Celebrating NAW2024 with Jack Hegarty

Jack Hegarty is now a Level 7 (ACCA) Accountancy and Tax apprentice based in Mercer & Hole’s St Albans office, and he started with the firm as an 18-year-old school leaver in 2019 for his higher apprenticeship programme – AAT.

Jack knew from year 11 at school that he wanted to go into a career in finance and he chose Maths, Business and Economics and a BTECH in ICT for his post GCSE qualifications.

University didn’t appeal, and early on into his 6^th form he knew finding the right apprenticeship would be the best option for his long-term career aspirations, development and continuing education. Jack comments: “I just couldn’t justify going to university and I wanted to be in a work environment. When I looked at the timings of how long it would take to complete my training, I actually finish a year earlier than if I’d gone to uni”.

“I really enjoy my current department, which is Virtual Finance, and, in the future, I want to work more directly with clients and gain experience in their varied industries. For me learning and working goes hand in hand. I’ve been learning things in my role at work and then learning about them a few weeks later as part of the course and I have lots of people from partners to other apprentices to lean on at work and to ask questions, so I get a lot more information and contact time than if I was at Uni. Everyone is very helpful and supportive at Mercer & Hole which helps to boost my confidence.”

“My advice to anyone looking at any apprenticeship schemes is to do your research and look at the company websites and read about other apprentices who have worked at the firm and their journey through the different levels. It is also important before you apply to be proactive and to gain some work experience. It doesn’t have to be in the same industry, but it will be useful. Be interested in what you’re applying for and prepare for your interview, find out about the company and as much as you can about the role you are applying for.”

“Try and be confident, look people in the eye when you speak to them and remember when you start work, it is very different going from a school / college environment into a working day, so you need to prepare for that change and manage your time well to combine work and study.”