Natasha Winn
financial consultant, Shell, USA
When Natasha's proficiency for figures was noticed by her high school teacher, the encouragement she needed to enter the accountancy profession.And when it came to choosing which qualification to take, there was only one choice: 'I chose ACCA because of its high standing internationally, the flexibility of its programme, and the quality of its training standards.'
Natasha's main challenge while studying was finding the time to combine it with her personal life and working life. 'It was a tough struggle, but utterly worth it, and given the choice I would do it again without a second thought.'
Natasha worked for six years in an audit firm before leaving to work for Shell in Trinidad. In August 2000, she transferred to Shell's headquarters in the US.
'Being told that I had got the job at Shell has been one of the most memorable points in my career. I relished the chance to work for a multinational at its head office. I enjoyed the prestige that my there association with such an organisation afforded me,' she says.
Naturally, Natasha feels that being an accountant requires infinitely more than a head for figures: 'Since I qualified, the professional climate has changed drastically. Stakeholders now demand greater auditor integrity and objectivity.'