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Sam Johnson joined Simpkins Edwards in June of 2017, to begin an Apprenticeship in Accounting. He’s flown through his training and recently qualified at the end of 2023 as a Chartered Accountant. Sam is looking forward to building up his client base in the coming years, particularly in the dental industry.
The original plan was to go into a career in sport; after a successful stint at college studying Sports Performance and Excellence, Sam began a degree at University in Sports Conditioning and Rehab. It became clear to Sam fairly quickly that University wasn’t for him, and the course was taking the fun out of his passion. He left after a year and returned home to explore what was next.
Training journey
Searching for a career with good prospects and strong earning potential, Sam came across an Accountancy Apprenticeship with Exeter College and Simpkins Edwards. He completed his Level 2 AAT and moved onto Level 3. He found himself working through his studies at a quicker pace than the course, and Simpkins Edwards supported a switch, delivered in a self-study format through Accountancy Learning, for Level 4.
Following the completion of his AAT, Sam began his ACA qualification in September 2020. Right in the midst of the pandemic, all of the training was held online instead of in person courses in Bristol. Following the end of lockdowns and return to face-to-face learning, Sam decided to continue self-learning online; a decision that the firm supported him with.
In December 2023, Sam passed his final exams with flying colours, and is now a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Learning outside the classroom
Sam felt the benefit of his Apprenticeship when he reached ACA level, saying “I already had 3 years of practical experience alongside the theory, compared to my peers who were doing ACA straight out of University which really helped solidify my knowledge.”
Being part of the team whilst studying allowed him to gain much wider experience than the day job, including speaking at and attending events. Sam spoke on a panel at the Alternative Accountancy Management Summit, on the subject of ‘What do the future generation of accountants and leaders want from their careers and employers?’– it went so well, he’s been asked to speak again in 2024.
“Being an Accountant is so much more than spreadsheets at a desk. I spend a lot of time giving advice to clients on their business strategy and providing financial support on all aspects to achieve growth and operational efficiency for the business and it’s owners.”
Life after qualifying
Whilst studying, Sam worked predominantly with dental clients, alongside Mark Simic, current Managing Partner of Simpkins Edwards. He hopes to build out a client base in the industry over the coming years and continue learning about business strategy.
Sam is particularly interested in how technology can be used in Accounting and plays a large role in scoping out new tech advancements that the team could benefit from.
He is excited for his future at Simpkins Edwards, now his studies are complete, and is looking forward to having a bit more time to spend on the golf course at weekends!
If you’re interested in an apprenticeship with us, take a look at our open vacancies, or contact our Careers team on [email protected].