The Post: Director, RB+ Chartered Accountants
The Post Holder: Ross Boyd
Ross Boyd began his career as an engineer in the marine industry before finding his true vocation in accountancy.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
After starting my career as an engineer, working both in London and internationally, I decided to move into accountancy and trained as a bean counter with Chartered Accountants Ireland in Belfast.
I worked in a wide variety of roles and accountancy firms before setting up RB+ Chartered Accountants in 2010. We focus on providing services to Owner Managed Businesses in a number of sectors across Northern Ireland. Since its inception, the firm has grown by providing an innovative service and by early adoption of the latest technology.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Maths and physics were my favourite subjects at school. While at Enniskillen High School, I also got the chance to take part in sailing during PE lessons, which was a bonus.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
I studied Naval Architecture at Strathclyde University in Glasgow. After this, I completed post graduate training as a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Accountant.
How did you get into your area of work?
While working in shipyards, I become involved in costing projects. This exposed me to the importance of accounting and financial management in business operation.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I began my career as an engineer in the marine industry but found my true vocation in accountancy. Becoming a Chartered Accountant allowed me to establish and progress a career back home in Northern Ireland and I’m proud to be part of a profession that offers a range of routes to entry.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
I believe that, in order to provide a quality service to our customers, it is important for an accountant to achieve chartered status. Some accountancy roles do not require qualifications, especially those which pertain to consultancy and technology, but becoming a Chartered Accountant will greatly improve your career prospects.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
There are various routes to becoming a Chartered Accountant, and I genuinely believe this is one of the most attractive aspects of the profession, and one which ensures that it maintains its wide base of experience.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Clearly accountants need to like numbers, but the role is evolving and increasingly, being both a technologist and an effective communicator is key. The ability to communicate complex technical issues to clients in simple terms is more important now than ever.
What does a typical day entail?
As an owner of professional services business, my day can vary a lot depending on customer and business needs. Typically, I’ll do a couple of hours work at home starting at about 6.30am. This time of the day is quiet and therefore perfect for strategic thinking and consideration of technical issues.
Most of the rest of the working day is driven by meetings and emerging matters. After 5pm, I may complete further project work but like to ensure that I maintain a good work life balance.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
Helping businesses and organisations to improve is genuinely interesting, exciting and rewarding. The job is perfect for problem solvers with an inquisitive mind. The fast pace of today’s business world means that we encounter risk and pressure on a daily basis and modern accountants need to find a way to manage the ‘always on’ nature of the job.
Why is what you do important?
The key reason that most business owners get started is to build their wealth, and I help them to do this. We also service Not for Profits and are able to provide their stakeholders with real confidence in their financial affairs.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
We were already a cloud-based practice, which helped tremendously with business continuity when the pandemic hit. We’ve obviously had to make adjustments during Covid-19, so have evolved how we work, but have not needed to invest in new systems. We are now exploring optimum post Covid business models.
What adjustments have you had to make?
Our working model has become more informal, and the increased use of technology has improved the speed of our business delivery.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
If you want to be a Chartered Accountant, you should focus on studying numerical and technology subjects. If you can prove yourself in these areas and have a genuine interest in helping businesses to improve, then accountancy could be for you.
Accountants provide a service, so wanting to help is really important. You should also check out the non-graduate routes to becoming a Chartered Accountant.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?
I have always loved engineering projects and strategy. I would probably try and work more in these areas but maybe I could just do more sailing…
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
In an initial period in a new job, you need to give it 110 per cent. Embedding yourself in your new team and becoming indispensable is critical to making the role a success.
If you go into it in a half-hearted manner, you increase the risk of it not working out.
Describe your ideal day off.
Going sailing around the wonderful Northern Ireland coast and enjoying a few sundowners somewhere special.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
With so much choice, it can be confusing for applicants. It is, however, important to have a clear idea of where you want to get to in the medium and longer term, as this will steer you towards the right job opportunities.
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