As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A footballer – then I realised I was too slow and too bad at football, so my career choice was between a hairdresser and a football manager.

Where had that got to during your later studies (or not, as the case may be)?

I actually left school before my GCSEs to become a youth training scheme (YTS) hairdresser, which lasted all of six weeks! You could say I wasn’t cut out for it…

When did you move into accountancy; why, and how?

Later that year I realised I had to get a ‘real job’ as I was living in a bedsit with my partner, and with no income. Honestly, accountancy wasn’t a conscious choice – I just applied for the jobs in my local newspaper, and it just so happened that I got offered two trainee roles.

How important is accounting in your role – and how has being an accountant helped you develop in your career and as a person?

Finance is the language of business. If you can’t understand where you are and how you’re doing, you’re driving with your headlights off – and I think that’s true for all businesses. So, not only did it give me a fantastic career, but it was also the platform for me to start helping other businesses.

Catch the full article in the XU Magazine here