After finishing my A-levels, I was ready to step away from studying and move straight into full-time work. I enjoyed a couple of years as a lab technician but then reached a point where I wanted to explore a different career path.
I was unsure what I wanted to do next, but Randall & Payne stood out as a good place to start: the office was just down the road from me, and numbers had always been a strong point for me at school. After a friendly and low-pressure interview process, I was pleased to be offered a role in the Corporate Tax Team.
I started as a trainee in September 2020 and had the opportunity to be involved in client meetings early on. That exposure helped me understand how tax advice is applied in practice and gave me confidence as I developed. We were in and out of Covid restrictions around that time, so I quickly became used to hybrid working.
Although I felt apprehensive about returning to exams, I started by studying towards the ATT qualification through a level 4 apprenticeship, before moving on to the CTA through a level 7 apprenticeship. I became a fully qualified Chartered Tax Advisor in January 2024. The exams were challenging and took a lot of work, but I felt fully supported by Randall & Payne, balancing study with the day job. The time I spent working towards the exams was worth it in the end.
I am now confident working across Corporation Tax compliance, R&D, Patent Box and restructures, and I enjoy the variety of work that comes with supporting clients in these areas. Although recording a podcast with James about business structures pushed me out of my comfort zone, it was a valuable experience.
Having recently been promoted to Assistant Corporate Tax Manager, I can look back on my decision to ‘have a go’ at accountancy with real confidence, as it has led to a career that is both challenging and rewarding.
Joe Lock is part of our Tax team, and specialises in Corporate Tax. Visit our Apprentices and Graduates page, email careers@randall-payne.co.uk or call 01242 776000 if you would like to find out more about trainee opportunities at Randall & Payne.