Tom E.
About me
| Tom E. | |
| Management | |
| Accounting, Business Finance and Management | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Halifax | |
| 2015 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Senior Solutions Consultant | |
| Deloitte UK | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Digital and IT services | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2021 |
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A day in the life of a Senior Solutions Consultant in the United Kingdom
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Deloitte is a global professional services firm
What do you do?
I advise companies on how to improve their financial processes by implementing software.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I studied Accounting, Business Finance and Management at the University of York. I then went on to become a qualified accountant through CIMA. However, I always enjoyed the client facing parts of my work which is why I ended up as a Solutions Consultant. I now advise organisations on accounting best practices and how to implement software to make processes more controlled and efficient.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
A little. Although my role is very focused on finance stakeholders, it is very hands on with implementing enterprise software which I didn't expect.
Describe your most memorable day at work
My most memorable day at work was when my client decided to go ahead with a project plan I had developed. They were the largest client I have ever worked with. I had helped them develop a plan to implement accounting software for six thousand users globally, costing them $4m+. It's a brilliant feeling when your client agrees with what you have proposed and you know that the work you have done will have a huge impact on their business.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Of course! Every day is a challenge and that's why I love it. Companies come to me and my firm with a challenge or problem. Our job is to help them solve it by using software. Each challenge has similarities but ultimately will be unique. The solution that worked for my last client is unlikely to work in the same way for my current client.
I would never want to do a job that didn't challenge me where I was doing the same work day in, day out.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
In the office when I am not facing clients is very relaxed. I tend to have a 50/50 split between working in the office and working from home.
However, when I am with a client, everything will be much more formal. If the client wears a suit in their office, so do I!
I'm very fortunate to have travelled all over Europe - wherever my clients are based. It's great when meetings end up being on a Friday or a Monday so I can build a weekend trip into my travel plans. I see this decreasing after the Covid pandemic though, as everyone is now so used to remote working there will be less of a need to travel.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I was the Station Manager for University Radio York in my 2nd year. It is one of the University's largest societies with 200+ members. It taught me important lessons about leadership, communication and organisation which equipped me well for my first job.
What would you like to do next with your career?
In the next ten years, I see myself leading a department of Solutions Consultants. I love what I do and I'd like to build more experience and more influence to ultimately end up in a Leadership role.
I also run a side project called The Modern Solutions Consultant (themodernsc.com). It started as a blog around best practices in my role to share with the community but it quickly became a way to coach and mentor more junior members in my field - which I love! I can see myself doing a little more of this in the future.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Find a mentor! I wish I had done this when I was in my final year of studies.
Apply to jobs early. I applied really early to graduate schemes and I already had a place lined up in November of my final year. It always amazed me when people said they would start applying after they graduate. Why put that additional pressure on yourself to find a job when many of the best grad schemes will already be full?
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Career advice, CV reviews, general mentoring and coaching.
Next steps...
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