Meet the campaign stars – Henry Michaelson

Can you tell us a bit about your current role and what it involves?

As a Corporate Development Associate, I am tasked with supporting Bupa’s portfolio and capital management. My responsibilities include conducting strategic analysis of macroeconomic and sector-specific trends, performing company valuations, and developing financial models to facilitate the Group’s merger and acquisition activity. I am based in London and collaborate extensively with colleagues around the globe.

What’s a typical day like for you?

One of the aspects I value most in my role is the variety it offers, both in terms of way of working and shifting priorities. A typical day involves collaborating with colleagues in our market units, institutional advisors, and cross-functional teams including strategy and legal departments on key projects. I need to be flexible to effectively respond to evolving priorities, such as addressing ad hoc requests from our CFO on specific companies or opportunities meaning that few days are the same.

What inspired you to pursue the ACA qualification?

I learned about the ICAEW and the ACA whilst I was at school. Each year, the ICAEW hosts a business skills competition for secondary students called BASE, where participants act as ICAEW Chartered Accountants and compete in teams against other schools. My team was fortunate enough to win the national championship and was given the opportunity to visit London for a lunch and interview the former CEO of ICAEW, Michael Izza. This experience provided a great insight into the broad scope of the ACA qualification.

How has studying to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant impacted your career?

I trained whilst working in industry as opposed to a more traditional route working in practice. Becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant has allowed to do a number of interesting roles within a global finance function, both more traditional accounting roles and now in corporate finance with a more strategic focus. Without completing the ACA, I wouldn’t have been able to do the job I do now.

Which aspect of the refreshed ACA qualification do you find most impactful?

To me, the emphasis on technology is the most impactful element of the updated ACA. As professionals, the ability to effectively adapt to technological change is essential in shaping the future of what it means to be an accountant. It is reasonable to anticipate that artificial intelligence will significantly influence the industry, so it is encouraging to see the qualification evolving in response to these changes.

What advice would you give someone just starting their ACA qualification?

You get what you give. The work you put in is all for a reason and there are plenty of helpful study resources so that you can ensure your time is being spent effectively. The ACA requires a lot of exams, but I have been positively surprised by how relevant the things I learned have been to my career.

What skills do you think are essential for future ICAEW Chartered Accountants?

There will always be room for technical acumen, but I think that the ability to effectively collaborate with different people and connect the theoretical with the real-world in order to see the bigger picture will be essential skills for future ICAEW Chartered Accountants.

How do you balance studying, work and your personal life?

I don’t think that there is a one size fits all solution to balancing studying, work and your personal life, it’s personal and varies at different times in your life. For me, recognising that the demands of different parts of my life will fluctuate whist also staying fit and healthy is important so that I have the stamina I need when things are busier. I also think that it’s important to find ways to enjoy your work so that it is not a binary trade-off between the two.

What has been the most rewarding moment in your professional journey so far?

To celebrate 10 years of the Bupa Foundation and following the opening of our office in Nairobi, in June of this year, I had the privilege to represent Bupa at the LifeCare Better Together medical camp in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. This was an amazing experience to help serve those who typically cannot access the same level of care we all take for granted in the UK and I am incredibly proud of what we were able to do together.

Who has had the biggest influence on your life so far, and why?

So far, the people who have had biggest influence on my life would have to be my parents. They are supportive and have heled me to achieve so many of the important milestones in my life.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my spare time, I like to be with friends and family. I grew up in the South West of England and enjoy spending time outdoors, especially at the beach surfing or in the mountains skiing when abroad. I also like to travel as much as possible and I’m looking forward to attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro later in the year.