From Self-employed bookkeeper to Senior Accountant – Nathan’s journey at FFT

Nathan Sobel is a Senior Accountant at FFT, joining the team in March 2025 after completing his ACCA certification earlier the same year.

With a background in bookkeeping, Nathan saw accounting as the natural professional step, and he has since embraced his move into the practice.

Nathan’s career: From self-employed bookkeeper to chartered accountant

Before making the move to Manchester, Nathan Sobel spent more than 10 years as a bookkeeper working with property management clients in London. He established his own successful bookkeeping business, but looked to move into accountancy to develop his career and broaden his understanding across the full spectrum of business and finance

While many professionals may be sponsored to take their chartership exams before later setting up their own practice, Nathan flipped this narrative on its head. He studied independently for over eight years, while balancing family and business commitments, and passed his ACCA exams on the first attempt.

Transitioning from self-employment to FFT

Nathan admits that the transition from running his own business to working for an accountancy firm took some personal adjustment. Adopting new systems and learning different ways of doing things was a frustrating process, but one he says has been well worth it.

During his onboarding, Nathan worked closely with an experienced colleague who helped him get up to speed with the firms processes and approach to client service. The supportive and positive culture of FFT allowed him to settle into the role quickly.

Today, Nathan now supports several clients in different sectors, using his bookkeeping background and accountancy expertise to provide accurate advice to clients.

What has working at FFT been like?

When joining FFT, Nathan was impressed by the high calibre of his colleagues. Working with industry leading specialists has sharpened his skills and given him the chance to learn from experts in different departments.

Also, Nathan has enjoyed the social aspects of FFT and corporate events, as he described the workplace atmosphere as light-hearted and relaxed. His sharp wit and quick sense of humour have become much a part of the team as his bookkeeping and accounting expertise, allowing him to seamlessly slot into the FFT team.

Looking to the future, Nathan is motivated to continue to develop his financial management abilities in tandem with working as an accountant and support clients in achieving their financial goals.

For more information about FFT Accountants, please call 0161 834 2574 or email mail@fft.co.uk.