Abby’s Story | How I Found My Voice and My Way in Audit
· Posted on: February 27th 2026 · read
Hi, I’m Abby and I am an Audit Senior at MHA. My journey so far has not been the most straightforward, but it has taught me a lot about resilience, self-awareness and finding the study and work approach that helps me succeed.
How My Career Began
"I have always been good at maths and naturally enjoyed working with numbers growing up. audit appealed to me because of its long-term job security. Even with the rise of AI, audit requires professional judgement, interpretation and justification that cannot be replaced by technology. During university, I realised that working in audit would expose me to many different areas of accounting and give me insight into lots of industries. "
In November 2022, I joined MHA as a graduate apprentice. Unlike many people, I did not join as part of a large intake, which meant I had to quickly learn to adapt.
I began studying for my exams at the end of January 2023 and moved into the professional level in June of the same year. It was a steep learning curve, and although I put in a lot of effort, I failed a couple of exams. Even when I went into them feeling confident, I often struggled with being able to process the information quickly enough.
From a young age, I had always suspected I struggled with processing information in a way that was consistent with Dyslexia, but I never took the time to explore it properly. After failing a couple of exams, I realised I needed extra support and decided it was time to find out once and for all. I went for a private diagnosis, and within a month I was officially diagnosed with Dyslexia. For the first time, everything made sense. It helped me understand why I interpreted things differently and why timing and processing during exams had been so overwhelming.
With exam arrangements in place, I passed my next exam comfortably, and it became a real turning point in both my confidence and my belief in my capability. I am now completing my final two Strategic Professional papers.
The People Who Have Supported Me
I have received so much support along the way. Colleagues have given up their own time to help me study, explain difficult areas and go over topics that tutors could not cover in depth. I have always been encouraged to ask questions, seek clarity and ask people to review my written work to ensure it makes sense.
Opportunities That Helped Me Progress
I have been lucky to take part in opportunities that helped me grow. One highlight was going back to my university for a job fair and speaking to students who were interested in audit and accountancy. It felt full circle and reminded me how far I had come.
MHA has also encouraged us to get involved in charity events. These are great chances to practise networking in more relaxed settings, while still remaining professional.
We often have students from schools, colleges and universities visit the office. I try to teach them Excel basics because it is surprising how many people have never been shown these skills. Even a small amount of knowledge can help them so much when they enter the world of work.
Feeling able to reach out has made a huge difference in building my confidence and my technical ability.
Overcoming Personal and Professional Challenges
My exam failures slowed down my qualification progress, but they also pushed me to understand how I learn best. Kaplan, our college provider, has given me early access to materials and supported the extra time arrangements I need.
Dyslexia is not something I can overcome, but I now use tools and techniques that help me manage it effectively.
I have also experienced the loss of two grandparents while working here. The support I received from colleagues helped me process that grief at my own pace, without feeling pressure to push through before I was ready.
My Advice to Women Early in Their Careers
There can be a perception that accounting and audit are male‑dominated professions, but my experience has shown me that women play an incredibly strong and visible role across the field.
My biggest piece of advice is not to measure your progress against someone else’s timeline. It’s easy to compare exam results, promotions, or confidence levels, but everyone’s circumstances, strengths, and learning styles are different. Growth isn’t linear. Some journeys take detours, some take longer, and some require adjustments, and that’s completely valid.
Advocate for yourself when something isn’t working, whether that’s your study approach, your workload or your development opportunities. Your voice matters more than you think it does.
Most importantly, don’t let setbacks define your capability. They are often the very things that build resilience, self-awareness and strength.
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