Studying with AAT – Chelsea Davies

Chelsea Davies, an Administrator at EST Chartered Certified Accountants, shares her story during Financial Capability Week on how she has started her career in accounting via AAT.

I would like to start by telling you a little about my background, this time last year I was a full-time waitress not knowing exactly where I wanted to go in life. I had a HND in web development which I did not enjoy enough to see it as a career. I applied for the position at EST just hoping for a change and for someone to believe in me and give me a chance to start something new. Danielle saw the potential in me, thankfully. After being at EST for a couple of months I was given the opportunity to start studying AAT Level 2, never in a million years would I have thought I’d be good at accounting (but apparently I’m not bad).

I completed Level 2 in just under 6 months through the help of a great tutor and ACT Training in Cardiff. It was very fast paced with 5 exams in that short space of time. I am very lucky that here at EST they allow me to have time off to study and prepare for my exams, I don’t think I could get through without it. Every exam I would go in thinking I wouldn’t pass as I still cannot believe that I am studying to become an accountant. After passing all 5 exams my confidence boosted and I am ready to take on Level 3 and 4.

After nearly a year here at EST I already have AAT Level 2 under my belt and I am now onto Level 3 which is a little more difficult than Level 2 but that is expected. I am scheduled to sit my Advanced Bookkeeping exam on the 25th of October. The first of five for the year.

There are many perks to still being a student at the age of 24, the student discount of course. Also learning new things about accounting every day. It fits in with my everyday life only having to go to college twice a week in the evenings. As I am studying AAT as an apprenticeship I am getting paid to study what I enjoy doing and this way I learn so much more than I would studying alone. I know I have years to go until I become an accountant but I look forward to see what the future holds for me here at EST.

It is crazy to think where I was this time last year, my life changed for the better and it’s all thanks to everyone here at EST. Especially Danielle as I would not be here without her.