The Hazlewoods Veterinary team is made up of individual people that work together towards a common goal. We are putting the spotlight on some of them, so you can get to know us better. The next person in our series is Associate Manager, Serena Deakins.
How did your career with Hazlewoods start and develop?
I originally started in the Vets accounts department dealing with sales and then I moved into working on year-end accounts, management accounts and VAT. After I qualified as ACCA I moved into the Vet tax team where I am now dealing with business and individual tax returns and tax queries.
What drew you to Hazlewoods originally and what made you continue your career with the firm?
I previously worked at a very small accountancy firm and I liked the idea of moving to a bigger firm and having a larger support team to help me develop. I now enjoy the community feel there is with Hazlewoods, whilst at the same time we have large social events and rewards for our work.
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
My greatest achievement has to be qualifying as ACCA. It is very rewarding when you pass your final exams but there is always more to learn and opportunities to further develop my knowledge.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy the variety of work in my role, and I enjoyed tax as a subject in my studies, so it is nice being able to apply this to real life situations. I also enjoy the team spirit we have and being able to help each other out when busy.
What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
I think it is important to try different areas of the industry to find what suits you best. Everyone has different qualities and we all have different strengths that we can play to. After being in a small firm and a larger firm, personally I enjoy being part of a larger firm as I feel it helps me develop more, by being around everyone’s experience.
How do you see the Veterinary team changing in the next 10 years?
I see the vet team expanding a lot in the future as trainees now will then be qualified and moving up, we will be getting new trainees and the team is always expanding. The need for veterinary services is never going to stop as we all love our animals! As there will always be a need veterinary services, our team is most likely going to be increasing in the future.
Tell us something we might not know about you?
Before working in accountancy, I took courses for catering and pastry and patisserie. I was thinking of working within the catering industry, ideally doing baking. However, I took a career change as I believed it to be more of a hobby, although I still enjoy baking in my spare time.
