Stuart Brodie is currently a VAT Partner for a tax consultancy and he possesses a wealth of experience working in professional services across the big4, mid-tier and independent consultancies. As a VAT specialist, Stuart has advised many businesses and he covers some of the positive impacts his advice has had on clients.

Topics discussed include his love for moulding the future which is why he has made the career moves he has, his belief that the best performing and balanced teams are those where people’s strengths are sharpened and the benefits of meeting clients face to face.

We also cover the importance of being authentic as an advisor and his niche hobby outside of work.

Outline of timings:

00:00-11:14: Intro, background and career journey

11:15-12:29: Assessing whether a change of employer is a risk worth taking

12:30-16:23: Making a significant impact on a business by being an advisor

16:24-20:39: Why there is no real substitute for meeting and dealing face-to-face

20:40-23:12: Why should we be authentic at work?

23:13-27:19: building balanced and high-performing teams by focusing on each individual's strengths

27:20-28:07: Not needing to be a Partner but taking opportunities to get there

28:08-31:51: Reciting Robert Burns poems across the world

31:52-34:38: Personal and professional goals for the next 12 months

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Docherty spent 13 years at big4 firm, EY, achieving Audit Partner after 12 years. However, after only a year in post, he left the firm and Audit to pursue an opportunity as a Partner in the global accounting and advisory business, CFGI, as their lead for Scotland and additional UK Partner.

We discuss his journey to Partner at EY and CFGI as well as topics such as the stigma around being an ACCA student, appraisals and culture and his mindset when facing challenges and barriers.

It was interesting to hear from someone who decided to take a different path so soon after becoming a Partner rather than the common route of being a Partner for a couple of decades and then going into industry as a CFO for example. It just shows how valuable working in Audit and professional services is!

OUTLINE OF TIMINGS

00:00-6:23: Introduction and how the journey into Audit and Accounting started

6:24- 10:37: Training in the big four via the ACCA route and the perceived stigma around being an ACCA student

10:38-14:16: His journey to Partner including secondments and opportunities that created loyalty

14:16-15:15: What was enjoyable about working in Audit as he progressed in EY

15:15-18:07: What helped Chris make that extra step to Partner and why did he stay in Audit rather than go into industry

18:08-20:15: How should appraisals be done.

20:16-25:08: Making sacrifices whilst working in big4 audit and studying to be an Accountant

25:08-30:01: Why did Chris leave EY when he hadn’t been Partner for long?

30:02-32:56: What does his current role as Partner at CFGI involve?

32:57-35:36: Personal and professional goals for the next 12 months

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.