://www.matthewsyed.co.uk/book/rebel-ideas-the-power-of-diverse-thinking/
7 minute workout: