Today, we bid farewell to Jack Daniels, who leaves us as he comes to the end of his placement year within our accounts teams. We asked Jack to share some thoughts and to reflect upon his experiences during his time with us. As we wish him every success in his future career, here is what he has to say about his time here at Shorts.
My name is Jack, and I spent a year working at Shorts, from July 2023 to August 2024, during the third year of my Accounting and Financial Management degree at the University of Sheffield. My time at Shorts has been incredibly valuable, allowing me to grow and adapt within a professional setting in ways I never imagined.
Why I Chose a Placement Year:
One of the main reasons I chose to study at the University of Sheffield was the opportunity to undertake a placement year as part of my course. I was eager to gain practical experience in accounting, apply my academic knowledge in real-world situations, and develop skills like auditing. I knew that this experience would not only deepen my understanding of the field but also make me more competitive in the job market after graduation by giving me a solid foundation of work experience.
Why Shorts:
I first learnt about Shorts through a friend, Bobby Thompson, who also works at Shorts. After hearing about his positive experiences, I decided to explore the opportunity further. What attracted me to Shorts was the chance to work in both OMB and Corporate Accounts, offering me a broad exposure to different areas of accounting. The company’s values and culture also resonated with me, making me feel confident that I would be welcomed and valued as part of the team. Additionally, Shorts' recent growth and continued success excited me, and I was eager to contribute to and learn from this dynamic environment.
What I Expected:
Having no prior work experience in accounting, I was eager to dive in and learn as much as possible about the industry and my role as an Accounts Assistant. I quickly discovered that no two clients were the same, presenting new challenges each day—challenges that I thoroughly enjoyed tackling, even the more difficult ones, given my lack of prior experience.
What I Learnt:
Reflecting on my first day, it’s clear that I’ve learnt and progressed far more than I ever anticipated. This growth is largely thanks to the incredible support from my teams. In the OMB department, I learnt the fundamentals of accounting, including how to compile a set of accounts and tax computations. I gained valuable experience with software like Xero, Caseware, and Alphatax, which I know will be useful in my future career. Working closely with Bobby, Justina, and Maddie, I became more efficient and confident in producing high-quality accounts.
Transitioning from OMB to audit was a particularly exciting part of my placement. I enjoyed working on-site with clients and saw a significant improvement in my communication skills, which will undoubtedly benefit me in the future. The audit side of my placement allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of my role and the accounting industry, especially as I worked with larger clients and encountered new challenges. Thanks to the support from Louis, Savannah, Louis and Emma, I adapted quickly and developed a strong grasp of the work.
Overall, my time at Shorts has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I’ve enjoyed coming into work each day, largely because of the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege to work with. Everyone at Shorts has played a significant role in making my placement year as enriching and enjoyable as it was. I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better team or a more positive experience over the past 13 months.
Tags: Team News
