3 Minutes with James Lizars FCCA

James Lizars is a member of ACCA’s Global Council and the founder and CEO of Thrive Accountants in West Sussex, a Xero partner firm specialising in early-stage technology businesses.

As one of the first UK accounting businesses to achieve B Corp certification and as one of the early partners of the Million Tree Pledge initiative, Thrive has an established track record of demonstrating the business case for sustainability. They achieved recognition for this work in 2022 as winners of the International Accounting Bulletin’s award for Sustainability initiative of the Year.

We spent a few minutes with him as he shared about his unconventional come up and tips for someone starting out in the industry. James is an also Accountex regular, you might even see him on stage at this year’s London show..

How did you get into the profession?

It was a bit of an accident, really. I’d recently dropped out of university and was working as a temp, emptying bins around Surrey, when I got a call from a recruiter saying that they had a role at the local radio station in accounts payable. I figured it was a step up from what I was doing, so I went for it and discovered an aptitude for accounting. Although it did take me a good few years to get the hang of studying, I was very happy putting in the hard work to grow my experience and climb the career ladder before eventually qualifying at the age of 30.

What do you love most about the accounting industry? 

I love the impact that we can have. So many decisions have a financial aspect to them, and thanks to our perspective, our critical thinking and our unique skillset, we can steer those decisions towards far better outcomes. Whether that’s helping a small business owner to afford their dream home or shifting a whole industry towards a better way of doing business, accountants can play a pivotal role.

What do you see as key trends for the accounting sector in the coming year?

I see the transition to a low carbon economy accelerating as large organisations respond to regulation. This will trickle down to small businesses too through supply chains. Our access to key data, our reporting ability and our professional ethics will put accountants in high demand to support organisations as they adapt and change.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the profession?

Forget what you think you know about accounting and look at the incredible diversity of career paths that a professional qualification unlocks.

Why should people attend Accountex? 

Simply, there is so much value available to you. The huge variety of high quality CPD seminars. The inside track on the latest tech developments. Meeting up with old and new friends and colleagues. Plan your trip for the best experience.

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