Andy Smith MAAT did not gain his accountancy experience in a traditional accounting firm, but by being deeply embedded in business over many years. It is this unusual route that he credits with bringing a fresh perspective to the way he runs his own practice and deals with clients.

“I originally entered accountancy after completing a degree in maths, physical education and sports science at Hull University,” he explains. “Although initially I decided I didn’t want to become an accountant, I actually discovered later that I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the work and the way accounting skills could be applied across many industries.”

In fact, Smith had decided before university that accountancy was not for him, having spent two weeks of work experience in an accountancy practice.

“I wasn’t massively academic,” he says. “I was always excellent at maths and I loved problem-solving, but there are no exams or qualifications in problem-solving. When I was at university, sports psychology was in its infancy and I remember being fascinated by how to apply science to sports performance.

“One of my university presentations was on the British Lions rugby team and how players in different positions prepared for their roles; how the forwards visualised going into battle, while their fellow team members had to be more relaxed and creative in order to improvise as the match progressed. I was interested in how some players performed well under pressure, while others bottled it.”

After graduating, Smith couldn’t find an appealing job in sport. He then started as a trainee accountant in a manufacturing firm, helping provide support with its management accounts.

“When I started work, I discovered that I liked being able to dig into the figures, finding the variance and spotting unusual patterns,” he explains. “I came to see that accountancy could take me anywhere; there is no ceiling to how far you could progress.”