Working at EQ in a qualified role – Scott Peter

Category: Experienced ProfessionalPeople - Posted On: Sep 25 2020


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 Scott Peter from our Dundee office to share his experiences of working at EQ in a qualified role.

Scott Peter from our Dundee office

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

I joined EQ in November 2019 from another accountancy firm, looking for more responsibility and additional training particularly in personal tax which I had never dealt with before. EQ has always had an excellent reputation within the accountancy sector and is also one of the largest accountancy firms in the area with a big variety of clients.

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

Previously I worked mainly preparing accounts and audits but had never been involved with personal tax. At EQ, I am now preparing personal tax returns and feel I have more rounded experience in all the different areas within an accountancy practice. EQ has a huge variety of different clients including some clients abroad so there is constant exposure to different business sectors giving me lots of opportunities to learn new things. Continual training for all staff members is something that EQ emphasises so that every member of the team is up to date with the latest legislation. In my time at EQ, we have had a variety of external speakers discuss how their business sector works giving us a clear understanding of how we can help their business.

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

The staff at all levels in EQ are very friendly and supportive of each other. Luckily, I had used the accounts preparation software used at EQ previously but was given full training on personal tax and the how to use the tax software. Before a new job is started a meeting is had with the partner to discuss the client and what is required, and the partners and managers are very approachable if you have any questions.

What would you say is a typical day for you?

Each day is different due to the variety of work to be done. There is rarely a quiet day in the office! Some days I will be preparing tax returns and accounts but there will also be other times when I am working out at clients premises the whole week to undertake an audit. I work with all the partners so I will be jumping between different jobs for clients constantly as well as helping more junior members of staff through the day.

How have you had to adapt the way you work whilst working remotely?

Working from home is not too different from working in the office. We still have full access to the IT systems, and we are using Microsoft Teams to keep in touch with colleagues regarding jobs. We have recently gone paperless which is a big change, but we are all adapting to this well. We also have weekly chats over Microsoft Teams to keep in touch with each other and discuss things other than work.

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

Recently I have been working on several large audits, one of which was based in Germany, so it was interesting to deal with an international company. I have also worked on some larger company accounts gaining exposure to R&D reports.

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

One of the best things about EQ is the people. EQ is a very sociable and friendly company to work for with events such as race nights, golf days and meals out organised frequently. The work is varied and interesting and each week will bring something new to learn and a new client to meet. Charity events are also organised throughout the year with staff encouraged to get involved with the fundraising activities.

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

Do it!  EQ is a welcoming place to work with a lot to offer including a wide variety of jobs, excellent training and opportunities to progress throughout the company.

You can read more on what you can expect working in a qualified role with us here. We will also be sharing more of our teams experiences in the coming weeks.

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.