My secondary school maths teacher Mrs Harvey unleashed in me a love of numbers that has seen me create a whole career based on that. Mrs Harvey has a lot to answer for. Since qualifying with ACCA I have worked in several organisations, across a variety of industries including software development, recycling, renewable energy, flowers, financial services and ultimately waste management. I love being an accountant and working in finance teams, and have risen to various challenges across my career.
I am often heard repeating the phrase ‘turnover is vanity, profit is sanity and cash is king’.
For a waste management broker, filling lorries is not our priority. Instead, we get our kicks from finding creative methods of reducing, reusing and recycling the waste that our customers produce. Since I started working for UK Waste Solutions, I have had sight of the real damage that waste has on our environment and our planet so, given law-making powers, I would ban all single use plastics. Individuals don’t realise the impact it has.
Within my company I am often heard repeating the phrase ‘turnover is vanity, profit is sanity and cash is king’. All through the pandemic our cashflow has been the critical factor in keeping the business stable during a time when some of our large hospitality customers were having problems staying afloat, let alone making payments to us.
I think Accountancy and IT are a key combination. Understanding accounting software is vital to a career in accountancy – and the ability to explain things clearly and concisely, avoiding jargon. Integrity plays a key part in any finance role; you must inspire trust in other people.
If I wasn’t an accountant, I’d be a private investigator. I could use my enquiring mind and my insatiable curiosity to get to the truth
Being qualified gives me professional credibility – it is shorthand for ‘I know what I am doing’. It was the ACCA Qualification that gave me credibility in the eyes of the US software development company where I secured my first FD role.
If I wasn’t an accountant, I’d be a private investigator. I could use my enquiring mind and my insatiable curiosity to get to the truth.
As a person who is really terrified of heights (and I do mean terrified) I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and walk onto the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass horseshoe 4,800 feet above the floor of the Grand Canyon. It wasn’t easy or pretty, but I made it all the way round and felt so pleased I was able to take that first step.
Recently my sister introduced me to geocaching. It gives us an excuse to get outside in the fresh air and gives a walk a purpose. Lockdown has also introduced Zoom quizzes into my family. I normally prefer quizzes in a pub, but these are a great alternative in the current climate.
