CareerCoach
Image: Tristan Newkey-Burden
Hidden rewards of mentoring
Passing on your knowledge and experience is rewarding but it can also deliver a range of other benefits, including getting more back in return, Sophie Cross says
Andy Sullivan FMAAT Image: UNP
When Andy Sullivan FMAAT first began mentoring trainees at his practice, he thought he was purely giving something back. What he discovered was that mentoring delivered unexpected rewards that transformed not only his mentees but also his business approach and personal development.
Far from it being a one-way street, the mentoring relationship fosters a mutually beneficial exchange that enhances skills, drives business growth and keeps experienced accounting professionals at the forefront of their field.
Personal and professional pride
A moment of pride in a mentee's achievement is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits that AAT members gain from taking on a mentoring role, but it’s an important one.
Sullivan says: “The most rewarding moment is when you’ve been helping them through the process of learning how to do something and then you might be given a piece of completed work which has implemented what you’ve shown them, but without them needing to come to you to ask how to do it. They just completed it independently.”
Mentors across the board share this sense of doing something worthwhile. Will Blower MAAT, who founded Realise Finance aged just 22 and now mentors through the business organisation Alia as well as within his own practice, explains: “I love to help others and I feel really nice that they reach out and feel they can ask questions.”
Heather Palmer MAAT, who changed careers in her mid-40s to become an accountant after running manufacturing businesses in Scotland, has experienced similar benefits through her mentoring activities.
"It’s the self-satisfaction,” she says. “You work really hard to pass these exams – Level 4, especially, was not easy – so I think if you can pass on your knowledge, it gives professional satisfaction for me as a mentor, helping someone to shape their career.”
Heather Palmer FMAAT Image: UNP
The most rewarding moment is when you've been helping them through the process of learning how to do something…
Building tomorrow's workforce today
For Sullivan, who set up Complete HQ six years ago after becoming a partner in his previous firm, mentoring has become the cornerstone of his recruitment strategy. Complete HQ specialises in working with equity-backed start-ups and emerging technology companies, which requires a flexible, innovative approach. Rather than hiring experienced staff from other organisations, his firm deliberately seeks out trainees and develops them from the ground up.
“We use that as our preferred route to recruitment, rather than other qualifications,” he says. This approach has practical advantages beyond the satisfaction of nurturing new talent. Trainees who grow up within the organisation naturally absorb its culture and working methods, creating a more cohesive team.
“We find that growing from the ground up is a lot easier,” Sullivan adds. “Some people do quite often get siloed in one department in other businesses. We find it can be sometimes difficult to integrate people who have worked elsewhere because we’ve got quite a free-flowing environment and a pretty chilled and laid-back approach to things."
The retention benefits are equally compelling. Team members who have been mentored are more engaged, capable and motivated, and more likely to stay with the organisation that invested in them.
I love to help others and I feel really nice that they reach out and feel they can ask questions
Will Blower MAAT
Will Blower MAAT Image: UNP
Staying sharp in a fast-changing world
Sullivan’s mentoring methods involve exposing trainees to every aspect of the business as quickly as possible, rather than keeping them in narrow specialisms.
“We find that enables them to take on more responsibilities sooner,” he explains. “But also the clients place trust in them quicker. For us as a business, that enabled us to grow because there was no dependence on one person or on me. I’m able to spread that load across the entire team.”
This scalability has been crucial to Complete HQ’s rapid growth. By creating a team of well-rounded people who understand all aspects of the business, Sullivan has built an organisation that can expand without being constrained by overreliance on key individuals.
Mentoring can also keep experienced professionals up to date with industry developments. Sullivan finds that his trainees’ studies expose him to new regulations or techniques that he needs to incorporate into his own continuing development.
“There are occasionally times where someone’s studying something in college as part of their training that either you’ve forgotten about, so it’s good for you to refresh your knowledge on, or it’s a new piece of legislation that you realise you don’t know enough about,” he says. “Sometimes your trainees get more knowledgeable on an area than you are, so of course you need to go out and do a bit more training yourself.”
The generational exchange works particularly well in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Sullivan’s work with emerging technology start-ups means staying current with blockchain, AI and other cutting-edge developments is essential. His younger mentees bring fresh perspectives on these technologies that complement his experience.
“Having someone who has got an understanding of, or is interested in, emerging technology is really beneficial,” he says. The exchange of knowledge works both ways, creating a learning environment that benefits everyone.
Developing leadership skills
Mentoring also provides a practical training ground for developing management and leadership capabilities. Sullivan is currently undertaking a government-funded management and leadership course called Help to Grow, but notes that much of his own development has come through the daily practice of guiding his team.
His operations director, Debbie, exemplifies how the mentoring culture spreads throughout an organisation. Though she trained elsewhere, she now delivers training to new recruits “in a very similar way to how I would do it, but without me needing to get involved”.
Not only does it free up Sullivan’s time, it is also proof that his mentoring approach has created leaders who can replicate his methods. “It shows that she knows what she’s doing and she’s doing it in the right way, and she understands our business,” he adds.
This leadership development aspect resonates with other AAT members who have embraced mentoring roles. Palmer says: “Mentoring gives me more confidence, even when I’m speaking to my own team. If I’ve spoken to other people and helped them, it’s given me those additional communication skills.”
Creating a legacy
As an AAT member for 18 years, Sullivan views mentoring as a key part of his contribution to the broader accounting profession. This brings its own rewards, including networking opportunities and industry recognition.
Mentoring also enhances client relationships. When a company is seen to be investing in developing young talent, it demonstrates commitment to the profession and suggests a forward-thinking approach that clients value. Sullivan’s trainees, with their broad exposure to different areas of the business, often impress clients with their capabilities.
The most significant benefit of mentoring is the sense of contributing to something larger than immediate business success. Sullivan’s approach to developing well-rounded professionals who understand every aspect of accounting practice means his influence extends far beyond his own firm.
As his mentees progress in their careers, they carry with them the approaches and values they have learnt. Some may start their own practices one day or join larger organisations, all shaped by the mentoring experience.
“It’s rewarding seeing them deliver things that you’ve helped them with on their journey through,” Sullivan says.
This satisfaction, shared by mentors throughout the finance industry, represents the greatest return on the mentoring investment – knowing that you have played a part in shaping the future of accounting.
Hidden rewards of mentoring
Passing on your knowledge and experience is rewarding but it can also deliver a range of other benefits, including getting more back in return, Sophie Cross says
