Trainee Story John Grogan

John is an Accountancy and Finance Graduate from Dundalk Institute of Technology. In March 2020 he started his journey with DBASS to become a Chartered Accountant.

Following my degree in Accounting & Finance, I had no idea what to expect from working in an actual accountancy practice. During my studies we were taught all about accounting concepts and processes, however there was never an opportunity to use these skills in a real world scenario. I thought that this transition might be a real struggle, however thanks to the help and support of everyone at DBASS, I already feel a lot more confident about my skills.

Even from the interview process, DBASS were very helpful and accommodating and made me feel welcome. On my first day I was “buddied” with another trainee who taught me the ‘DBASS’ way and who explained in detail about all the different programs and processes they use on a daily basis.

As I gained more understanding of the basics of my role and my confidence grew, I was presented with opportunities to engage in other projects which has allowed me to expand my potential.  To date I have been involved in multiple areas of accounting, from preparing financial statements, to audit and taxation.   Since starting my journey with the ACCA I have noticed that my day to day experience has helped me greatly in my understanding of certain concepts and has helped to give context to my learning.

I have found my time here at DBASS to be very rewarding and the work is both interesting and challenging. Thanks to the support and encouragement from the team here at DBASS, I am well on my way to gaining the skills and experience necessary to become a Qualified Chartered Accountant with the ACCA.