Elizabeth Parker

Current Employer/Organisation Name

BDO UK LLP

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I graduated from the University of Exeter in 2021 with a BSc in Biochemistry with Industrial Experience. Following my graduation, I commenced a 3-year graduate scheme with accounting firm, BDO LLP, as a member of their Global Business Services Team, and actively studied towards the ICAEW Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) qualification. Following successful completion of my Chartered Accountants’ qualification in 2024, I have continued to progress through my role supporting international clients with their outsourced accounting functions.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I had found my Industrial Placement year highly interesting but ultimately decided that I did not want to relocate to London/Oxford/Cambridge, where significant Biochemistry opportunities are, nor did I want to complete a PhD.

I had always had a keen interest in maths, and I liked that accountancy had an element of problem solving, which is also prevalent in biochemistry; therefore, I explored accounting graduate schemes in Bristol. At face value, I liked that I was able to upskill while working, through completing the ACA qualification, and that the role had a guaranteed job following my ACA studies.

Having worked in an accountancy firm, and the same department, for the last 4.5 years, I really enjoy that no two days can be the same. I am the outsourced accountant for several international clients, primarily in the real estate sector, providing bookkeeping, management reporting, accounts payable, treasury and compliance services and more. I manage an offshore team, coordinate the internal BDO compliance teams and communicate with the global BDO network – I can have calls with BDO Australia in the morning, speak to BDO France midday and finish my day speaking to BDO US, and there is always an opportunity to learn.

I have daily contact with my clients, which has allowed me to both develop strong relationships with them and learn about their businesses and how we can best support them with their finance needs, such that I am their trusted advisor.

I have also had the opportunity to travel as part of my role, with the furthest being to India, which I had never envisaged possible when I first accepted my graduate position.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was the Principal Oboist for the Exeter University Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Exeter University Concert Band, also representing them at intramural badminton. I also really enjoyed attending the BodySoc sessions to support my physical and mental wellbeing alongside my studies.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I enjoyed the mix of theory and practical work involved in the Biochemistry course. The lectures were engaging and covered a wide range of topics and were current – we actively studied the developing COVID-19 vaccinations as part of our drug discovery module in 2020, which was highly interesting. I loved being hands-on in the laboratories, where we were able to collaborate and apply what we had learned.

My Industrial Placement year with Abcam in Cambridge was a fantastic opportunity to see how biochemistry is used in the industry. I had the opportunity to work in three of Abcam’s laboratories, on a rotation-basis, learning about cell science, protein purification and conjugation and antibody quality testing. This gave me a breadth of knowledge, and it was exciting to experience science in action!

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

I loved being able to combine challenging academic studies, with the diverse extracurricular activities and societies, while studying on such a beautiful campus. I have also formed life-long friendships and connections, making my time at the University of Exeter truly memorable.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The University of Exeter is highly regarded with a strong reputation as a Russel Group university. It was inspiring to be taught and supported by lecturers and researchers at the forefront of their field and have the opportunity to work in their laboratories. I liked that the Biochemistry course aligned with my areas of interest, covering the real-world applicability of biology and chemistry, where other universities favoured more of the biology or chemistry aspects.

However, it was also the feel of the campus, when I visited during an open day, that drew me to Exeter – it instantly ‘felt right’. Everyone was welcoming and I liked that the Streatham Campus had green spaces, with countryside nearby, but also benefited from city life. Having not grown up in a city, this was something I really appreciated.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The analytical skills developed during my biochemistry studies have been crucial. Biochemistry requires the ability to interpret complex data, which directly translates to the analytical work involved in accounting. This skill has therefore helped me in examining financial data.

Through performing scientific research and experiments as part of my degree, I further developed the problem-solving skills required in accounting. In my current job role, I am required to devise solutions based on evidence and data and generate ways to optimise processes.

Equally, working collaboratively in laboratory settings enhanced my teamwork and communication skills which are essential in my current role, where effective collaboration with colleagues and clients is key to delivering successful outcomes.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

1. Continue to develop a growth mindset as you choose to pursue your career (this is a skill which is not career-specific).

2. Read around the subject area – remain informed around current topics. You do not need to understand everything, but having some awareness will allow you to generate questions and demonstrate your interest.

3. Explore possible career pathways – I chose to pursue studying for the ACA qualification, however, there are also the ACCA, CIMA, CFA, CTA qualifications. Each covers different areas of accounting, finance and tax. Equally, you may wish to build your foundations through beginning with the AAT qualification, which is a pre-cursor to these courses.

4. The digital world, such as AI, is rapidly changing the accountancy and finance sector and how things are done. Learning how to use these technologies, beyond traditional Excel, will be invaluable and will ensure you can future-proof your career.

5. Do not be afraid to pivot during your career – the role you start in does not have to be your final decision. You can curate your own career. One of the Partners at my firm recommended I read ‘The 100-Year-Life’, which is an interesting commentary on how our lives now require multiple, flexible stages, including periods for re-skilling, career breaks, and portfolio careers.

What are your plans for the future?

Over time, I have begun to specialise in the Real Estate sector and would therefore like to continue to support international clients, in this sector, with their finance needs.

I am also exploring further education, such as whether to pursue a law qualification or a real estate investments-type course, which would enhance my knowledge and assist me in climbing the corporate ladder!