By AAT Comment Inspiring stories AAT success stories: swapping animal care for a career in finance 30 Oct 2025 Harry Robinson-Brown began his professional journey by learning to care for animals, but today he’s Finance Manager in a vital medical research department at Cambridge University. This is how he got there. Harry Robinson-Brown at a glance… Years in accounting: 4Name of employer: University of CambridgeTop tip for students: While AI can be useful, if you don’t understand the fundamentals behind something, you are at risk of not gaining the same type of knowledge you would have by doing it the manual way. After finishing his GCSEs, Harry opted not to pursue A-Levels or university and instead went to college and started an apprenticeship in animal care. He was concerned about building up student debt and he wanted to gain a qualification that would provide him with a job at the end of his training. Although he enjoyed the practical application of his skills, and he enjoyed working in the field of animal care, he felt he needed a change after a few years. He worked for a time at a garden centre and nursery, honing his customer-facing and organisational skills, before deciding that he wanted to find a career that offered more of an intellectual challenge and a chance to progress. He set about exploring practical options in his rural hometown of March, Cambridgeshire. Getting started on a finance apprenticeship Harry applied for a finance apprenticeship he found on the HMRC website. It led to a role with Cambridge University’s School of Clinical Medicine in 2021. “It was a fixed-term contract for 18 months and the university provided the work experience and funded the exams I needed to sit,” he said. “My colleagues were very helpful, very supportive, both in advice with studying and on the job. I’m very grateful and I feel very lucky to have the opportunities I’ve been afforded. “I started in 2021 as a finance apprentice. I attended Cambridge Regional College, studying for an 18-month apprenticeship. I started at AAT Level 3 and, after I qualified, I successfully applied for a job as a senior accounts clerk in the same department in August 2022.” The university funded his AAT Level 4 qualification, which he completed in mid-2024. He has since stepped into a more senior leadership position as finance manager, overseeing a team split between grants and accounts. Harry now works in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Cambridge University’s School of Clinical Medicine. He manages millions of pounds in research funding that supports pioneering work in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. “A big part of what the department does is excellent research and teaching,” he said. “A typical day includes a number of meetings, one-to-ones with team members and senior managers, discussions on finance topics, reporting on finance and grants, and strategic financial planning, which is one of my favourite areas to work on.” Being involved – even in the background – in life-changing research has real personal meaning. “You hope it actually does change people’s lives, particularly on the neuroscience side of things,” he said. “It is close to home in a number of ways. I’ve had family members who have developed dementia.” Recalling his job interview, Robinson-Brown says: “I asked the panel why they enjoyed working for the university. What came across was the sense of playing a part and being an enabler for the amazing research that takes place across the department and the School of Clinical Medicine.” Lots of opportunities to learn and grow Robinson-Brown’s rise within the university was not just due to technical expertise, but also his ability to adapt and grow within a complex organisation, as well as his willingness to take on new challenges and responsibilities. He said: “One of the big benefits of being in such a large organisation is the variety and opportunity for training, especially around leadership, using Excel and learning about financial reporting.” Technology is playing an increasing role in his work, particularly with the advent of AI. “It’s very useful,” he said. “Especially for tricky Excel formulas that once took 20 minutes to figure out.” However, he believes that it is important to understand the processes behind AI rather than rely on it blindly. Harry continued: “If you don’t understand the fundamentals behind it, you are at risk of not gaining the same type of knowledge you would have by doing it the manual way.” Looking ahead, Harry has taken a brief break from studying to reflect on his next steps. “I’m quite keen to start studying again,” he says, considering options including ACCA, CIMA or even specialist finance qualifications such as becoming a chartered financial analyst. “The community and supportive nature of the university is something that I really enjoy,” he said. “There’s a big effort to make everybody feel like they are part of a community.” Harry thinks the most rewarding part of the job is playing his part in helping to accelerate research and scientific recovery. He added: “To see something go from grant application to research and then to practical application, and for that research to make a real difference in people’s lives, is extremely rewarding to be a part of.” This article was first published in Oct-Nov 2025 edition of AAT Student magazine here. Further reading AAT success stories: a fresh start in a new country AAT success stories: defying the odds to become a qualified accountant AAT success stories: escaping slavery and finding a new life with AAT AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.