When I left university with a maths degree, I thought I was heading in the right direction. I’d done a placement in financial audits, landed in accounting roles, and began exploring the traditional career ladder. And while parts of it were enjoyable, the longer I stayed, the more the excitement started to fade. I could see the route ahead, structured, repetitive, predictable in parts, and I realised it just didn’t spark the kind of energy I wanted in a long-term career.
I gave accountancy a proper go, first in a remote role, then in an office-based position, but neither felt like the right fit. Both jobs helped me learn more about the industry, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I even considered going further, signing up for exams and locking into the pathway. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the future I was looking for.
I’d always enjoyed working with data, my placement year gave me a glimpse into that world, and eventually, I decided to lean into that interest. Now, I’m a data consultant for Cloud Perspective. The work is engaging, varied, and constantly evolving. I’m solving real problems, collaborating across teams, and learning something new every day. Tech never sits still, and that means the challenge doesn’t either.
What’s surprised me most is how many skills have transferred across. Communication, stakeholder management, business awareness, all of these came with me. And the more I get involved in data projects that intersect with finance or ERP systems, the more I see how valuable my accounting background actually is. Understanding general ledgers, legal entities, and business workflows gives me an edge, not just for the company, but for our Cloud Perspective clients too.
And it turns out, I’m not alone in making a bold switch. Martyn Leman, CEO of Cloud Perspective, shared: “I totally agree with Matty, and as it happens my first job out of college, where I studied Business Studies and Marketing, was Management Accountancy… it took me to my 3rd year of CIMA before I realised I was a square peg in that role. I then coded for 10 years, before ultimately settling into a Sales role.”
If there’s one message I want to share, it’s this: if your first move, whether in education, work, or training, doesn’t light you up, that’s okay. You can change lanes. You can skill up in something new. You’re never stuck.
Because the right direction isn’t always the one you start with. Sometimes, you discover it by making a bold turn.
