Nottingham-based accountancy firm Page Kirk recently welcomed American accountant Alexandra Baron for a three-month secondment, as part of a work exchange programme.
While she swapped the sunny beaches of California for the East Midlands, her counterpart Tom Johnson flew out to San Jose to experience life with firm Wheeler Accountants.
The transatlantic trips were all part of a scheme made possible by Accelerate and CPAmerica, a community of accountancy firms with international coverage through Crowe Global. They provide an opportunity for qualified accountants to widen their experience and knowledge and gain valuable new perspectives on the work they do for clients.
Tom graduated in 2017 with a first-class degree in Accountancy & Finance from Nottingham Trent University. Having joined Page Kirk, he was due to be part of the exchange back in 2020, after he successfully completed the firm’s graduate programme, but the trip was postponed due to Covid travel restrictions.
He says: “The US secondment has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I’m extremely grateful to Page Kirk for arranging it. Being part of a foreign work culture has allowed me to develop professionally and personally. I will be able to integrate the techniques and tips I learned out there into my day-to-day work now I’m back in the UK.
“Furthermore, the professional connections I have made across the Atlantic can only be a positive for my career. I had high expectations before I left for California, but I can say the whole experience has definitely exceeded them!”
Tom saw sites including Yosemite, Monterey, and Santa Cruz on his travels. An avid sports fan, he also jumped at the opportunity to take in Sharks ice hockey, 49ers football, Giants baseball, along with Warriors and Clippers basketball games.
After working at Wheeler Accountants, he took advantage of being in America and travelled for a couple of weeks and saw San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Graduate of California State University Monterey Bay, Alexandra Baron, says: “The work exchange programme has been a great experience. Before coming to Page Kirk, I didn’t know what to expect. I was excited to be visiting the UK for the first time and kept my mind open to the possibilities. I have made great connections, learned how another firm runs, and have many ideas to bring back home.”
Alexandra is planning on travelling round Europe after she finishes working at Page Kirk and then returning home to California just before Christmas.
James Haywood, partner at Page Kirk, says: “As a firm, we are delighted with the positive outcome of the exchange programme. I was part in the exchange in 2017 where I worked and lived in Boston, Massachusetts for three months. It was once-in-a-lifetime experience and it helped me develop as a person and a business leader.
“It has been great having Alexandra here for the last three months. She has been eager to learn, got to know people, both professionally and socially, and been an asset to the Page Kirk team.
“It has also been a fantastic experience for Tom, who has come back with ideas from his experience, as well as strengthening his knowledge and understanding of multi-national groups and US GAAP accounting standards.
“It helps us stand out among independent East Midlands accountancy firms and creates a positive atmosphere in the office. It’s certainly a talking point among younger members of the team and when we come to recruit new graduates.
“I also see this as a means of extending our team’s international audit experience to support our clients with international connections. We look forward to working with Wheeler Accountants in the future.”
Page Kirk’s graduate scheme is now open for applications. Find out more here: https://www.pagekirk.co.uk/about-us/recruitment/graduate-scheme
