I have always loved working at Young Voices. The organisation stages the largest children’s choir concerts in the world. Each night, a different group of up to 8,000 children from different schools perform as a single choir to family and friends in arenas such as the O2 in London.
As a creative person with children who enjoy music and the arts, I love being a CFO in this sector. I especially love seeing what a massive impact we have on thousands of children. If I had law-making powers, I would ensure that all schoolchildren had access to free music education.
One day I could be preparing management accounts and the next accompanying the team on tour
I first got into accountancy after I was made redundant while on maternity leave with my first child. I had been studying AAT in the evenings, so I decided to continue my studies at university. I then spent four years at Broomfield & Alexander in Cardiff, where I studied for the ACCA qualification. I had the best mentors and colleagues I could have wished for. I joined Young Voices after qualifying with ACCA. The organisation was growing fast and needed a full-time accountant.
Being an accountant in a creative business is a daily challenge that I relish. No two days are the same; one day I could be sat at my desk preparing management accounts and the next accompanying the team on tour.
We are currently focusing on international development, which is taking me out of my comfort zone. I am dealing with new territories, tax regimes, regulations and cultures. It is a case of that which doesn’t break you makes you stronger.
We couldn’t put concerts on for three years, but we were able to weather the storm
The pandemic was a challenging time for all creative businesses. We couldn’t put concerts on for three years, but we were able to weather the storm and engage children online with our creative team. It was a difficult time as an accountant, having to manage furlough and applying for financial support and loans to keep the company afloat.
As I like a challenge, I also decided to study for my master’s in professional accountancy during lockdown. I was a busy parent with children’s activities, but lockdown was the perfect opportunity to find the time to finish my academic studies.
Some of my career highlights include working on a management buyout of Young Voices in 2016, dealing with multi-agencies. I was later promoted to finance director, but the business continued to grow and I was promoted again, to CFO.
Away from my job, I’m a level 1 surf lifeguard. I live next to the coast, and I coach surf life saving to a group of young people, aged seven to 13, both in the pool and on the beach. I also use my accountancy skills as treasurer for my son’s local football team.
