Sireen

Level 7 Accountancy & Taxation Degree Apprentice

1.Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Sireen from Coventry. I’m a Level 7 Accountancy & Taxation Degree Apprentice, working towards ACCA. I did A Levels in Maths, Chemistry and Economics, plus a BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Sport (A Level equivalent).

2. What’s the #1 thing you love about your apprenticeship?

I love extracurricular activities like this, where I can support the next cohorts of students with similar challenges I experienced when choosing my career path. These kinds of opportunities help you to make new friends, which makes work something to look forward to.

3. What has been the biggest challenge shifting from school to work?

For me, a big challenge was longer workdays and less physical activity throughout the day. As someone who likes to be active, it has tested my time management and discipline at times! It takes some time to adapt and find a way of working that is best for you — and that’s okay!

4. How do you handle exams while working?

Every apprentice gets 20% of their time off for study (1 day each week). I like to complete all homework/assignments on these days so that I can have the weekend to decompress. It’s good to have the right balance to prevent burnout. It’s important to be flexible and plan ahead — workload can increase during busy periods and fall during quieter ones.

5. Are you mainly in the office or working from home?

Generally speaking, I go into the office 2 days each week, work from home 2 days, and usually use Friday as a self-study day. It varies team by team — some go into the office consistently and others work from home most of the time. Working from home is convenient, and I like going into the office to interact with people.

6. Why did you choose an apprenticeship instead of university?

I knew I didn’t want to take on any debts, and for the accounting profession this route takes you to qualified status quicker, and with hands-on experience. This experience will help you to develop useful skills early on.

7. What do you do to switch off?

I go to the gym, play netball in my spare time, and I also love to bake!

Top Tip

8. What’s one thing you wish you knew when you were 17?

Don’t feel pressure to get everything right the first time. You will need time to adapt and grasp this big step and there is a lot to learn. Give yourself that time and use the support systems around you (your manager/mentor/colleagues).