After completing my A Levels at college at the age of 18, I was eager to begin working and earning a living, while still continuing my education.

An accountancy apprenticeship proved to be the ideal solution. It allowed me to gain hands on experience in the workplace while studying towards professional qualifications at the same time.

As a result, I was able to build a career in a respected profession, develop practical skills, and achieve recognised qualifications — all without the financial burden often associated with traditional higher education routes.

My background spans both audit and tax, providing me with a strong technical foundation. I now hold the role of Chief Financial Officer within the financial services industry, where my responsibilities are wide-ranging and involve serving many stakeholders.

A particularly rewarding aspect of my role is leadership — working collaboratively towards shared goals while supporting team members in their professional development and career progression.

Another key element of my position is translating complex financial information into clear, meaningful insights for non-financial management. Presenting information in an accessible way is essential to driving informed decision making and positive change across the organisation, while recognising that not everyone has a financial or accounting background.

"AI and technology represent both a significant opportunity and a challenge for finance professionals. The opportunity lies in leveraging technology to handle routine and data intensive tasks, allowing finance professionals to focus on providing assurance, insight, and added value to the business."

The challenge, however, is that emerging technologies may replace some traditional entry level tasks, which have historically played an important role in the development of finance professionals. This creates a need to rethink training and career pathways, ensuring that individuals continue to gain the experience, judgement, and professional skills required to progress in the profession.

Many stakeholders are also challenged by the volume and complexity of information available to them. Translating data into clear, actionable insight and understanding the financial implications of strategic decisions.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family. I'm also a Scunthorpe United season ticket holder and enjoy watching the F1 races on TV.

My advice to other finance professionals is that employers aren’t just looking for someone who can crunch numbers. They are looking for professionals who can provide strategic insight, offer assurance on the data the business relies on, and deliver real added value to the organisation.