Sophia Wallace

I was 17 when I first thought I wanted to be an accountant. Before that, I was sure I wanted to be a fashion designer. But that lost its appeal and I started getting keen on analysing figures instead.

So I left St Brendan’s College aged 18 and went straight into working for Haines Watts. I did a lot of research before making my decision – over the benefits of practical experience versus university qualifications – and I was confident I was doing the right thing.

What was instantly interesting once I started my apprenticeship was that I was studying alongside university graduates who had left with degrees in accounting and finance. I was at the same level – just without more than £30,000 of student debt to worry about.

So now I’m 25, I have studied Level 4 and Level 7 apprenticeships, both with Kaplan Financial, and have picked up skills in analysis, business acumen and commercial awareness, all supported by real-world examples from the workplace.

Exams? I’ve done 15 of them in total, over four years. They’re all exams I would have needed to complete if I’d been to university – I’ve just finished them three years earlier than everyone else.