A NURTURING WORK ENVIRONMENT

Fiona McMillan, who has progressed from a modern apprentice to a trainee auditor at Audit Scotland, writes about the importance of support and adjustments while working with a disability

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong, incurable disease. I was diagnosed shortly before I left school, but MS is also an illness that changes. As I have developed my career at Audit Scotland, I’ve been able to adjust my working life around the changes to my physical health.

Determined

When I left school, I went to study chemistry at the University of Glasgow, but progressive sight and mobility issues led me to leave before I completed my degree. The positive was that I rethought my life and became determined to focus on my career.

I joined Audit Scotland as one of their first modern apprentices, completing the programme in 2021. Alongside this, I completed an accountancy technical qualification in my own time. It helped confirm that I wanted to pursue a career in audit.

Pre-pandemic, going to an office every day, travelling to work on different audit sites and staying away from home, this career simply seemed impossible given the impacts MS was having on my body: mobility issues, visual difficulties and tiredness.

Yet with home working quickly becoming the norm, and with our audit work being carried out remotely, a career in public audit seemed possible. I also had the encouragement and support of a phenomenal mentor, Elaine Boyd. Elaine saw I had the potential, ability and interest to be successful in this career, supporting and advocating for me.

New Opportunities

Encouraged by this support, I applied and was successful in joining Audit Scotland’s school leavers programme. The studying itself wasn’t too great a shock as I’d experienced university and undertaken recent accountancy exams. ICAS, the professional body we study with for our accountancy exams, have supported me with reasonable adjustments and were incredibly understanding that MS is a changeable, unpredictable illness, that varies from day to day.

The other Audit Scotland trainees are also just lovely, helping me before I even ask when we’re studying together. For me, the shifts in how we work since 2020 have enabled me to get my life back and begin a new career. Now I can work and have a life outside of work, too. It has opened up new opportunities.

Whilst there’s great support in place for me already – from IT equipment, office furniture and adaptability in working from home – I will continue to step forward, to say what I need to best support me. These aren’t nice to have, but essential for my physical health. Perhaps it’s also my turn to help another generation of people with disabilities who want to thrive in a career of their choice.

For More Information

Discover what career opportunities Audit Scotland have available at www.audit-scotland.gov.uk www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/careers

We’ve equality at our core.

We’ve been named as a disability confident employer by Jobcentre Plus and have a positive attitude towards job applications from disabled people.

As we progress, we’ll continue to improve the way that we support our staff, customers, and stakeholders, regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, or sexual orientation.

Our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy is a priority at RoS. It’s not a one off or an event, it is an ongoing process, and we will work for our colleagues to feel safe, supported and included at work.

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining the best and widest possible pool of talent.