3 months and a week later... give or take...

I passed probation.

I had my three month review today. And, they're going to keep me (for now, and hopefully for a while!). I was assigned a quarterly review earlier this week so I kind of figured that it might mean that they had decided to keep me around.

The three months has gone by really quickly. I can't believe how much I've learned in such a short amount of time... from tax issues to payroll to accounting and assurance. It has also tested what I have learned in school, whether or not I understand it enough to put into practice. And, as I am learning, what is learned in school, and what happens in practice is not always the same!

What has really struck me, is that before starting the job, I had an idea of what being an "accountant" is. Now that I have started work in the field, I have a greater respect for it. I do not think that I quite realized the depth of knowledge required. Not only do accountants have to have technical accounting, assurance and tax knowledge but need to be able to understand legal issues (yay to reading through articles of incorporation documents, re-structuring etc.), investments, finance, and also be good with people -- if you work in public practice.

I am enjoying it. The constant challenge pushes me, the constant learning and variety of clients and businesses keeps me motivated. I enjoy finding pieces to the puzzle and putting it all together. Working in a small firm gives me the opportunity to learn more sooner. It's also awesome to learn directly from the partners, and to be encouraged by them to become increasingly independent.

A few years ago, I had a dream. And then I kept seeing ads for accounting... and it was odd enough (accounting? huh?) that I had to at least look. I took a step away from "Katrina the future Secondary school teacher" to try something that I NEVER thought I would become (I've learned to never say never, except in certain instances). And well, after reading up lots, asking lots of questions, taking some accounting courses, and serving as youth parliament's Minister of Finance, here I am.


There are so many people who have helped me to get here. Thank you.