If you see your future in analysing the numbers behind an organisation’s performance, studying accountancy at a college in Ilford could be just the thing for you. But what if you don’t? What if what you really want is a general management career and your ultimate goal is to run one of the nation’s largest enterprises? Well, then, studying accountancy at a college in Ilford could still be just the thing!
Not everyone who studies accountancy graduates are accountants
Not everyone who studies accountancy graduates goes on to spend a working lifetime as an accountant – there are even higher goals than finance director of a multinational conglomerate, a huge hospital trust or a quango, and accountancy often proves to be the perfect background for someone aspiring to those posts.
You want proof? Robert Half is one of the country’s leading recruiters, and the Robert Half FTSE 100 CEO Tracker shows that more than 50% of the men and women at the very top of British companies have a background in finance.
Just one example: in August 2016, the technology company Laird appointed Tony Quinlan as chief executive. His previous job? Finance director at the same company. He replaced David Lockwood, who moved to be chief exec at the larger Cobham plc. In case you’re wondering, David Lockwood has a background as – you guessed it – an accountant.
Not surprisingly, you must be prepared to work very hard to succeed: Veronique Laury, CEO at Kingfisher, says a strong work ethic is what got her there, while Liv Garfield, Severn Trent CEO and the FTSE’s youngest female leader, adds that decisiveness can be key – make sure people around you know you’re capable of making decisions and seeing them through.
If what you’ve just read catches your interest, Mont Rose College may be just what you’re looking for. We’re in Ilford, so access to London is a short train ride away but you still enjoy the peace of an out-of-town location. We partner with Bucks New University and Major on Business, Accounting and Finance, Hospitality, Law and Teaching. Want to know more? Get in touch – we’re always delighted to talk to people who want to take their careers further
