How has the industry changed since you first started out? And are these changes for the better?

When I first started out there was a lot more separation between finance and other areas of the organisation. There was a lot of analysing, looking at variances and underspends and overspends. Essentially just reporting on whatever was happening.

Now, it’s much more about getting out there into the rest of the organisation and talking to them to better understand their processes and challenges. Then we work with these areas to help them streamline everything and work more efficiently.

Post-pandemic there have been lots of practical challenges, but I really think that working in this way has helped business partnering to be better prepared.

What changes/improvements do you feel finance departments need to implement to drive further change and promote greater inclusivity? 

I think all systems and processes need to be more user friendly. Digitisation is really taking hold in organisations – which is a good thing – but without the paperwork people are used to, we need to make sure everyone can access and use systems easily.

This also allows finance to take a bit of a step back from the process and focus on being more involved in the bigger picture. If everything is sent directly into the systems without finance needing to get involved it gives others an opportunity to gain a greater insight and understanding of both the processes and the bigger picture.

What advice would you give to individuals who are starting out in finance now?

My key piece of advice is to finish your exams as early as you can! It’s so easy to let them drag out and it took me more than 10 years in total because I’ve taken some time out here and there to focus on family. But, if you can get your qualifications done then career progression is much easier. There’s a ceiling to your financial career until you finish your exams.