‘Never shy away from challenges’
‘Never shy away from challenges’
AAB first opened its doors as Anderson Anderson & Brown in Aberdeen in 1990. Since then its headcount has grown rapidly. Fiona Nicolson hears why they see the CA qualification’s value as unmatched – and why nothing beats enthusiasm
One of the biggest challenges for any business when scaling up is knowing how to create a pipeline of talent. AAB was founded in 1990 with one office in Aberdeen. It now has more than a dozen across the UK and Ireland, as well as one in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its audit function grew by more than 20% in 2025 alone, now employing more than 500 people out of a total workforce of around 1,500.
A key part of that success has been developing and nurturing talent that not only joins the company as a trainee, but stays there for a decade or more, eventually making it to director or partner. One such is Christina Torrance CA, who joined AAB in 2013 as a trainee and ICAS student.
“If recruits have that willingness to learn, they will do very well”
Christina Torrance CA, AAB
Now Audit Director, she manages services for clients ranging from owner-managed companies to international group businesses. She also supports the firm’s training programme in conjunction with Robert Gordon University. Christina’s first-hand experience of the CA qualification influenced her decision to choose ICAS as the pathway for the firm’s students.
“ICAS is a widely respected institute,” she says. “The recognition it has worldwide is a major draw. It offers a structured contract for trainees to follow and undertake their exams, along with the necessary training and learning.”
ICAS also offers a flexible delivery system, which enables those students training with the ATO (authorised training office) to sit their exams at a time that suits both parties.
Monica Gray, a CA trainee at AAB
Monica Gray, a CA trainee at AAB
There are other benefits for both the firm and its graduates, as Christina notes: “The students gain insight into the real-life business world, while still being able to learn on the job. And from the firm’s perspective, we get the opportunity to grow each individual’s talent from the very beginning of their career.”
Graduate training includes in-house workshops and completion of online modules as well as studying. But before then, there’s the recruitment process to get through – and there’s one particular quality that AAB seeks when selecting its next cohort of trainees.
“One of the main attributes we look for is enthusiasm – we want to see that willingness to learn,” Christina emphasises. “Beginning a chartership is difficult – it can be a challenge, but there is always support around from everyone at AAB who’s been through it all already. If recruits have that willingness to learn, they will do very well.”
Expertise on tap
There is a wide variety of expertise to tap into at AAB. The firm offers audit, business advisory, tax, corporate finance, payroll, people consultancy and wealth management services, as well as a dedicated sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, governance) consultancy, helping clients with their strategy and reporting. Other specialist services available include hotel accounting, private client, restructuring and recovery, and ‘office of the CFO’ support.
“My journey as a CA began 13 years ago and the contract has changed over the years, but the groundwork is still the same. The advice I would give to those beginning their CA journey is never to shy away from challenges – they help you grow in your career, to be the best you can be.
“That was a key learning point for me at the beginning of my career, and one I stand by today.”
Gregor Wildgoose, a CA trainee at AAB
Gregor Wildgoose, a CA trainee at AAB
While the fundamentals of a CA’s training may be relatively unchanged, other aspects have evolved. Torrance takes a positive view of the changes being wrought by technology.
“AI is a tool that provides opportunity for us as accountants,” she says. “From an audit perspective, we’re using AI in a variety of ways, for instance, for analysing large datasets through to flagging up certain types of journal entries and invoices.
“There is always going to be a manual element, though. AI is not going to be able to do everything – and it is only ever going to do what you ask it to do.”
Learn more about making your firm or business an ATO
One of the biggest challenges for any business when scaling up is knowing how to create a pipeline of talent. AAB was founded in 1990 with one office in Aberdeen. It now has more than a dozen across the UK and Ireland, as well as one in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its audit function grew by more than 20% in 2025 alone, now employing more than 500 people out of a total workforce of around 1,500.
A key part of that success has been developing and nurturing talent that not only joins the company as a trainee, but stays there for a decade or more, eventually making it to director or partner. One such is Christina Torrance CA, who joined AAB in 2013 as a trainee and ICAS student.
“If recruits have that willingness to learn, they will do very well”
Christina Torrance CA, AAB
Now Audit Director, she manages services for clients ranging from owner-managed companies to international group businesses. She also supports the firm’s training programme in conjunction with Robert Gordon University. Christina’s first-hand experience of the CA qualification influenced her decision to choose ICAS as the pathway for the firm’s students.
“ICAS is a widely respected institute,” she says. “The recognition it has worldwide is a major draw. It offers a structured contract for trainees to follow and undertake their exams, along with the necessary training and learning.”
ICAS also offers a flexible delivery system, which enables those students training with the ATO (authorised training office) to sit their exams at a time that suits both parties.
There are other benefits for both the firm and its graduates, as Christina notes: “The students gain insight into the real-life business world, while still being able to learn on the job. And from the firm’s perspective, we get the opportunity to grow each individual’s talent from the very beginning of their career.”
Graduate training includes in-house workshops and completion of online modules as well as studying. But before then, there’s the recruitment process to get through – and there’s one particular quality that AAB seeks when selecting its next cohort of trainees.
Monica Gray, a CA trainee at AAB
Monica Gray, a CA trainee at AAB
“One of the main attributes we look for is enthusiasm – we want to see that willingness to learn,” Christina emphasises. “Beginning a chartership is difficult – it can be a challenge, but there is always support around from everyone at AAB who’s been through it all already. If recruits have that willingness to learn, they will do very well.”
Expertise on tap
There is a wide variety of expertise to tap into at AAB. The firm offers audit, business advisory, tax, corporate finance, payroll, people consultancy and wealth management services, as well as a dedicated sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, governance) consultancy, helping clients with their strategy and reporting. Other specialist services available include hotel accounting, private client, restructuring and recovery, and ‘office of the CFO’ support.
“My journey as a CA began 13 years ago and the contract has changed over the years, but the groundwork is still the same. The advice I would give to those beginning their CA journey is never to shy away from challenges – they help you grow in your career, to be the best you can be.
Gregor Wildgoose, a CA trainee at AAB
Gregor Wildgoose, a CA trainee at AAB
“That was a key learning point for me at the beginning of my career, and one I stand by today.”
While the fundamentals of a CA’s training may be relatively unchanged, other aspects have evolved. Torrance takes a positive view of the changes being wrought by technology.
“AI is a tool that provides opportunity for us as accountants,” she says. “From an audit perspective, we’re using AI in a variety of ways, for instance, for analysing large datasets through to flagging up certain types of journal entries and invoices.
“There is always going to be a manual element, though. AI is not going to be able to do everything – and it is only ever going to do what you ask it to do.”
Learn more about making your firm or business an ATO
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