Becoming a boss to manage the lifestyle you need  

We speak to Jessica Morton FMAAT ACCA about her entrepreneurial journey and how becoming a mum has impacted her work life.

You’ve completed your AAT qualifications and you’re ready to face the accounting industry head-on, but where do you begin your professional journey? With so many different sectors to choose from, it can feel overwhelming, and for Jessica Morton FMAAT ACCA, this pathway has been a whirlwind of twists and turns.  

From working with Dragon’s Den star Steven Bartlett, to setting up her own business and welcoming her first child into the world, Jessica has created quite the network in her professional life, but none of this came without hard work.  

Challenging the misconceptions of university 

The Filling the Gap campaign from AAT explores the growing skills shortages in the UK’s finance and accounting profession, highlighting where the gaps are, what’s causing them, and how we can work together – across government, business and education – to close them, while also shining a light on the people who are doing incredible things with their qualifications. 

Chapter 2 of the report suggests that 62% of young people think high grades are essential for accountancy and 57% believe a university degree is required to be successful. It simply isn’t. 

“I didn’t even go to college – I literally jumped straight in,” said Jessica, who now operates Jessica & Morton Consultancy in Lancashire, which specialises in helping businesses grow to their full potential. “There is that misconception that university means you will get a good job and I think it’s a shame.  

“I got really good GCSE results and assumed I would go to college and then on to university as that’s the traditional route, but a lot of young people don’t have a clue what they want to do for the rest of their lives. 

“That’s why I did an apprenticeship alongside my AAT qualifications. An apprenticeship means that you get actual experience on the job while you’re learning the theory.” 

Being motivated to make money  

AAT research shows that there is a perception that accounting is for people from higher socio-economic backgrounds (23%) and that it was a career for highly intelligent/numerate individuals (33%). 

While academically, Jessica was more than capable of going to university, she says that her motivation was always to start making her own money. She didn’t have a large financial backing from her parents and wanted to be independent.  

She said: “The most important thing for me at around 17-years-old, was moving out of my parents’ house and being independent, but I didn’t want to get into loads of debt. I saved up enough through my apprenticeship to move out a year later and I’ve lived independently ever since. 

“Success isn’t determined by whether you’ve got a degree or not. Success is how hard you’re working towards the thing that y you want to be successful in.” 

Taking a risk in a new role 

After a few years studying while working as an apprentice, Jessica was headhunted by a company to become their very first, in-house finance expert. What she didn’t know was that she would be working for Steven Bartlett, who at the time was a young, unknown entrepreneur who had created SocialChain with his business partner Dominic McGregor. 

Jessica was actively chosen because she was working in the industry as a young professional who hadn’t gone to university. She said: “They wanted someone that was a similar age to them, had work experience, and could understand the real-world implications of their decisions. 

“It was a big risk going from a well-respected company to a start-up business, but luckily it paid off.” 

It was here where Jessica discovered more confidence, and a belief that she had the skills to be her own boss. She said: “I was surrounded by so many young people at SocialChain who were eager to learn. We were all encouraged that we could be business owners. 

“I think Steve and Dom were very mindful that their employees weren’t going to work with them forever, and it was ok to help people look for their own opportunities.” 

A leap of faith to start a business

AAT research suggests 24% of 25 – 44-year-olds say poor work–life balance is pushing them out of the industry, which was one of the many reasons why Jessica decided to branch out by herself. 

Flash forward to today, and she is now the proud owner of her own company. Having started trading in October 2024, her business is now a profitable one, but this didn’t happen overnight, and her journey started long before the business became official.  

She continued: “I don’t really do any new business outreach, which I know is very fortunate, as all my work comes off recommendations and people introducing me to other people.  

“Nearly all my customers come from the network I have built up over the years. I’m just fortunate enough that I’m doing a good enough job that people keep recommending me.”  

Juggling a family with work 

It isn’t just Jessica’s business that is a new success. She recently welcomed a baby boy into the world which has completely changed her working life forever.  

AAT’s research suggests that 22% of accountants with children specifically cite work–life balance issues in their decision to leave.  

Being your own boss can alleviate some of these issues, but it’s important to remember that adapting to your new role as a parent, while fulfilling your business duties, is a learning process that may feel like a struggle at first. 

“Becoming a mum is the hardest thing that I’ve ever done,” said Jessica. “Being a business owner is really exciting and gives you loads of flexibility. It means that you get to pick who you work with and choose when you want to work. 

“However, when you place a baby into the mix, if I don’t work, I don’t earn. If I had disappeared from my clients, they would have very quickly had to replace me.  

“I suppose some people assume when you have a baby, you become a mum and you walk away from your career, but I definitely didn’t want to do that. I wanted to carry on with the business I’d built. 

“It can be really hard juggling everything. It’s been a tough year at times and it’s been hard work, but I’ve managed to grow the business. I’ve managed to keep it profitable and I’ve managed to carry on.  

“I’m very lucky that my clients understand the position I’m in and they’ve been really flexible to help me to work, but also making sure that I’m still spending time with the baby as well. Being a business owner certainly does help with that.” 

So what keeps Jessica motivated when work becomes stressful? She said: “I want to set a good example to my son that if you work hard, you get to live whatever life you want to live.  

“We have a motor home, so we spend quite a bit of time on the road just travelling around. I can take my laptop and work from anywhere, which means owning my own business allows me to have a good work-life balance, even during those busy periods.” 

For more information about AAT’s Filling the Gap campaign, and to read the full report, click here. 

Harry Rogers is AAT Comment’s news writer.