I specialise in digital and employability skills for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and supervise dissertations. My role brings me into contact with many stakeholders, including professional bodies, students, alumni and teaching teams. My academic research (I am studying part-time for a PhD in digital skills and reverse mentoring for post-qualified accountants) connects me with employers and other universities and institutions.
People may think an educator role is quite linear, but it’s a combination of academic research and technical, vocational teaching. The non-linear aspect of my role is what I love most about it. Lecturers are free to create content aligned to education and accreditation requirements; I love this autonomy.
I do a lot of juggling and can overstretch myself sometimes
But the variety in my role can be a double-edged sword. I do a lot of juggling and can overstretch myself sometimes. I sit on ACCA’s Scotland committee and Public and Not-for-Profit panel, I’m a member of ACCA’s Global Education Forum and I’m a single parent. I’m learning the benefits of delegating work, and my daughter helps keep me grounded.
I’ve always loved learning and development, going back to my role working at a FTSE 100 company where I studied for a specialist master’s in energy accounting. I took up tutoring and volunteered to deliver lunch-and-learn sessions. I loved this so much that I accepted a post of part-time lecturer and it grew from there. Of all the learning and qualifications I’ve undertaken, ACCA has been pivotal to my career.
I’m passionate about breaking down social barriers to entry to the profession
I love being a social mobility catalyst. I’m passionate about breaking down social barriers to entry to the profession. Seeing students who may be the first in their family to go to university blossom and take on the knowledge for a career in accounting and finance is enormously rewarding.
Digital skills are a big challenge for the profession. I prefer to use the term ‘digital confidence’; we all have skills to learn more about the world of digital working but maybe not the confidence to implement them. When I was on maternity leave, I was conscious that my field of digital expertise would have moved on so I completed ACCA’s Certificate in Digital Innovation for Finance.
Universities can struggle to recruit qualified accountants who are willing to join academia
I want my daughter to have a role model of someone who works hard but has a good work/life balance. The public sector has embraced the importance of a work/life balance – one of the many attractive aspects of working in the sector. I work compressed hours to have Friday afternoons free to spend with my daughter.
Universities can struggle to recruit qualified accountants who are willing to leave industry to join academia. I would say if you were thinking of making the move, do it! It’s a very rewarding career.
I have three key outlets for rest and relaxation. I box and have competed in a charity boxing match for Cancer Research. I’m a fair-weather hillwalker – Scotland has some beautiful countryside – and I love live music, from stadium concerts to gigs in a local pub.
