Careers

so do accountants have personality?

There’s no doubt that AAT Francesca Harper, PQ magazine’s current Personality of the Year, is everything we believe in. A PQ, a human being – and great fun!

So, Francesca, you are the reigning PQ magazine Personality of the Year. It is often said that accountants don’t actually have personalities! Is that what you have found?
Thankfully no! I’m very lucky to be part of a finance department bursting with personality. I think the stereotypical image that all accountants are dusty old men who choose to spend their Saturday evenings in their study surrounded by till receipts, incapable of cracking a smile (let alone a joke) is definitely not true! In our school yearbook I was voted the ‘most talkative’ pupil and ‘biggest drama queen’, so I’d like to think I don’t match that stereotype.

You are an AAT PQ working for the Metropolitan Police Service. Are you enjoying what you are doing?
Since starting work at the MPS on an AAT apprenticeship scheme I have always felt very lucky and fortunate to have been given such an amazing opportunity. Working for the MPS is exciting, varied and rewarding.

How are you finding your studies, and those dreaded exams?
In February 2010 I qualified with the AAT, and before I had a chance to change my mind I quickly registered with ACCA. I took my first exams in June. Studying accountancy from the age of 16 has meant I’ve had no breaks from education, so I’m still very much in school mode when it comes to studying.

Did you enjoy the PQ awards evening at Quaglino’s?
I had a fantastic evening at the PQ awards. I spoke with some really interesting people and was thoroughly entertained by the performances. If only I would have known there was going to be ‘Accountants got talent’ show I would have brought my tap shoes.

Where is your trophy now, and has it helped you at work?
Until my office agrees to build a plinth to display my award I’ve decided it’s too precious to leave at work so it’s displayed proudly at home. It sounds really silly but my award has helped me on a more personal level than anything. It marks a really significant time in my life when, emotionally, I wasn’t in a very good place. For PQ to be oblivious to this and yet still recognise me for having a lovely personality gave me the strength and confidence boost I needed.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I like the quote, “A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at them.”
And “you’re only a failure if you give up” is something my mum has told me from the start of my accountancy journey. When I’ve felt I performed poorly in an exam or hit a brick wall at work my biggest fear starts to kick in – failure. This is when I put things into context and start using this advice – so what if I have to retake an exam? Because as long as I quickly pick myself up and learn from my mistakes I’m by no means a failure, but a more determined person.

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