Show me the way to San Jose
Our very own Tom Johnson travelled to sunny California this year. Waving goodbye to Nottingham, he headed off to Wheeler Accountants in San Jose for three months, much to the envy of all of us here in Gregory Boulevard!
While he was away, we had the pleasure of welcoming Alexandra Baron, who'd jumped on a flight from the west coast of America and made herself at home in the East Midlands. Settling in right away, she's found new friends and colleagues, while contributing actively to the work we do for our clients in the UK.
The exchange of the two accountants was all made possible by Accelerate and CPAmerica – the accountancy network's that are connected to Crowe Global.
On his trip, Tom saw sites including Yosemite, Monterey, and Santa Cruz. And as an avid sports fan, he also jumped at the opportunity to take in Sharks ice hockey, 49ers football, Giants baseball, as well as Warriors and Clippers basketball games! After his spell at Wheeler, he still had a couple of weeks to spare and took the opportunity to visit San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. (We don't know the full story, as what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!)
Tom says:
“The US secondment has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I'm extremely grateful to Page Kirk for arranging it. Being part of a foreign work culture has allowed me to develop professionally and personally. I will be able to integrate the techniques and tips I learned out there into my day-to-day work now I'm back in the UK. Furthermore, the professional connections I have made across the Atlantic can only be a positive for my career. I had high expectations before I left for California, but I can say the whole experience has definitely exceeded them!”
Alexandra Baron comments:
“The work exchange programme has been a great experience. Before coming to Page Kirk, I didn't know what to expect. I was excited to be visiting the UK for the first time and kept my mind open to the possibilities. I have made great connections, learned how another firm runs, and have many ideas to bring back home.”
Alexandra, is planning on travelling round Europe after she finishes working at Page Kirk and then returning home to California just before Christmas.
And what about the Page Kirk perspective? Well, here's what our Partner James Haywood thinks:
“As a firm, we are delighted with the positive outcome of the exchange programme. I was part of the exchange in 2017 where I worked and lived in Boston, Massachusetts for three months. It was once-in-a-lifetime experience and it helped me develop as a person and a business leader. It has been great having Alexandra here for the last three months. She has been eager to learn, got to know people, both professionally and socially, and been an asset to the Page Kirk team.
“It has also been a fantastic experience for Tom, who has come back with ideas from his experience, as well as strengthening his knowledge and understanding of multi-national groups and US GAAP accounting standards.
“It helps us stand out among independent East Midlands accountancy firms and creates a positive atmosphere in the office. It's certainly a talking point among younger members of the team and when we come to recruit new graduates.
“I also see this as a means of extending our team's international audit experience to support our clients with international connections. We look forward to working with Wheeler Accountants in the future.”
Spread the word! The Page Kirk graduate scheme is now open for applications. Find out more here:
https://www.pagekirk.co.uk/about-us/recruitment/graduate-scheme