Charlie’s Apprenticeship Journey

Everyone’s apprenticeship journey is different, and we love to catch up with previous apprentices to see how they’re getting on in their roles. Charlie Bates completed her level 4 AAT qualification at EMA back in 2023. Only a couple of years later, Charlie is now the Operations Director at KLN Accountancy!

Read more about Charlie’s journey below.

Who are you and what do you do now?

My name is Charlie Bates, a former apprentice, and I am the Operations Director at KLN Accountancy Services Limited.

Where did your apprenticeship journey start?

I started my AAT journey in 2018 and completed my full qualification in 2023. I should have been qualified a lot sooner, but I really struggled with the exam side of things, but I kept on going and persevered. This did not stop me from progressing in the workplace; while studying my level 4, I was a Senior Client Manager because even though I found it challenging to pass the exams, I was competent in my workplace. The company Director could see that I was able to do a great job but was struggling to pass my exams, however, this didn’t matter to them as they saw the impact I was having, and they, alongside my EMA mentor, supported me through my final exams.

What impact has an apprenticeship had on your company?

Having apprentices in the workplace is great, it allows you to mold them to your company. They start to learn your systems, process and culture from day 1. As they progress into more senior roles, they already know a lot of the business practises, so it’s better for the apprentice and business, having someone who knows all of this and can focus on learning the role. As a company, we feel it is important to allow young adults to start from the bottom and work their way up, just like I did.

Photo of Charlie Bates in black and white

What project have you worked on that had the biggest impact on your company?

While an apprentice, I took on the task of Making Tax Digital for VAT and had to put all the policies and procedures in place so we were fully compliant by a deadline. Alongside another member of staff, we did all the research and development for this project to make sure it would work in practise and would be used by the whole business.

Would you recommend an apprenticeship to upskill existing staff?

Absolutely. My personal experience has been amazing. The skills I’ve learnt that you wouldn’t always expect to gain, like communication, time management and understanding how to work in a professional environment, have been incredibly valuable.

If you, or one of of your staff, would like to become an Accountancy Apprentice and progress up to a fully qualified accountant, make sure to get in touch with the EMA team:
Contact Us – contact EMA Training | EMA Training

For more information, click below:

• Assistant Accountant – Level 3
• Professional Accounting Technician – Level 4
• Accountancy Professional – Level 7