I knew that if I chose Sheffield, I would be set up for the future

Jonas Stankevicius

Current student

BA Accounting and Financial Management with a Placement Year

Mature student Jonas completed his placement year at Grant Thornton, and is approaching the end of his Accounting and Financial Management degree. He is hoping to go into tax, auditing, or forensic accounting when he graduates.

Student Jonas Stankevicius in the countryside. — Credit: Sukey Robertson-Shore

I chose Sheffield because it hosts state-of-the-art facilities, from its libraries to its learning resources. I love living in a quieter city rather than in our neighbouring ones. The cherry on top is being part of a Triple-Accredited Business School (which only less than 1% of business schools have achieved), with a vast number of programme accreditations - I knew that if I chose Sheffield, I would be set up for the future.

You don’t have to study accounting before your programme or be great at numbers at the start to succeed in this course

I love how everything builds on something. From 1st year, you learn everything from scratch, the fundamentals, and the foundation of your accounting and finance journey. Although it's a common misconception, this is why you don’t have to study accounting before your programme or be great at numbers at the start to succeed in this course. This programme also includes reflective modules in Career Development and Planning, which I found enjoyable, helping me reflect on my learning and see where it can take me outside of university.

SUMS provide a critical toolkit for critical analysis, reflection, and the development of our own independent thinking.

The Management School is very keen to get students involved with critical thinking - to learn how to examine, critique, and to think for ourselves. Especially as AI becomes increasingly prominent in our age and is a powerful tool to help us, SUMS provide a critical toolkit for critical analysis, reflection, and the development of our own independent thinking.

Lecturers, tutors, and module leaders provide students with extensive knowledge of business, accounting, law, and finance. What’s great is you’re not thrown into the deep end - you get gradual exposure to the material. What’s even better is that the content delivered reflects today’s market and economic climate/issues, helping you stay current and informed and building on your commercial awareness of the companies around you and the world in which we live.

The employability hub has taught me a range of skills related to the job market, from CV refinement and LinkedIn networking to securing jobs/placements and practising interviews. The hub welcomes informal meetings to refine these skills, and it also hosts a bunch of online resources so you can access them in your own time. Academic Skills 301 have helped me gain a host of academic skills, from examining, synthesising, and critically evaluating appropriate academic literature to aid in our learning, the school itself have challenged us in many ways, from learning how to work under pressure during our exams, practicing our public speaking during presentations, and knowing how to communicate our thoughts and analysis through academic assignments and reports.

Sheffield’s AFM degree has sparked my curiosity through its investigative and forensic qualities

With so many transferable skills, your career can take you anywhere. I plan to join a graduate scheme at an accounting firm, pursue further study and gain knowledge to either go into tax, auditing, or forensic accounting. Sheffield’s AFM degree has sparked my curiosity through its investigative and forensic qualities, which have caught my interest in pursuing these job roles. The Auditing & Case Studies in Accounting and Consultancy modules have provided a foundation in the knowledge I need to pursue these career paths. With my current knowledge of employability, I also plan to become a career coach once I am chartered, by helping other students and guiding them through the process. As someone from an underrepresented background and the first in my immediate family to attend university, I want to continue inspiring those who wish to pursue this career path.

I find my placement experiences invaluable to this day

During my placement year, I worked at Grant Thornton as part of the Audit Student Placement programme. I worked there for about 8 months, serving key clients ranging from small family-owned businesses to AIM-listed companies. The exposure I gained working as an auditor enabled me to apply the theoretical knowledge I learnt during my first two years of the programme in a more practical sense. I found working at GT very challenging, as it was a very busy environment. That, with moving to a new city, meant I was exposed to new changes, opportunities, networking events, and knowledge, which I find invaluable to this day. After Grant Thornton, I completed a Work Simulation at EY through Forage, then continued working with ASDA’s finance team over the summer, handling transactions within the business. It was a great experience to go from an external perspective to working with actual invoices and transactions internally, brushing up on bookkeeping, which is essential in accounting and business.

Before my placement, I attended many workshops and events to gain exposure to what it was like to go on a placement, from searching for a role to securing one. We also gained exposure to placements and opportunities during our Futures First module, where current students shared their stories to inspire others. During my placement, I received a lot of support from the placements team, including regular check-ins and meetings. My placement supervisor was especially helpful, providing practical tips and advice on managing work-related stress and helping me deploy several coping strategies to get through my placement year. The placements team were very proactive and engaging in providing support, and I am grateful for how much they positively impacted my placement experience. After my placement, I continued to work with the employability service to gain tips and advice on securing a graduate role. Our Returner’s Placement event was particularly prominent, as it helped build networks with other placement students who have gained exposure to the world of work.

My Sheffield experience

��TV has been especially helpful with my disability - the Disability & Dyslexia Support Service has listened to and assisted me with my academic journey, from providing exam adjustments to a Learning Support Plan. The service has allowed me to gain better exposure to my learning and to better support me overall until I graduate.

It’s essential to take a break from books and just enjoy some time outdoors! That’s why I’m so grateful that the Peak District is just a stone's throw away and easy to reach by public transport. I’ve found that hiking does wonders for my mental health, and it’s such a refreshing way to recharge.

One more thing I recommend is to café hop! Sheffield has so many places to have a coffee, from ‘GeniUS’ outlets across campus, to independent cafes across Division Street and Ecclesall Road.

Undergraduate

Accounting and Financial Management BA

2027-28

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code N420

3 years

/ Full-time

Accredited

Be inspired by our world-leading academics, to develop essential industry ready skills and gain rigorous academic knowledge, contextualising the role of accounting and financial management in an organisation. You’ll study the latest issues shaping the profession and the role of finance in driving responsible business.

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Management School

Management School