Introducing Harriet Morris-Grove, audit director at UHY London, and one of UHY’s homegrown heroes.
After joining UHY in 2011 as a trainee accountant, Harriet has grown her career from strength to strength within the firm, leading to her 2022 promotion to audit director.
Despite working predominantly within audit, where she supports a range of clients, from owner-managed businesses to large listed companies, Harriet has a great arsenal of skills at her disposal. To name a few, Harriet has experience handling due diligence investigations and on working capital reports, in connection with acquisitions and public company flotations, as well as working alongside the corporate tax department in the past.
With such an array of skills and 12 years of strong progression, you would think accountancy was Harriet’s childhood dream, but it wasn’t so clear at the beginning of her career journey:
Harriet said: “I had no idea what I wanted to do when I finished my degree in English language and literature. A friend recommended studying towards a professional qualification, as she was studying for her chartered accountancy exams, and said it would give me time to work out what I wanted to do whilst providing a good fall back if I couldn’t decide.
I applied to numerous graduate schemes and, after some work experience in a small accountancy practice in Baker Street, I was introduced to a partner at UHY Hacker Young, which led to my first interview. I researched – 'what is an audit’ before the interview and managed to get into the graduate intake for November 2011. And here I am now!”
Despite a penchant for literature, Harriet has really found her groove here at UHY amongst the numbers, saying:
“UHY is a great place to work. I had no knowledge of accounting or auditing before starting here and the training and support I have had over the years has meant I have been able to progress to the position I am in today.”
Specifically, when asked about her favourite part of work, Harriet said:
"Working with people. I really enjoy working with clients, building a relationship with them founded on UHY’s goal of helping them prosper, as well as working with our trainees and helping them develop their careers at the firm.”
Harriet’s progression within the firm has been consistently strong, and exemplifies the values we hold dear, consistently promoting and recognising talent:
Harriet said: “I have progressed quite quickly after qualifying, from an audit trainee to director with a couple of career breaks for maternity leave thrown in. UHY values encourage a focus on quality whilst living empathy, which I feel have been key to my progression.
I take pride in my work and our team, and encourage others to commit fully to enable us to deliver above and beyond.”
Finally, as one of the women in our growing London leadership team, and someone who was unsure where to start their career after university, we asked Harriet if she had any advice for her younger self, or any other young women starting in accountancy today:
Harriet said: “Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone, take a risk and push yourself to try new things. There is never a ‘wrong decision’ just a learning curve.”
