Working at EQ in a qualified role – Anna Coff

At EQ, our people are at the heart of what we do. As a modern, energetic accounting, tax and business advisory practice, we understand how important it is to have the right people in the right roles to be able to provide the high-quality services our clients expect.

We are currently on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team so we asked Anna Coff from our Forfar office to share her experiences of working at EQ in a qualified role.

How long have you been with EQ and what made you choose to work here?

I have been with EQ for 7 years. I was looking for career progression and wanted to be a more rounded accountant. My previous employers were very departmentalised, meaning I didn’t get to see everything that was done for a client. I had heard that EQ were able to offer more exposure to a variety of accountancy and tax work.

What opportunities have been available to you to develop and how does this differ to where you worked before?

Unlike other firms I’ve been a part of, where there was no room to progress, EQ is constantly growing. If you are looking for career progression, satisfaction and you work hard, you’ll be rewarded for it – since I joined, I have been able to work my way up to the position of Assistant Manager. There are also lots of specialist sectors – I found I had an interest in healthcare (as well as my day to day agriculture work) and was able to join the EQ Healthcare team which meant I could get involved in specialist work and the promotion of that sector.

What support was in place for you to make the transition to EQ and the way that we work?

I started with EQ at a senior level, and worried that I would be expected to just “get on with the job” but all my colleagues helped me to get to grips with the different practice management systems. At EQ, you have a 3-tier system where each client has a Controller, Manager and Partner working together so you have support on every job. I also had little farming knowledge and knew the Forfar office was predominantly agricultural based, but I learned all I know on the job as there is a good training system in place, and with many colleagues being from farming backgrounds, there is a general farming buzz around the office, so it starts to become engrained in you.

What would you say is a typical day for you?

There is no typical day! I get involved in business restructures and corporate finance work as well as doing thorough tax planning each year for my clients. One day will be spent looking at a set of accounts and the next will be helping to support a dentist or a property developer achieve their goals.

How have you had to adapt to working remotely?

We have all been set up to work remotely and with most clients (or their bookkeepers) being technology savvy, I’m working away just fine and being kept very busy. The hardest part has been missing the office banter, being in the company of my colleagues and getting out to see clients.

Can you give us an example of some of the things you’ve been working on recently?

I’ve been helping clients with business valuations, lots of questions on the government help available just now because of COVID and I seem to be ploughing through tax returns – a lot of people are keen to get their finances in order quicker this year.

What would you say is your favourite thing about working at EQ?

It’s a very diverse firm, always lots going on that you can get involved with. We are also encouraged to build up our client relationships from early on and build up our profile outwith the office – these are things that weren’t available to me previously and makes the job enjoyable as you’re not stuck at your desk all day.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying to EQ?

Just apply – when you get the job, you will quickly realise you made the right decision.

You can read more on what you can expect working in a qualified role with us here.

If EQ sounds like somewhere you would like to be part of, you can take a look at our current vacancies here. We encourage you to apply or get in touch for more information; even if your skills aren’t a perfect match to the roles advertised, we’d still love to hear from you as we are always on the lookout for talented individuals. For a confidential, informal chat, get in touch with our HR team on recruit@eqaccountants.co.uk.