Michael Maccallum Email & Phone Number

Having graduated with my BSc Chemical Physics (2:1) from the University of Edinburgh in the summer of 2021, I chose to pursue a career in accountancy. I attended Edinburgh Napier University and graduated with the class medal and distinction with an Accounting MSc, having accepted my CA training contract with Henderson Loggie where I have been employed since August 2022. My undergraduate degree involved writing many reports, groups projects and solo work, developing communication, analytical and confidence in my own work. Physics and mathematics particularly helped develop my data analysis skills and learn to assess and interpret information and communicate my opinions. I appreciate my physics and maths experience particularly for the exposure I gained in areas of numeracy, logic and writing.I chose to pursue accounting due to my interest in business, economics and current affairs and understanding how working with people motivates myself. I thoroughly enjoyed my accounting master’s which provided a strong foundational knowledge I am now building upon during my ICAS traineeship. I particularly enjoyed the financial management course and strategic performance management, and I wrote my dissertation concerning accounting practices regarding carbon credits in Europe and China. My current role as an audit assistant involves regular communication with clients and working on site, which provides a unique insight into the internal controls of a business and how businesses operate while also allowing me to build on interpersonal skills and gain client-facing experience. I have recently sat my TC exams with strong results and look forwards to building a career in accounting.In addition, I have worked throughout my university and into my contract in some of the most popular bars across Edinburgh. I learned to balance my part-time jobs alongside my joint degree and master’s, setting myself deadlines for report drafts or to complete assignments to manage my coursework. Working in a bar environment has improved my teamwork and time-management skills while working under pressure and has often put me in difficult or unpleasant situations I have had to tackle quickly and calmly.