Change forces one to step outside of one’s comfort zone. In the late 2000s, I saw the beginnings of a seismic shift in the economy of St Kitts and Nevis, so I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to pursue an MBA. I knew no one there but I’ve always had a growth mindset and I wanted to be a rounded professional.
The realities of employment opportunities in St Kitts and Nevis led me to becoming an accountant. I had a natural affinity for numbers, so I pursued a BSc in Economics and Accounting at the University of the West Indies.
There is a vast ocean of difference between being an employee and being a business owner
Post-graduation, I joined PwC St Kitts and Nevis. I spent 10 years at PwC (now Grant Thornton), during which time I completed the ACCA Qualification, obtained an MBA from the University of Edinburgh and was promoted to manager.
In 2016, I assumed the role of CFO at The Bank of Nevis Ltd, where I was involved in significant corporate moves. At the indigenous bank I was the alternate to the General Manager. Taking on the role was completely different to anything I had done previously, and I found that the knowledge and skills gained from my studies and experience translated into the position.
With all my experience I thought that it was time to take advantage of gaps in the local financial space, so in 2021 I set up my own firm, Clifton Parry, offering a wide suite of financial and accounting services.
The most important five qualities are being resilient, personable, versatile, agile and growth focused
There is also a vast ocean of difference between being an employee and being a business owner. My move from being a CFO at a local bank to establishing my own firm was not a step but a deep dive outside my comfort zone.
There are qualities and skills that are critical for success in business and which apply across all industries. I believe the most important five qualities are being resilient, personable, versatile, agile and growth focused. Having mentors and maintaining relationships throughout your career journey are also important to one’s success, as others have gone before you and can be learned from.
The island’s economic drivers are tourism and Citizenship by Investment activity. However, there are many challenges. Businesses are trying to rebound from Covid-19 and are grappling with how they can make their processes more efficient and pursue growth despite sustained inflationary pressure. In response, my clients are pursuing technology while outsourcing accounting and other activities.
Having the mindset and courage to establish my own business has been my biggest achievement
Entrepreneurship was not my dream when I began my career, so I can say that having the mindset and courage to establish my own business has been my biggest achievement.
What I enjoy about my role is the multifaceted position of leading a business. I am involved in every task, from the minor to strategic decision-making. I like using my experience across accounting, banking, business management and ownership to craft solutions for my clients but also for my firm.
I firmly believe that to advance you must be educated or have a skill. If I had law-making powers, I would have policies that focus on increasing the access and affordability of vocational training, tertiary education and professional certificates.
If I wasn’t an accountant, I must admit to having fantasised about being an opera singer. I also flirted with the idea of being an economist.
In my spare time I am an avid tennis fan. I am also involved in two associations: Business and Professional Women – Nevis and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Eastern Caribbean- St Kitts and Nevis branch.
