When I moved to the charitable sector to become a finance director, it took a while to become comfortable with the different culture and funding landscape. But I deeply valued the organisation’s mission. All our services are provided free of charge. Because we are funded by donations from the public, there is a great responsibility to utilise the funds in a responsible and targeted way. I have found that decision-making is slower in the charity sector, as there are so many stakeholders to consider when deciding on a course of action.
The main challenge facing hospices is a lack of funding from central government. The hospice sector is a vital part of the health system, and everyone wants to ensure that they have a good death. However, the provision of this service should not be funded solely by donations from the public; it needs proper funding to continue to provide a sustainable service.
It’s great to see the difference that Hospiscare makes to the people we serve
I began my career at a bank, which provided me with a strong foundation in financial services. It was when I took the Institute of Credit Management exams that my interest was sparked in accounting.
During a spell working with small businesses and selling insurance, I began studying for my accountancy qualification. This led to an accounting position on a two-year business process re-engineering project. I also later supported sales teams with budgeting and performance monitoring, learning how to leverage data for business improvements. Throughout my career I have always been driven by a passion for data and strategic planning.
After I qualified, I moved to the charity sector. I served as interim chief executive and was later appointed to the role permanently, which allowed me to use my finance and leadership skills to align our strategic aims with robust performance measurement. What I enjoy most about my job is the variety and the people. It is also great to see the fantastic work that is done every day by Hospiscare and the difference it makes to the people we serve.
My wife and I started fostering in 2013 and have had three foster children
Outside of work I am interested in music, enjoying everything from classical to rock. I love Chopin, Mozart, Simply Red and Queen. I play the piano for my own enjoyment, but I have also played in public. I also play the guitar and am trying to learn the banjo.
My wife and I are foster carers, so we spend time with our foster child, as well as our own children and grandchildren. We started fostering in 2013 and have had three foster children. We do long-term fostering and have had our current child for over seven years, and we remain in contact with our first foster child.
