What if accountancy could be a vibrant and exciting space for young talent to thrive? Enter Cooper Parry…

For years, accountancy has been synonymous with stiff collars, grey suits, and a profession dominated by traditional, male-dominated office spaces. The image of number-crunching, paperwork-heavy jobs in dull, corporate environments has made it hard to see the industry as anything other than a serious, uninspiring career path.

But what if accountancy could be something completely different? What if it could be dynamic, vibrant, and an exciting space for young talent to thrive? Enter Cooper Parry – the “rebels of the accountancy world”, who are creating the UK’s next gen professional services group and shaking up perceptions and proving that this profession is anything but boring.

Cooper Parry (CP), the UK’s fastest-growing accountancy firm and the largest with a B Corp accreditation, is revolutionising the accountancy world with a forward-thinking, apprentice-first approach designed to reshape the industry’s perception, and attract top talent — particularly from a diverse, younger generation. Central to this strategy are the firm’s apprenticeship programmes, which offer both professional development and personal growth in a dynamic, high-performance environment.

Talent Acquisition Director Steph Morris and apprentice Millie Gibbs explain why CP’s approach to apprenticeships is so different from traditional accountancy firms.

 

One of the most significant factors that sets Cooper Parry apart from traditional accountancy firms is its commitment to flexibility and employee empowerment.

The firm has introduced policies like the “Work from Anywhere, Anytime, Forever” approach and an Unlimited Holiday Policy, setting a new standard for work-life balance in the sector. These policies allow employees to work across the globe while also taking extended time off to pursue personal interests and recharge. By offering this flexibility, CP ensures that its people can bring their best selves to work, fostering a more engaged and productive workforce.

“We like to ‘disrupt, lead and make life count’,” she says. “It’s our mantra that we live and breathe by, driven by our CEO and some of our Partners who saw the accounting industry and didn’t want to follow suit. We don’t want to be the stale, male, grey suits environment.

“So how can we be different? It started with things like refurbing our offices to enable more collaborative working and providing a space where our people love to be. We’ve won awards for the coolest offices in the UK and Europe.”

CP’s cultural revolution extends far beyond office aesthetics. They’ve introduced policies and working practices that set them apart from the norm. As well as their ‘work from anywhere, anytime, forever’ policy “that literally means anywhere in the world,” they’ve also trialled the four-day working week; “unheard of” in the accounting world.

“Basically, our approach is, come to work, enjoy it, play to your strengths, and then we’ll give you more time back to be able to do what you love, to be the best version of you.”

Cooper Parry’s Steph Morris.

At the heart of CP’s growth strategy is the drive to attract and nurture the next generation of talent; those with passion, ambition, and a hunger to learn. Cooper Parry’s apprenticeship programmes go beyond simply training future accountants; they provide a pathway for young professionals to grow, thrive, and ultimately become the firm’s future leaders.

For many young people, however, the idea of pursuing an apprenticeship in accountancy isn’t an obvious choice. Millie Gibbs, an apprentice at Cooper Parry, shares her journey.

“When I was in school, I never had the vision of myself going into an apprenticeship,” she admits. “I always had the uni route in mind. But then I started Googling online apprenticeships and found an apprenticeship in accountancy. I wasn’t put off by not having the social aspect of university because it was clear CP had a lot of young people coming into the firm, and they wanted to progress you. I knew I’d feel comfortable in an environment where people were going through it at the same time as me; going through studies while working. I just felt it was the best opportunity for me.”

For Millie, the apprenticeship has had a profound impact. “I think doing an apprenticeship really has changed me as a person. I’m a lot more confident. I’m happy to talk in front of people and I feel like I’ve matured so much from a little 19-year-old that came into her assessment centre. I’m now managing audits on my own, getting support from people who encourage me to work hard, and I’ve made great friends through my apprenticeship.”

CP apprentice Millie Gibbs.

The apprenticeship programme at CP offers a clear career progression path. “You get exam qualified and then you have to be time qualified,” says Steph. “So, once you’ve done both of those, you will be looking at Assistant Manager Grade 1 where you start to take the lead on audits, or tax work or accounting work, and you then start looking after the next apprentices coming through. You start coaching and mentoring, and line managing those early careers students coming through the ranks – which is really lovely.”

“We can promote at any time, which is really organic and personal to that individual. It’s lovely to see different people flourish at different times,” she adds.

Cooper Parry’s apprenticeship programme is not only attracting top talent but helping transform the accountancy industry as a whole. Their Glassdoor and NPS scores consistently outperform peers as ‘best in class’, so they keep attracting and retaining the UK’s top talent to collaborate with their clients.

Through its commitment to flexibility, inclusivity, and career progression, the firm is demonstrating how accountancy can be an exciting, modern, and dynamic career choice for the next generation.

Head here to learn more.