Sophia Aldous

Sophia Aldous

Dixon Wilson has a unique office culture which focuses on all round professional development and allows graduates to be given a significant amount of responsibility

I was introduced to Dixon Wilson during a three-month placement in the office in Paris on my year abroad whilst studying Modern Languages at the University of Exeter. I had not specifically been considering going into accountancy however, after my internship at the company, I knew this was where I wanted to work. I then proceeded to join the 3 year Graduate scheme in the London office.

Dixon Wilson has a unique office culture which focuses on all round professional development and allows graduates to be given a significant amount of responsibility from the very start of their traineeship. As there is such a wide variety of work, I have been able to gain experience in tax and audit as well as accountancy rather than just specialising from the start. This has enabled me to get the most out of the ACA examinations as they cover all these areas.

Dixon Wilson has a strong training focus with new intakes starting every six months, so all managers are used to taking on juniors who do not have any prior accountancy experience. There is a strong emphasis on maintaining the balance between being challenged and supported. From my first day I was handed a variety of work and responsibilities which I was carefully guided through and looking back I can see how much my confidence and skills have developed. Additionally, as there are such regular intakes, there is a large pool of people at a similar level to go to for help.

One of the defining features about the organisation is the commitment to the work-life balance and there is a designated social committee in the firm which organises regular, office and group activities from drinks locally to paddle-boarding on the Thames. This allows staff from all levels of the firm to develop relationships and fosters a positive and supportive work environment.

Brief CV