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Making the move from industry to practice
For many AAT students, industry roles feel like the obvious destination. But a number of members choose a different path for a variety of reasons
Words Neil Johnson
AT A GLANCE
1
Variety
Clients often come from a range of sectors, often with their own needs and tax and reporting requirements.
2
Transferable skills
Working in business often means you have visibility over its various functions, giving a head start when you go to practice.
3
Autonomy
You'll have greater control over how you work and the direction of your career.
Industry offers stable teams, defined reporting cycles and the chance to build deep knowledge within a single organisation. Yet many AAT members choose a different path and move from industry into practice.
Some crave variety and faster learning; others want autonomy or the opportunity to build something of their own. But while practice can be hugely rewarding, it also brings unique pressures and responsibilities that students should understand before making the leap.
Here, four AAT members who have made the switch share why they moved, how they found the transition and what they wish they had known beforehand.
The bottom line
Why leave industry?
For Libby Walklett FMAAT, founder and director of The Ethical Bookkeeper, the decision was driven by a desire for challenge. “Once I had streamlined a role [in industry] and improved its processes, the work became repetitive,” she says. “I like to be challenged and, when there were no opportunities for progression, I started to get bored.” Practice promised variety, autonomy and direct involvement with business owners.
Ellis Harris-Kijak FMAAT, founder of FieCo Accountancy & Marketing, was motivated by impact and flexibility. “I wanted to build a modern practice that created a great working environment for staff,” he explains. “In my early industry roles, employment felt restrictive. I wanted flexible working so I could volunteer with the police one day a week, but this was denied.”
For Ryan Walsh MAAT, now a senior assurance associate at EY, practice aligned with long-term ambitions. “I’ve wanted to be an accountant since high school,” he says. “Practice, particularly audit, gives exposure to more areas of how a company operates, which also helps with exams.”
Rachel Harris FMAAT, founder of accountant_she, striveX and strively, deliberately experienced both environments. She says: “Practice offered the biggest opportunity to help the widest range of people; industry helped me understand how finance works inside a single organisation. Founding my own firm allowed me to combine the best of both.”
Ellis Harris-Kijak MAAT speaking at AAT HQ
Steep learning curve
“Looking back, the move into practice was much harder than I had initially imagined,” says Walklett. “Every client has a different system, different software and a different way of working. No two days are the same.”
Harris-Kijak agrees. “The transition was difficult and taught me a lot about myself,” he says. “Networking was new and stressful at first but it became the best source of new business.” He also describes early struggles with imposter syndrome and work-life balance. “Being your own boss brings freedom but also pressure. You’re responsible for everything.”
Harris recalls her own shock moving into practice. “Suddenly I had dozens of deadlines instead of one,” she says. “It was demanding but I thrived on the challenge.”
The message is clear: practice is not an ‘easier’ option. It’s faster, broader and often more intense.
How industry experience helps
Walsh believes his industry background provided valuable preparation and a strong foundation for the move into practice. “I tried to understand how my previous business operated as a whole,” he explains. “That knowledge made it easier to build quickly in audit, especially as I now work with financial institutions.”
Harris highlights process discipline as a major benefit. “Industry teaches you how to document processes and make roles coverable,” she says. “That mindset completely shaped how we run our firm today.”
Harris-Kijak agrees that industry builds essential technical and communication skills. “It gave me the confidence to deal with clients, HMRC and complex scenarios,” he says. “But starting a practice requires many more skills beyond accounting.”
What really changes in practice?
Culturally and technically, practice is a different environment.
“I’d say it’s everything you need in industry but amplified,” says Harris-Kijak. “In practice, you’re not just doing accounting; you’re responsible for HR, marketing, sales, insurance and compliance.”
“You need to be inquisitive and good with people,” Walklett says. “You’re working with business owners from all walks of life, so empathy, organisation and communication are critical.”
Walsh highlights the shift in communication. “There are far more external stakeholders,” he says. “You have to adapt how you communicate depending on who you’re dealing with.”
Harris neatly sums it up, saying: “Practice demands breadth; industry demands depth. People either love the pace of practice or hate it. It’s very ‘Marmite’.”
Libby Walklett FMAAT AATQB
Risk, responsibility and resilience
One of the biggest differences when moving into practice is personal accountability.
“In industry, mistakes are usually absorbed by a team,” says Harris-Kijak. “In practice, a mistake could mean being sued and losing the business.”
That is why preparation matters. Walklett stresses the importance of digital skills and compliance knowledge. “Understanding software, anti-money laundering rules and data security gives you a head start,” she says. “But, above all, you need a willingness to keep learning.”
Expert advice
The strongest advice is to research thoroughly and be honest with yourself.
“Be realistic about the pace,” says Harris. “Practice is incredibly rewarding but the volume of deadlines can be a big adjustment.”
Harris-Kijak recommends networking early and widely. “Voluntary roles, AAT branch events and exhibitions are invaluable,” he says. “And get compliance right from day one – you don’t know what you don’t know.”
Walsh encourages curiosity. “If you have even a small interest, explore it,” he says. “Industry gives you a solid foundation that you can carry into practice and really make a difference.”
Walklett adds: “This profession rewards passion, communication skills and a willingness to learn. If that excites you, practice might be exactly where you belong.”
Ellis Harris-Kijak MAAT
TOP TIPS
Why people make the move
• Greater variety – working with multiple clients and industries.
• Faster learning – exposure to new systems, sectors and challenges.
• Autonomy – more control over how you work and develop your career.
• Impact – helping business owners directly and seeing the results of your advice.
Industry skills that transfer well
• Process discipline – documenting workflows and improving efficiency.
• Commercial awareness – understanding how finance decisions affect the wider business.
• Communication – explaining financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
• Accountability – taking ownership of deadlines and outcomes.
New skills you will need in practice
• Breadth of knowledge – multiple clients, sectors and compliance requirements.
• Relationship management – managing client expectations and building trust.
• Time management – juggling overlapping deadlines across different businesses.
• Business skills – marketing, networking, pricing and compliance awareness.
Taking the next step?
Check out AAT Careers Hub
From entry-level positions to senior roles, AAT Careers Hub provides opportunities suited to your qualifications and experience.
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