I grew up in Turkey and had a government scholarship to study international trade and business at university in Istanbul. I was working a part-time finance job at Turkish Airlines at the same time as studying, and realised I loved numbers and accountancy so, once I graduated, I got a full-time job in finance and started studying the CPA qualification. At the same time, the university I graduated from offered me the opportunity to study for an MBA for free, so I studied the two alongside each other.
My first main role was in an international financial reporting team. The company had 50% American ownership and 50% Turkish ownership, so I learnt about US GAAP, IFRS Standards and internal audit.
We started from scratch in Manchester – it was cheaper and less competitive than London
After completing my qualifications and working at the biggest company in Turkey, I wanted a new challenge, so my husband and I moved to Manchester. We were starting from scratch – we had no friends or family there – but it was cheaper than London and less competitive.
I’d already started the ACCA qualification while in Turkey and qualified quite quickly. I worked in a small accountancy practice to learn all the basics; it was a really good experience to learn how a practice runs. Subcontractor roles at a large holding company and then a large IT company followed, where I worked closely with the finance directors and expanded my network.
When I started my family, I needed to adjust my career to accommodate my children, so I started my own practice. I became the accountant for the North West Turkish Community Association in Manchester, which increased my network and tripled my client base. As my practice grew, I acquired clients of all nationalities and employed staff.
If I educate my clients I get better questions from them
My clients were asking for support on international movement of goods. With my husband, who had worked in international logistics, we set up a logistics company. Some clients were also asking for support on immigration visa applications, so I studied to become a level 1 immigration adviser and set up my immigration services and visa consultancy business.
One of the challenges my practice is facing right now is on pricing. SMEs tend to focus on cost, and we can seem expensive compared to some, but we provide a higher level of service and expertise. It can take time for clients to learn and understand the difference.
I have clients in many sectors, and they often need support with regulatory change. I’ve done webinars so that they can understand their businesses better. If I educate them then I get better questions from them, as they understand more, which makes it easier for me. I love training people and sharing knowledge, so I recently accepted an offer from Arden University in Manchester to lecture on accounting and finance. It gives me personal satisfaction to see young people wanting to learn.
I love my free time and make sure that I don’t work during any time off. I spend quality time with my children. I also love singing and theatre acting, and have been in some performances. I love to be on stage!
