Matthew Redwood completes his ATT and sets his sights on the CTA
Following two years of working with us at Warrener Stewart in London, we are delighted to announce that Matthew Redwood – or Matt, to all who know him – has completed his ATT qualification.
We recently caught up with Matt to discuss his journey, his experience of the training, and how, with all the studying, he managed to find the right work-life balance. What stood out was Matt’s ability to perfectly calculate his approach. Given his aptitude for accounting, plus his attention to detail and drive for perfection, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. But still, fitting six exams and weeks of lectures and study around a full-time job is no easy task.
However, Matt explained that the course has been well designed. Everything you need to know is covered in the lectures. “If you listen, you’ll learn, and you’ll pass,” Matt told us. Sounds so simple. The paper exams, of which there are three, can also only be sat in May and November – generally the quietest months for Tax Accountants.
“That definitely helped,” continued Matt. “My manager was also great. When we were naturally quiet, he’d let me study. That was a huge help. He also aligned my day-to-day work with whatever I was studying. I think that would be quite difficult in a larger firm, where you’re likely to be in a siloed specialist role. So Warrener Stewart has played a big part in helping me getting this qualification, no question.”
But it does come back to that ability to manage things well. Knowing only too well that he needed two full years of Tax experience before he was accredited with his ATT qualification, Matt staggered his training over the full two-year period, ensuring that he never felt overly burdened. Matt also found his rhythm by studying and hitting the gym before work, with evenings enjoyed seeing friends and family.
“It’s so important to get that balance right. The qualification is a lot of work – but it’s great, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But I do think you need to spread the load and make sure your personal life and work don’t suffer.”
Wise words. Since qualifying, Matt’s role has evolved. He now manages his own clients and is qualified to give advice as well as correctly calculate the numbers, and he’s relishing the extra responsibility and direct client contact. Never one to stand still, Matt has also already booked his first CTA exam for November.
Matt’s development at Warrener Stewart has been a pleasure to observe. It’s great to know we’ve played our part, and we look forward to seeing how Matt’s future takes shape.
We’re always on the lookout for the next wave of talent – and there’s no better place to start your accountancy career than Warrener Stewart. To find out more about our trainee programs, get in touch.