Career Q&A with Lauren Newman

ACA Management Accountant at Caspian One, Central Bournemouth

We’re delighted to feature Lauren Newman and share her inspiring career journey, from qualifying in audit within practice to making the move into industry as a Management Accountant at Caspian One.

Having supported Lauren throughout her transition, it has been particularly rewarding to see her embrace this new chapter and thrive in a role that offers both challenge and opportunity.

In this Q&A, Lauren reflects on the experience of changing sectors, the skills she has carried forward from practice, and the realities of working within a growing professional services business. Her story offers valuable insight into the finance function behind the scenes, highlighting how strong financial management, effective processes, and commercial accountability help support the specialist services delivered to clients across the financial services industry.

Whether you're considering a move from practice to industry or simply interested in exploring different career paths within accountancy & finance, Lauren’s experiences provide practical advice and useful perspectives for professionals at every stage of their career.

About Lauren

Lauren studied A-Levels at school, instead of attending university, she chose to pursue an apprenticeship and training contract with Mazars, a well-known accountancy firm. Through dedication and hard work, Lauren qualified as an ACA accountant in five years. At 22, she became fully qualified. In August 2025, Lauren took a leap of faith by moving from audit into her first management accounting role at Caspian One — a decision she hasn’t regretted since!

Q1: In terms of your current role – what is your remit?

Lauren:

I manage a variety of weekly activities such as bank reconciliations and approving purchase orders. I’m responsible for looking after a smaller company from end to end, including raising invoices, processing accounts payable payments, and preparing monthly management accounts. I work closely with the FC and also handle monthly reconciliations for the main company, including the posting of Work In Progress (WIP), which is a large month-end task. Currently, I’m leading a big project to bring all our UK resources onto an in-house payroll system. 

Q2: What challenges did you face moving from audit practice into industry?

Lauren:

Even though I was a chartered accountant with lots of experience, there were simple tasks I hadn’t done myself before, like bank reconciliations and posting journals. In audit, you mostly review others' work, but now I actually have to perform the task and understand its impact on the accounts. The shift is about thinking more deeply about the effects of transactions and fixing issues rather than just spotting them.

Q3: What path did you take to become an accountant?

Lauren:

I took A-Levels at school and did a summer school at Mazars. Knowing the firm helped me successfully apply for their apprenticeship program. I started my apprenticeship right after finishing school at 18 and it took about five years to pass my ACA exams. Along the way, I earned promotions and progressed steadily.

Q4: Why did you move out of audit practice?

Lauren:

I was used to reviewing management accountants' work in audits but I never got to perform that work myself. I wanted to take ownership and responsibility, not just check others’ work. Now, I enjoy being the expert on my company and don’t have to jump into new audits constantly. Plus the hours in Audit are crazy I now feel I have a healthy work life balance!

Q5: What advice would you give someone starting a career in accountancy?

Lauren:

Definitely give it a try! If you’re interested in business, it’s a great option. You need to be good at maths, but it’s more about logic and problem-solving than complex calculations. It’s a diverse career with lots of interesting challenges.

Q6: How do you stay current and continue developing professionally?

Lauren:

After qualifying, I do regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) — I aim for 20 hours a year through webinars and courses. When new regulations come up, like IFRS 16 or changes to UK GAAP and tax laws, I attend seminars to keep up to date.

Q7: As a Management Accountant, what do you enjoy most?

Lauren:

I love it when something I figure out actually works! I often discuss ideas with my boss, who encourages me to research solutions independently and come back with suggestions. Accounting lets you justify your methods logically. I also enjoy designing tools and processes — for example, I create additional spreadsheets from scratch for the numerous project.

Q8: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Lauren:

Don’t worry about writing a personal statement or feel pressured to attend university if it doesn’t feel right for you. You can still become an accountant through apprenticeships — there are lots of routes into the profession.

On a lighter note...

Q9: What would you do if you won the lottery?

Lauren:

I’d travel a lot but also keep busy by volunteering at dog sanctuaries and a church coffee shop.

Q10: Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?

Lauren:

Probably Emma Watson! I admire her voice, she has interesting things to say and I’m a big feminist!

Q11: How do you relax?

Lauren:

I enjoy a Friday night pint and go line dancing twice a week!

Thank you, Lauren, for taking the time to share your career story and insights. Your journey is inspiring, and we wish you every success in your career moving forwards.

Clare 

June 2026