ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN | HAMISH SINCLAIR

TAKE AIM AT ACCOUNTING

writer SARAH BERESFORD // photo NICOLA WILHELMSEN (KELK PHOTOGRAPHY)

If you’d suggested to HAMISH SINCLAIR when he was at school that he would pursue a career in accounting, he admits his response would have been, “Absolutely not”. However, fast forward to today and the now 26-year-old is working at Forsyth Barr as an assistant accountant and things are very different. “I really feel as if I’ve found my niche. I like the space I’m in and get a lot of job satisfaction from working with numbers. Every day is different, which is really good.” Hamish did have an affinity with numbers at school. In Year 13 at Auckland’s King’s College, he studied English, Statistics, Calculus, Graphics and IT, and was interested in a career in business. “I did a business paper at school, which I enjoyed but failed, so I thought I probably wasn’t too good in that area after all,” he says laughing. When it came time to leave school, he decided he’d like to move as far away from Auckland as possible and so he enrolled at Otago University. “I thought the social life would be great and in my first year in business studies I majored in management with a minor in marketing. I really didn’t have any idea what I was doing and I was lucky my parents were so supportive. After finishing my first year I had a better understanding of what was involved. I realised the whole finance and accounting side of things intrigued me, and that I really liked the process of working with numbers.” After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in accounting and finance, Hamish fell on his feet when he was offered a role at investment firm Forsyth Barr. “They are a force in the market and offered me a pathway into the world of finance and accounting.” Hamish has been working at the firm for nearly five years, initially joining as a dividend’s administrator, and then moving on to work as an ASX and overseas administrator. “I had the opportunity to learn as I was promoted through the department in different roles, and it was great to test out the finance world before I locked anything in. I realised I really wanted to work as an accountant and applied for a role internally – I didn’t get it but they noted my interest, gave me some part-time work in accounts, and then created a new role for me as assistant accountant.” He relishes the role and says he was initially surprised by the scope of the job. “I find the range of jobs stimulating, from reconciliations and consolidations to tax … there are new challenges every day.” One surprise was the often-demanding nature of the job. “I had no idea of the long hours that are sometimes necessary, but I discovered I work well under the pressure of deadlines.” Hamish says he is now very focused on his future career. “First and foremost, I want to prove my worth and move from being an assistant accountant to an accountant. I really enjoy working with numbers and get a lot of job satisfaction. I’ve found my niche.” Hamish is a Provisional Accounting Technician and is working towards achieving the Accounting Technician (AT) designation. Study options to become an Accounting Technician include the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) Accounting strand or enrolling in a Chartered Accountants ANZ accredited degree and passing subjects in required AT areas. Provisional ATs also complete work experience and an AT Program course.

I REALLY ENJOY WORKING WITH NUMBERS AND GET A lot of JOB SATISFACTION. i’ve FOUND MY NICHE.

HAMISH SINCLAIR

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ

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KEY FACTS

■ HAMISH SINCLAIR WORKS AS AN ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT AT INVESTMENT

FIRM FORSYTH BARR. ■ HE HAS A BACHELOR OF COMMERCE WITH A DOUBLE MAJOR IN ACCOUNTING

AND FINANCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO. ■ HAMISH IS A PROVISIONAL ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN AND IS WORKING

TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN DESIGNATION. For more information on studying to become an Accounting Technician, visit

www.youunlimitedanz.com/ accounting-technician