Andrew Dean, 30, joined Mercer & Hole in 2016 as an audit senior and was promoted audit manager in 2017. Prior to joining the firm, he trained and worked with Plummer Parsons in East Sussex.

He manages a diverse client portfolio comprising sectors such as charities, healthcare, recruitment, consultancy, and investment property. Andrew has also accumulated knowledge across other general practice areas including statutory and management reporting, corporation tax, and VAT, and has a particular specialism in dealing with pension schemes.

What made you choose to go into accounting?

In college I studied law and accountancy because I believed they were good subjects that could be the gateway for various careers. When deciding what subject to study at university it was a tossup between the two but in the end I decided to go with law. However, when I graduated I did not feel like it was the right path to pursue, which lead me back to accountancy.

I then went on to train at a regional practice firm on the south coast which allowed me to acquire a good breadth of knowledge which eventually lead me to join Mercer & Hole.

Do you have any regrets?

Although there is the option to study the ACA straight from college, I do not regret going to university as it gave me the life experience and confidence which I otherwise would not have got.

What has been the toughest challenge you have faced?

I progressed from qualifying to becoming a manager in a short period of time so the trickiest thing for me was moving from working on a small number of clients to managing a big portfolio. There was the challenge of balancing various personalities while also ensuring I had different levels of technical knowledge. However this took me out of my comfort zone and pushed me which is what allowed me to progress so fast.

Why did you choose to go into practice rather than business?

I was toying with the idea of going into business before I joined Mercer & Hole but I feel that working in practice allows you to acquire a wider breadth of knowledge.

What do you enjoy the most about your role?

I get a good work life balance. and am not expected to work for 16 hours every day. Also, at Mercer & hole there is a wide range of specialist teams so there is a good opportunity to pick up technical knowledge from each individual expert.

What do you dislike about your role?

Timesheets! I say that half-jokingly, but in reality I think the thing I’ve found most difficult is the additional administrative side of the role since becoming manager. However once you get this right, it is hugely rewarding as it is so important to the efficiency of the department as a whole.

What do you think is the most important skill to have?

From an audit point of view, I would say curiosity and inquisitiveness. You have to want to go beyond just looking at the headline figures and must constantly ask questions which leads to having a better understanding of the business and providing a better service to the client.

What advice would you give to students?

Work hard for your exams! Also, ask questions all the time and do not be afraid that they might sound silly. Just because somebody hasn’t asked or mentioned something similar already it does not mean that it is irrelevant because people think in different ways. The best way to learn is through questions.

What is your dream role?

I want to keep working my way up to become a partner. I don’t set myself definitive targets, I just want to continue progressing. 

Report by Amy Austin

Are you under 30 years old and in the audit, accountancy or tax industry? Want to be grilled on your role? Get in touch here.