What course did you study?  

I graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2007 with a BSc Finance with a Year in Industry, and then completed my MSc Finance in 2008.   

 

Why did you choose this course?  

Throughout school I thoroughly enjoyed the technical aspect of Economics, and so I wanted to apply this interest and also understood this degree pathway to be extremely employable. The idea of a placement year also really appealed to me as I wanted the opportunity for a year of professional working experience. 

 

Did you do a placement whilst at Queen’s? 

For my placement I was a Finance Analyst at Intel Ireland in County Kildare, Ireland. I worked in the construction finance division and my main project in the year was liaising with contractors to close off our purchase orders on completion of work and payment of final invoicing, calculating the variance to budget and reporting to management.

My placement role gave me exposure to accounting software, excel and more crucially how to handle myself in a professional environment. 

 

What has your career path been since graduation? 

I completed my professional accounting qualification with KPMG in 2012, working in Audit for the four years. I completed my training contract in Guernsey, so my work was focused on financial services - primarily private equity funds.

I then moved home to Belfast in 2013 and started as a client services accountant with IQ-EQ, once again servicing clients in Private Equity. I progressed to Senior Manager in 2021 managing a team of 15 locally and a significant portfolio of clients across Europe.  

In 2022 I set up Reconcile Search, a specialist recruitment company focusing on Accountancy and Finance roles. 

 

How did your degree prepare you for your current job role?  

My academic background is the foundation for the career I've had to date. I have gone on to work in financial services, managing qualified accountants and developing close relationships with finance leaders because of that. Being a recruitment firm owner means building trust with owners, leaders and professional candidates and having studied Finance at Queen's Business School gives me a big leg up in that regard. 

 

What were your favourite courses, modules or educational takeaways from your time at Queen's and why were they impactful?  

Since I went on to become a Chartered Accountant, I mostly benefitted from the Accounting modules. I didn't personally find pure Accountancy appealing going straight from school and so the opportunity to get a sense of the subject matter as part of the Finance degree was excellent.  

I found the experience of doing those modules really demystified the area of accounting for me going into my first role at KPMG and it gave me confidence. 

 

Did you do any extra-curricular activities whilst at Queen’s?    

I was a part of the Finance Society and that was great socially for meeting people outside the lecture theatre. That's something I took into my professional career too, for example, making sure I see colleagues, clients and managers outside our normal environment to deepen our understanding of one another.   

I also did various part-time jobs at Queen’s including working at enrolments and fundraising for the Alumni fund. These opportunities gave me early experience in communication, which is vital in any career. 

 

What advice do you have for someone considering studying at Queen’s Business School?   

I highly recommend Queen’s Business School for anyone looking for a career in the business sector. It's almost 15 years since I left but I have fond memories and I have kept a close eye on how the School has grown, refreshed and developed. Whether you live in Northern Ireland or further afield, I wouldn't look any further than Queen’s.  

 

 What career advice would you give someone looking to go down a similar career path as you?    

I went down the training contract route to become a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW. I did mine with KPMG in Guernsey. There are numerous options for completing your training contract in Belfast alone, but you could look further afield.

Look beyond the accounting qualification alone, for example, think about what you want to do with that qualification. This will determine where is most appropriate to begin your career with. e.g. a smaller, local accounting practice may be more in line with moving into a Finance Director role at an SME. A global Big 4 company might be better if you're looking for exposure to larger Mergers & Acquisitions transactions.   

My main piece of advice is that it's never too soon to have an idea about where you want to start your career. 

 

What has been your career highlight so far?   

The highlight of my career so far was making my first professional placement with my company Reconcile Search in 2022.    

 

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