Meet the team: Peter Kempson

What sector do you work in and have you any thoughts to share about the industry right now?

I currently work in the accounting sector. I believe the accounting industry offers great progression and the opportunity to travel the world. I consider there to be many opportunities within the industry, especially as it recovered strongly after the pandemic.

What led you to this career and how has it progressed so far?

I have recently left school after completing my A levels. I wanted to pursue a career in accountancy as I have always enjoyed an analytical role through my time at school and believe a career accountancy would suit my analytical skillset, whilst offering good career progression. In the short time I have been at Affinity I have progressed very quickly, I am learning new skills and completing new tasks every week which is really developing my understanding of accountancy. I have also began my ACCA qualification which I am enjoying and believe it will give the right foundations for my career in accounting.   

What do you do Affinity?

My role is in the internal accounting department of Affinity which is the Group, this includes the internal accounts of all our jurisdictions such as Malta and the Cayman Islands. My day to day role involves the general booking of Affinity Group and its various subsidiaries, raising reports for Directors and Administrators to explain certain positions such as receivables, VAT returns and group payments.

What are skills are you currently working on?

I am currently working towards my ACCA qualification which is pushing me to learn many new skills. At the moment, I am learning the basics of accountancy so I have a good grounding before I progress onto more complex tasks.

What aspects do you love about your job and the company?

I love that I get to work in an analytical and evolving role where I am constantly learning something new on the job and expanding my skill set. I also enjoy working with people from other jurisdictions such as our Malta office and learning how their jurisdiction works. Affinity has a very good atmosphere which is the perfect environment for me to grow and progress my career in accountancy.

What is your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?

I am currently revising after work for my ACCA so I am usually quite busy, however I like to unwind by cooking as I enjoy cooking and find it relaxing. I also try to go for a walk as I believe walking is a good way to clear your head and relax.

What are your passions outside of work?

My main passions outside of work are sailing and hiking. I really enjoy sailing as it is fun teamwork and I enjoy the navigation and technical side of it. I am hopeful and really looking forward to sailing again after the pandemic.

Finally, what is something you have done but will never do again?

I once tried going on sleeper train from Berlin to Krakow. It was one of the worst experiences I had and I got no sleep on the train due to the beds being really uncomfortable and the loud noises of the train.  I don’t think I will be doing that again!