Since its inception, Champion Accountants has welcomed fresh young talent to join its group-wide trainee programme, and 2024 is no exception.
This autumn, four talented young people at the outset of their accountancy careers have stepped into new Audit & Accounts Trainee roles across three of Champion’s North West offices.
Joining the programme are Cheryl Magayisa and Lottie Birchall at the Chester practice, Calum Lindsay to the company’s Blackpool office, and Katie Tadman in Preston.
The new recruits will receive dedicated support as they work with Champion clients – hands-on experience that will allow them to gain the real-world competencies required to form a bedrock for successful long-term career growth.
Lottie, from Wrexham, cites Champion’s open-door culture and the potential for learning and growth as reasons for joining the trainee programme, while Cheryl, from Bromborough, looks forward to working with a range of businesses across multiple industries.
Calum, from Poulton-Le-Fylde, says many of his family are in the accountancy sector and he is looking forward to advancing his skills, while Katie, from Leyland, applied following a recommendation by a college accountancy teacher whose former pupils had taken up roles within the company.
Katie said: “I’m looking forward to working in a supported environment and getting the chance to experience a wide variety of tasks. There is a high level of professionalism among everyone here; the team treats each other and the trainees with respect.”
Whilst developing their acumen and a wide range of interpersonal and organisational skills, the trainees will work towards their AAT and ACCA qualifications.
Champion is well-regarded for nurturing talent in the sector, having long provided career development and professional growth opportunities from trainee and graduate levels right through to senior professionals.
Several of the company’s senior leaders and partners joined the business as trainees. In doing so, Champion has established a culture of supported growth and advancement, with many dedicated mentors throughout the group.
This environment, says group managing partner Ged Cosgrove, provides an ideal space in which trainees can kick-start a new career path, take on a host of new challenges and put themselves to the test.
“Our latest cohort follows in the footsteps of many previous trainees who have gone on to build successful pathways in the industry. As new starters, they have a great opportunity to use this experience as a launchpad to grow their own fulfilling careers in audit and accountancy. We look forward to supporting them throughout the programme and seeing them take their first steps in the industry.
“In an era where skills shortages impact so many sectors, the benefits of investing in trainees really can’t be understated. Through trainee programmes, a company like Champion has the opportunity to hire, develop and mould individuals from the ground up. In this way we are future-proofing our workforce, formulating the right mix of innovation, ingenuity and culture, which keeps our business competitive in the long term.
“And by maintaining that pool of talent, we’re ensuring our clients’ needs are continually met. At Champion, our reward is watching our people flourish, knowing they are the future of our business.”
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