My career from apprentice to Director, built on agility, leadership and family

Celebrating 25 years at Rayner Essex, Claire Barringer, Director of Accounting Solutions in St Albans, looks back on her career journey, leadership approach, and path to success. She reflects on her long-term career in accountancy and why Rayner Essex has become her anchor and home for more than two decades.

Why did you choose a career in accountancy?

I was drawn to finance from an early age. There is a strong thread of it on my mum’s side of the family, from banking and bookkeeping to statistics, and I grew up watching how logic and problem-solving could be applied in very practical ways. One of my earliest memories is my Nana calmly working through Countdown numbers with nothing more than a pen and paper. That quiet confidence stayed with me.

Accountancy appealed because it is not just about numbers. It is about understanding them well enough to help people make better decisions. I began my career as an apprentice, which gave me a strong grounding from the outset and shaped how I still approach my role today. Learn continuously, stay curious and focus on adding value.

What did you do prior to joining Rayner Essex?

I trained in smaller practices in North Hertfordshire, which meant I gained broad experience early on. I worked closely with owner-managed businesses, delivering bookkeeping, vat, accounting, payroll, personal tax and company secretarial services.

That experience shaped my career. I have always enjoyed being involved in the detail of a business and becoming a trusted point of contact rather than a distant adviser.

Why did you choose Rayner Essex?

After eight years in practice, I was considering a move into industry. A recruiter encouraged me to meet Rayner Essex first saying it was a friendly firm, and from the very first conversation it was clear this was a firm where people mattered.

I joined in February 2001 as an Assistant Manager, initially supporting the accounting and bookkeeping and management accounts teams.

What was intended to be a short-term role quickly became something much more. The culture, the trust and the investment in people made it clear that this was a place where I could grow. These were the perfect foundations for my long-term career in accountancy.

How has your career developed at Rayner Essex?

My career development has gone hand in hand with my personal life. As I progressed through the firm, my husband’s military career meant we spent long periods living apart while raising our family. Ten months after I joined, he was reposted, and we made a conscious decision that I would continue building my career at Rayner Essex while he lived away when on duty. We lived like that for ten years and had our two children during that time.

The support I received from the firm was pivotal. Long before agile working became fashionable, Rayner Essex trusted me to adjust my hours and work flexibly when needed. That flexibility allowed me to return to work full time, continue progressing and remain present as a parent. Many of the partners at the time were also raising young families, which created a culture of understanding rather than judgement. This really shaped my long-term career in accountancy at Rayner Essex, and had a real impact on my success.

That approach made it possible for me to move up through the ranks to Director without feeling that I had to choose between career and family. Today, more than 60 per cent of our leadership team is female, which reflects how the firm has evolved and continues to value capability, commitment and leadership above all else.

What is your role and what does an average day look like?

I am the Director of the Accounting Solutions department in our St Albans office, leading a team of 17.

We support clients with bookkeeping, management accounts, year-end accounts, cashflow forecasting, systems and process improvement. My clients range from sole traders to businesses with turnovers of up to £7 million, across a wide variety of sectors.

No two days are the same. Alongside client work, my role focuses heavily on leadership, mentoring, developing people and ensuring we continue to use technology to work smarter and always looking for ways to improve our services and deliver added value for our clients.

What are you most proud of in your career?

One of my proudest achievements has been introducing and developing our ACCA training and AAT apprenticeship programmes.

When I joined, the department had limited formal development structures. Today, we have a multi-generational team, from school leavers to colleagues with over 25 years at the firm. We actively invest in training, celebrate success and create clear pathways for career progression. Watching people grow in confidence and capability, and knowing I have helped create that environment, is incredibly rewarding.

What motivates you?

Professionally, I am motivated by building strong teams and giving people the space to excel. I believe effective leadership is about trust, mentoring and setting clear expectations.

Personally, my family is my biggest motivation. We made many compromises in the early years, and that has shaped how I lead today. I want to be a good example to my children and show that hard work, resilience and commitment genuinely pay off.

What do you like best about working at Rayner Essex?

It’s still the friendly firm I joined. There has always been a work hard play hard culture and that’s now supported by our great social, wellbeing and sustainability committees.

What truly sets us apart is our people. Many of our team have been with the firm for five, ten or even twenty years plus, just like me. That depth of experience creates strong mentoring, continuity for clients and a genuine sense of community and friendship amongst our clients and colleagues.

Tell us a little more about you and something not many people would know?

I have a GCSE in art and design textiles, and I still enjoy creating things from scratch. Outside work, that tends to come through in cooking, sewing and decorating. I am very detail-driven, so even the parts no one sees matter to me. If I am painting a room, it will be finished properly, behind the radiator and above the door included.

If I wasn’t an accountant, I would like to be a Florist. Flowers always bring a smile to my face.

Where to next in your career?

My focus is on continuing to embrace advances in technology and understanding how developments such as AI will reshape our profession. I am also an active member of our Digital Ambassadors and think that opportunity lies in using technology to work more efficiently while strengthening the insight, judgement and relationships that clients value most.

I also look forward to exceling in leadership and continuing to impact and support my team to reach their full potential.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in accountancy or finance?

Do not assume the role is only about numbers. Accountancy is a people-focused profession. Everyone interprets financial information differently, so being able to explain it clearly and build trust is just as important as technical ability.

The training takes time and commitment, but it is worth it. It offers variety, progression and the chance to build a career that grows with you over the long term.

New joiners benefit from learning alongside highly experienced colleagues in a supportive and collaborative environment. There is real opportunity to build a long-term career, to be mentored and to progress based on ability and ambition.

Rayner Essex offers flexibility, experience and genuine investment in its people, so this could be the right place for you to build a long-term career in accountancy.