Does anyone harbour a lifelong desire to become an accountant? Even Stuart Sheldrick, who became a director at age 28 at chartered accountancy practice, LB Group, doubts it.

Stuart, who has just turned 29, is not only one of the youngest directors the 52-strong Essex and London-based company has ever appointed, but also one of the youngest in the UK to qualify as an accountant.

Like many boys, his ambition was to become a footballer. When that showed no signs of happening, he looked elsewhere for options, but decided against university at an early stage. Perhaps it was the accountant in him that baulked at the idea of racking up student debt.

Instead he targeted dozens of accountancy firms, and secured a post with a small practice in Kelvedon immediately after gaining A Levels in Maths, Economics, English and General Studies. Stuart quickly recognised that if he worked hard, the world – in accountancy terms – was his oyster.

Two years later he advanced his career at a practice where he could be supported through his ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) exams. This is normally a three year post-graduate course. Stuart achieved it in two and a half. Two years after that he qualified as a chartered tax advisor (CTA).

That was enough studying and in 2003 he took off around the world. "I had just £3,000 to fund my trip," he recollects. "I knew I had to do a bit more than just pick grapes to fund stays in Singapore, Thailand, Tahiti, New Zealand, Los Angeles and the like. But I was fortunate enough to land four months´ work in a large practice in Sydney, Australia." He returned to secure employment immediately at LB Group in Essex.

As if heading up one of LB Group´s offices was not enough, Stuart then volunteered for professional mentoring. This year he worked alongside one of Anglia Ruskin University´s second year Finance undergraduates who is, Stuart says, "An absolutely brilliant young man. he´s got outstanding results – 89 and 92 percent – in his end of year exams. Shame then, that he´s set on going into banking rather than accountancy!"