I’m Ryan McAllister, and I work in audit at RSM’s Glasgow office. I’ve been here for nearly two years, and I’m currently studying towards becoming a Chartered Accountant – just two exams away from being qualified.

My career wasn’t a straight line from university. I studied mechanical engineering but kept moving from one unfulfilling job to another, feeling stuck and no longer gaining any new skills or knowledge. I had experience working in a boutique tax consultancy before it closed down, which gave me a taste of financial services. I decided to move into audit to gain a broader exposure to business and gain an insight into the financial picture of a company. But what attracted me to RSM specifically was the clear opportunity for progression and the chance to qualify as a Chartered Accountant, regardless of whether you have an accounting-focused degree. That flexibility really stood out, and it felt like the right path for me.

Building a tailored audit career based on my interests

One of the best things about RSM is the variety of learning resources and the support you get to develop your skills. In a firm as big as this there’s even potential to tailor your experience by working on clients that interest you. For example, I asked to work with a renewable energy client because of my engineering background from my degree – and my manager supported me in this. I’ve worked with some really interesting clients, including a global climate tech company delivering software solutions to decarbonise the built environment, and a renewables company that produces ‘green chemicals’ from by-products and food and agricultural waste.

What working in audit looks like for me

Audit is all about multitasking. You’re juggling different clients and staying on top of tasks, often visiting client sites to make discussions easier. Our role is to ensure companies’ financial statements are accurate, which means testing different parts of the balance sheet and audit files. At this stage in my career, I’m learning a lot from senior colleagues, but I’m also starting to teach new joiners. When I first joined, the structured support through regular check ins and reviews from senior colleagues was instrumental in building my confidence and helping me adapt quickly.

Life outside of work: food, culture and keeping active

Outside of work, I run a food page on Instagram – something I’ve been doing for nearly five years. I love trying new restaurants and sharing recommendations. I’m naturally curious, so I also enjoy visiting museums and art galleries, and I like to stay active by playing squash. I even tried bullet chess (a fast-paced variant of chess) while studying for my ICAS exams – it was a fun challenge that kept my mind sharp!

My advice for future auditors

If you’re thinking about joining audit, my biggest tip is to stay organised. There’s a lot to manage, and being methodical helps you progress faster and enjoy the experience more. You’ll learn so much and have plenty of opportunities to shape your career.

Make an impact. Be our future.​​​​​​​