From Salford to the Cayman Islands and Canada, MSc Accounting and Finance graduate Deborah's story

Choosing Salford

“The UK has a very high-quality education system. I also had family in the UK which gave my parents comfort and provided an additional support system to help me settle. I decided on Salford because there was availability on my chosen course, MSc Accounting and Finance. Furthermore, I received a significant financial reward through a scholarship which lowered the cost of my tuition fees.”

The learning experience

“The course took us through one area of accounting or finance per module. I felt this delivery method contributed to my success as I was able to focus solely on one thing before moving on to the next.

I developed interpersonal skills throughout the course including critical thinking and problem-solving through the coursework (either group or individual assessments) which required significant research and analysis. I continue to use these skills in my current role as I am constantly helping my teams to analyse situations, identify challenges and develop solutions.”

Outside of the classroom

“One of the elements I really valued about Salford was the diversity of the student body. Meeting students from different countries, backgrounds and cultures provided unique insights I hadn’t experienced before.

I also had a part-time job in addition to my studies as a customer service assistant in a pawnbroking shop. Whilst this role wasn't directly related to my current role, it did help me to develop my customer service and communications skills, both of which have helped me in my career since graduating.”

Career to date

“After graduating from Salford, I decided to pursue my ACCA qualifications before returning to Nigeria. I stayed in the UK for 18 months to do this. Before I finished my ACCA qualification I had already found a job back in Nigeria.

I returned home where I began my career in auditing for EY Nigeria. I stayed with them for 3 years. After this, I had the opportunity to move to the Cayman Islands to work for PwC. I remained with them for 4 years before moving to Canada to continue my work with PwC in auditing. I'm now working for an American-based company remotely called BPM. Over my 10 years in the industry, I’ve progressed from entry-level associate to senior manager.”

Final thoughts

“The bonds and relationships I formed at Salford will stay with me forever and they really helped me to learn more about my strengths and weaknesses. I truly believe you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. Identify your why and put the work in to achieve your goals.”