Excelling at analytical subjects at school, Matthew went directly into the funds industry where his talents could be best put to use. Signing on as a trainee accountant at an accountancy firm was the first step in a rewarding career. Matthew qualified as an accountant, attaining his Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification in 2004 and has since become a Fellow. Matthew also holds the Level 3 Certificate in Islamic Finance (IFQ) awarded by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. He continues to read extensively and stays on top of industry trends.