Fostering a supportive and respectful community
16 August 2023
We pride ourselves on the community we’ve built at Saltgate – our people are at the centre of everything we do.
We’re committed to supporting our team’s development. There’s nothing we love more than watching them grow into the professionals, leaders, and experts they work so hard to become.
One of our bright and budding trainees Jamie Shum appears in the latest edition of Gallery for their Gradu8 feature.
Pick up the magazine and turn to page 98, or read on to learn more about why Jamie chose a career at Saltgate, what his average day looks like, and how he’s setting himself up for the future.
Role
Trainee Fund Accountant
Education
Hautlieu – I have A Levels in business, maths, and physics.
What did you want to be when you were 8 years old?
A racing car driver in Formula 1. I liked the movie ‘Cars’, so I think that interest came from there.
Favourite way to relax
I like to watch movies or go on drives. My favourite film is Rush Hour – I always go back to it.
Favourite place to eat in Jersey
Timmy’s Hard Rocque Café out east – I like the view while enjoying my burger.
Favourite possession
It has to be my car – a silver VW Golf.
What made you choose to work for Saltgate?
After school I was deciding whether to go straight into work or university. Looking at what was out there job-wise solidified that I wanted to go into work.
Before I interviewed for Saltgate, it already stood out because of how they spoke about their values based culture – client-focused and a community feel. The interview process sealed the deal – I felt they had respect for me because they interviewed me in person. Coming into the office meant I experienced the culture for myself and saw how I’d interact with my future colleagues.
Saltgate’s training contract was really generous and appealing too. I have enough study days to learn, revise, and balance everything alongside my job. This structure helped me pass three exams in the last year. The ‘Flexigate’ work-life benefit is great too, we can start or finish two hours earlier each week to focus on something outside of work.
What professional training have you done?
I’ve passed three ACCA exams – Business Technology, Financial Accounting, and Management Accounting, all with the support and encouragement of my team.
What do you do on an average day?
I start by planning my day so I have a rough idea of what I need to do. A typical day usually consists of bookkeeping and preparing financial statements.
I’ll join board meetings every so often to learn how they work. This exposure is really helpful because it shows me what’s expected of you in these meetings, and how to present yourself and the information you share. It’s preparing me for the future.
As a trainee, I’m given lots of opportunities and responsibility and access to senior team members – I feel I’m trusted to do a good job.
What is your next step?
Long term, I’m working towards being a Chartered Accountant but for now, I’m focusing on taking four ACCA exams a year. As a trainee, right now is the perfect time to throw myself into exams – I don’t want to slow down. I’d like to be promoted in the next year too.
What advice would you give yourself as a graduate considering the experience you have now?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions – it makes life so much easier and you learn quicker. Don’t worry about leaving the structured environment of school either. I was nervous about the change at first but I quickly settled in and feel part of the Saltgate community.