No Accounting Experience? How Harrison took his first step into finance
Posted: 12 August 2026 at 3:32 pm | Author: CAW Business School
From working in hospitality to building a career in accountancy, Harrison has shown that you don’t need to be working in the industry to get started. After enrolling on our AAT Level 2 Accounting qualification, Harrison secured his first accounting role while still studying. We caught up with him to find out more about his journey, the support he received along the way, and what he’s doing now…
After finishing my A-Levels, I knew I wanted a career in finance and had secured a place at university to study business and finance, but I wasn’t 100% sure whether to accept that place or undertake an apprenticeship instead. So, I decided to take a gap year alongside working in McDonalds, to consider my options. During this time, I decided to enrol onto the AAT Level 2 Accounting qualification at CAW Business School; the timings of the course meant I was able to do it alongside my existing job.
Undertaking the AAT course confirmed to me that my best option would be to look for an apprenticeship in finance, I was incredibly fortunate with the support I received from my college tutors whilst I was looking for a job. When a local employer approached the college looking for a new apprentice my name was put forward for the role.
The interview process was competitive, so I was delighted when I was offered the role. This was my first job in accounting, and the move from working in a fast-paced hospitality role to an office environment was a big adjustment, and there were times when I questioned whether I’d made the right decision. With support from my family, my employer and the team at CAW Business School, I settled into the role and quickly grew in confidence.
I’ve now continued my studies through an apprenticeship with my employer and am close to completing my AAT Level 3 qualification. I’m proud to have passed all of my exams first time so far and hope to progress straight on to AAT Level 4.
Looking back, enrolling on the course was the best decision I could have made. I started without a finance job or any accounting experience, but before I’d even completed Level 2, I had secured my first role in the industry. The course gave me the knowledge I needed, and the support from CAW Business School helped me turn that knowledge into a career.
If you’re interested in working in finance but don’t currently have any experience, don’t let that put you off. There are opportunities out there, and with the right training and support, you can take that first step into the profession too.