Jonathan Fullarton

Associate, McCabe Ford Williams, Kent

BSc Accounting and Finance, 2007

The degree gave me a good insight into the profession and pointed me in the direction of further study in the form of the chartered (ACA) exams. On leaving university I moved back home to Kent and secured a training contract in Canterbury with a firm of chartered accountants.

My university studies were a perfect base for the chartered exams. The degree also gave me exemptions from some of the lower papers in the qualification. I spent just over four years with my first firm and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2010. The following year I then moved to a larger Kent based firm, McCabe Ford Williams, as manager to progress my career ambitions.

I having been with McCabe Ford Williams since 2011 and shown my hard work and determination, I was made Associate within the firm in 2016. I am actively involved with the firms audit procedures and marketing, whilst still dealing with approximately 30% of my office’s fee load. I am heavily involved in the decision making within the office and the aim is that I will be made partner in 2018. I will continue to expand my own portfolio of clients and, most likely, inherit a base of clients that I have previously managed from other partners.

Why did you choose the University of Birmingham?

Whilst studying for A-Levels, I knew I wanted to go into the accountancy profession. I therefore applied to the University of Birmingham, and other universities, to read Accountancy & Finance. I was offered all six of my university applications but I knew that the University of Birmingham was my first choice and was where I wanted to study. The campus was beautiful and, for me, was a big reason on why I chose Birmingham. The university was away from the city centre which meant a majority of the people on campus were part of the university in some form. That said, the city centre was just a short trip on the train or walkable if you preferred the exercise.

University life prepared me for a life post university. I met new people and lived with some of my group throughout the whole three years of study. They were a great group and I would not have changed any of them. They studied a variety of subjects from Politics to Physio to Computer Science, and I think this diversity helped friendships grow. I also met people in my halls from my course, which gave me a different but equally close group of friends. 

Naomi Pallant We Are (Third Width)

Jonathan Fullarton

“There were also numerous opportunities to socialise with other people from sports teams to society groups and, of course, a variety pubs!”