Successful Mums + work experience = a new career for accountant Angie

All the numbers were adding up for new business owner and mum-of-two Angie, who launched her bookkeeping and accountancy practice after attending the Successful Mums Back to Work course. Here, she shares her story and reveals how our brilliant local employer network was the key to her success.

“I had been a stay-at-home mum for over four years but wasn’t keen to return to my previous job as a management consultant, where I had to travel a lot and be away from my babies. As a CIMA qualified accountant, I wanted to set up my own accountancy practice but needed to refresh my skills first. I decided to sign up for Jane Knight’s fantastic Back to Work course in 2017.

During the 1-to-1 session, Jane introduced me to local chartered accountants Baxter & Co in Orpington. Mark Wildi, a tax partner there, offered me six weeks’ work experience, working directly for him for two days per week, flexibly around my childcare arrangements.

Returning to work made me realise just how much I’d missed being “me”. As much as I loved my role as a stay-at-home mum, I also enjoyed using my finance and business skills, team working and getting to know lots of different local businesses.

Mark put me in touch with a couple of local businesses that needed a new bookkeeper. I met with both, set up my own accounting and bookkeeping practice called Collaborio – and started working for my first clients! Fast forward a few months and Baxter & Co continue to send referrals my way, Mark continues to be a mentor to me, my client base has grown and I am now back at Baxter & Co. providing additional support during the busy tax return season. All of this has really helped me to build my confidence.

I couldn’t have done this so quickly without Successful Mums, their network and working flexibly with Mark and his team. Marie-Emma, another Successful Mums “grad”, who does marketing at Baxter & Co, has also been a huge help to me and we have collaborated at local networking events and workshops.

I would say to any mum looking to return to work to believe in yourself and it will happen when you’re ready. I wanted to work locally, still be able to do the school run and build on my existing finance skills. I’ve managed to achieve all of this by building a business I enjoy, whilst fitting it completely around my family”.

If you’re inspired by Angie’s story and would like to return to work or even start your own business, find out how Successful Mums and our network of flexible local employers can help you achieve your career goals. More information can be found on our COURSES page.