Azets is exploring secondments that would see trainee accountants gain “front of house” experience in pubs, hotels and restaurants to build stronger people skills in the era of AI.
The firm, which has 64 offices across the UK including one in Aberdeen, says it wants to learn from the hospitality sector as it reshapes its approach to training.
UK chief executive Peter Gallanagh told the Sunday Times: “We’ve got some very early conversations ongoing with some national hospitality businesses. I just feel that hospitality is a fantastic move.”
“Giving some formal base training to our trainees as they come into our business - the foundation of how they deal with people, how they do front of house - most accountants don’t think that way,” he added.
Gallanagh believes AI is reshaping the profession and said: “Historically, the focus was on financial accuracy and compliance … that’s now being done by AI and automation. We need to move towards a more front-end, front of house, hospitality-type relationship.”
He said this shift underpins Azets’ decision to grow its intake - hiring 384 graduates and school leavers in 2025 - noting: “If you’re cutting people at the front end, how are you ever going to get them to that advisory role?”
Gallanagh also highlighted plans to value hospitality experience in recruitment, saying: “What we will also do is look at, actually, what are the skills that people are bringing? Have they done some hospitality through their university or their schooling? Because that’s a good benchmark.”