After leaving school I did an apprenticeship with the NHS, studying AAT alongside it. I decided to carry on studying and ACCA felt like the right next step. It offered a mix of technical knowledge and a more strategic view, and at that stage I did not really know where my career would end up. I just knew I wanted something that would keep my options open.
My current role is quite broad. Three Shapes Management is a group of businesses linked to the construction industry. It is not construction itself but everything around it, from site engineers to survey equipment and related services. Alongside the usual finance responsibilities, I also cover HR and IT systems, and I’m involved in areas such as strategy, governance and culture.
I enjoy trying to bring people along in their understanding
We have depots in different locations, so keeping things consistent across teams is a big part of the job. Making sure processes are aligned and that everyone is working in the same way is something my team and I focus on a lot. Another big part of my job is talking to people and explaining finance to non-finance managers. That can be tricky. I must have explained what an accrual is over 100 times, and you do sometimes get a nod and a smile, but I enjoy trying to bring people along in their understanding.
One of the moments that stands out for me in my career was becoming a manager aged 22. I was leading a small team and I was the youngest manager in the company at the time; most of the others were in their thirties. It was a big step up. It was not just about the numbers anymore; it was about dealing with people as well, and making sure your communication, judgment and leadership were right. I set myself the goal of becoming a finance director by 30 and I got there at 29. Titles are titles but it was what that represented that mattered to me. It meant the business trusted me to step into that role.
Be curious and ask questions; you cannot really ask too many
Finance today is becoming much more involved in decision-making. In our business, a lot already runs through finance, and that is only increasing. There is also a lot of change with technology, especially AI. We are using it in different ways and finding ways in which it can help us work better. There is always talk about it replacing roles, but you still need people to interpret what the numbers are telling you. Ethics is a big part of it as well. It is about making decisions that stand up not just technically but morally, and sometimes that means asking difficult questions or challenging something if it does not feel right.
For anyone starting out, I would say build your technical foundations but also try to understand how the business works. Be curious and ask questions; you cannot really ask too many. I would rather someone asks me, and asks me again, than sits there unsure. Also, do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. ACCA will open doors, but your attitudes, your integrity and your willingness to learn – that is what is going to define your career.
