• What does a Finance Operations Manager do?

This role manages a team within Shared Services that are responsible for the transactional accounting activities of our operational Sites.  We make payments, reconcile bank accounts, prepare VAT returns, reconcile intercompany transactions, prepare accounts for the smaller Sites, etc.  In terms of what this role actually does – it essentially manages workloads, supports the team to make sure everything happens, answers queries from all sorts of stakeholders and does whatever needs to be done!

• What advice would you give to someone thinking of pursuing this career?

Go for it!  If you have an interest in finance and are good with numbers, it is a great career.  There are many different opportunities within Finance that will appeal to different types of people – from paying suppliers and billing customers through reconciling bank accounts and preparing financial statements to reviewing product profitability and running detailed analysis of sales trends to determine what we should be taking more of to market

• What was your starting salary?

£14.5kpa in my first salaried job after university working as a Purchase Ledger Clerk, but actually £3.05ph in my first part time job in a shop whilst still at school

• Has your salary changed since then – if not do you see salary progression?

Yes, massively so.  As I have progressed through my CIMA qualification and developed the relevant experience alongside, my salary has increased significantly.  I have tried to take every opportunity throughout my career, moving roles regularly both within organisations and, as necessary, within new organisations.  I have also relocated to broaden my experience, including working in London for many years as well as a 4-month secondment to Hong Kong, a year of experience in Paris and many trips to India and Europe.

• If you could give your 16 year old self some career advice, what would it be?

Study hard, work hard, take every opportunity and enjoy!