National Apprentice Week Jack Montgomery

In celebration of National Apprentice Week, Jack Montgomery shared his experiences of working as an apprentice with Phipps Henson McAllister.

Jack has been working as an apprentice with Phipps Henson McAllister for three years and during that time, he has cultivated a range of skills that are laying the foundations of a future career.

Having a family connection to the profession with his stepmum as an accountant, Jack wanted to give an apprenticeship in accounting a go, but was unsure what to expect. The level of autonomy that has been given to Jack has been a pleasant surprise, as he is able to work independently with a range of clients.

“I manage the bookkeeping, CIS and VAT returns for some clients,” Jack reflected. “I enjoy being able to just get on with the job and then have work reviewed when it’s time to submit to the client.”

Over the span of his apprenticeship, Jack has come to know Phipps Henson McAllister quite well and has found the work environment to be pleasant.

“They’re a good employer,” Jack noted. “They pay fairly and are accommodating with time for my studying and exams.

“I’m looking to qualify and become a Chartered Accountant one day, so it’s good to have the support I need while I’m going through the levels. I’m still thinking about my speciality and look forward to trying out new things.”

One aspect that did come as a surprise to Jack was how technologically focused the role of accounting has become.
“It’s very much an IT job as well as working with numbers.

“You’ve got to be fairly computer literate to get the most out of it and ready to work within a time frame.”

Gaining the skills to understand financial statements is something that Jack has appreciated over the course of his apprenticeship and has led him to commit to a career in accounting.