Starting a new role often comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, but for Nathan Harmon, joining SeavorChartered has been a positive step in a career that’s already taken a few interesting turns.
From sixth form to scuba diving in Bali, through apprenticeships and professional exams, Nathan brings a broad set of experiences and a clear sense of where he wants to go next.
We caught up with him to chat about his journey so far, what drew him back into accountancy, and how he’s finding life at SeavorChartered.
Hi Nathan, thanks for taking the time to chat.
No worries at all. Happy to!
Let’s start at the beginning. What was your route into accountancy?
After sixth form, I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted to do. I liked numbers, but I didn’t have a fixed plan. I ended up doing a scuba diving internship in Bali, which was pretty random but an amazing experience!
That’s not the usual start to an accountancy career!
Definitely not! I came back just as Covid hit, which meant there were no tourism jobs, so that path kind of stopped there. Once things settled after the pandemic, I wanted something with more progression and structure.
And that’s when accountancy came back into the picture?
Yeah. I applied for an apprenticeship at a regional practice and spent around three years there completing my AAT Level 3 and Level 4. I worked mainly in the agricultural team, so on a lot of farmers’ accounts.
How did you find accountancy compared to what people might expect it to be like?
It surprised me. People think it’s all heavy maths, but it’s more about understanding what the numbers mean for a business. Excel does a lot of the calculations anyway. You don’t need to be a maths genius, just comfortable working with numbers and interpreting them.
What made you decide to move on and join SeavorChartered?
I’d finished my exams and wanted to see more of the full picture. At a larger firm, roles can be quite segmented. You do accounts, then pass things to tax, then someone else handles billing.
Here at Seavor, you see everything flow through from start to finish. That’s been really valuable for my development. It’s great for the client too, having a single point of contact who knows what’s going on at all times.
What does that look like day to day?
I’m involved in a wider range of work. I speak to clients directly, deal with queries, and understand how accounts, tax and returns all connect. It gives you a much better grasp of what’s actually happening for each client.
You joined around three months ago now. How have you found the transition into the team?
Really good. It’s a friendly environment and easy to settle into. Because it’s a smaller team, you feel involved straight away and you know everyone. You’re part of the process rather than just one step in it.
Outside of work, what do you get up to?
In winter, I play rugby for Creighton. In summer, I’m out in the Lakes as much as possible. Even after work, if it’s sunny, we’ll head out for a swim, a barbecue, just making the most of it. I also try to travel when I can.
Finally, how would you describe SeavorChartered to someone thinking of applying for a role here?
It feels close-knit and supportive. You have more involvement and more responsibility, but in a good way. You’re trusted to get stuck in and you can really see the impact of your work. It’s a great place to learn and develop.
Nathan brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to his role, along with a strong understanding of how businesses work beyond the numbers. His willingness to learn, ask questions and get involved has already made a positive impact.
We’re really pleased to have him as part of the team and look forward to seeing how his career continues to develop at SeavorChartered.
