In October 2022, I officially joined the wauko team as a junior accountant, stepping into the first chapter of my professional journey toward becoming a qualified Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
As a CIMA-accredited training office, wauko offered me the comfort and assurance that once I completed my articles and exams, I would walk away having developed the core competencies required for my designation. But beyond the technical requirements, wauko became so much more than just a training ground. It became a space of growth, mentorship and transformation.
Admittedly, entering a small-to-medium-sized firm can feel daunting, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the depth of training such an environment can provide. I started out with little to no experience, unsure of what lay ahead. I was quickly reassured by the support of my seniors and the culture of guidance that was so deeply embedded in the team. I was not just thrown into the deep end, I was taught how to swim.
From day one, I was given the chance to learn through doing, with real-time feedback, support and encouragement. I worked alongside people with diverse strengths and skills, and I was fortunate enough to collaborate with many of them across a variety of client portfolios. Each colleague contributed uniquely to my development: from one, I learned critical thinking and problem-solving; from another, I absorbed lessons in compassion and empathy. Others helped sharpen my task and time management, which significantly improved my planning and administrative abilities. It was these collective lessons that helped shape me into the accountant I am today.
One of the most invaluable aspects of working in a training centre like wauko is the sense of community. There’s something incredibly powerful about being surrounded by peers who are all working toward the same goal, becoming CGMAs. This creates a natural camaraderie and emotional support network that makes even the toughest days feel manageable. The open-plan office setup has been a great advantage too; it fosters collaboration, open communication and constant learning from one another.
What also stood out for me was the firm’s encouragement of balance. wauko not only gave me the space to grow professionally but also supported my academic journey by allowing me time away from the usual 8-to-5 hustle to focus on studying and preparing for exams. That kind of support is invaluable when juggling practical training and academic pressure.
As someone special in the office always says, “Perspective is everything.” And looking back, I can see how that perspective shifted for me. I went from nervously processing invoices and triple-checking every client email, to confidently managing a team and overseeing a portfolio of clients, each one unique and complex in their own way. The growth I’ve experienced has been nothing short of exponential.
Joining wauko wasn’t just the beginning of my career – it was the start of a journey filled with mentorship, challenge, inspiration, new friendships and support. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
If you would like to be part of a dynamic and initiative team and enhance your career, you can visit waucareers • wauko and apply to be part of the wauteam.
