After university I joined the Civil Service, where I enjoyed the financial planning work I was given, so I decided to take a professional qualification in finance. I went to Price Waterhouse (as it was then) to train as a Chartered Accountant, and after a few years post-qualification experience at PW, decided to become more closely involved in the practical side of running a business. I held several finance roles in banking and financial services which led to the role of Head of Corporate Treasury and Tax at Standard Chartered. I now have a portfolio career, my main role being as Non-executive Director and Audit Committee chair at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe.
Several members of my team at Standard Chartered, and also the Finance Director, were members of the ACT, so I learned more about the organisation and the benefits of membership, and decided to take the ACT qualifications. It helped me learn more broadly about the role and think proactively about different things we should be doing. After Standard Chartered I worked in a commodities business where I found my ACT training very useful, particularly the practical application of commodity options and other derivatives.
I like the fact that treasury is forward looking, and brings you into close contact with the business. It has a strategic role and has plenty of external contacts. Given the range of my various organisations I see how treasury principles get applied in different contexts, and ACT membership is a huge benefit in all of these.
Many of our members work in the corporate world so you normally find a lot in common with people you meet at member events. And the ACT is small enough for an individual member to be able to make a difference.
I love meeting old friends and new people with common interests at the different ACT and EACT events.
Without a doubt its managing my own diary and (worse) IT arrangements – I’ve just organised a massive upgrade of my various software and my head is still spinning from it!
I work with two music charities, the London Sinfonietta orchestra and an experimental opera company called Second Movement. I admire the musicians’ enthusiasm and commitment, and its nice to be able to use my finance and governance skills in a totally different context from banking and the corporate world. I also enjoy gardening when I get some free time.
In my commodities business we had many M&A deals involving assets in different countries with different legal systems and markets. We also had a complex group structure which had grown up through acquisitions over the years. I was often tasked with developing structures and plans to achieve the most efficient financing for the businesses concerned, normally in a tight timescale when the details of the deals were still being negotiated. It helped to have relationships with capable advisers in different countries, and an adaptable approach to deal with different languages and timezones. We had a great team inhouse and we all enjoyed these projects most of the time. Often the most difficult thing was organising board meetings and changes of directors via notaries in different time zones, sometimes on bank holidays. That certainly tested my diplomatic skills!
Yes, I’ve been lucky to have worked with companies in different geographies, e.g. Asia, Latin America/US. My current role with Sumitomo Mitsui has involved a couple of visits to Japan, which I’ve enjoyed enormously. As mentioned, I enjoy gardening, and Japan is a must for anyone who loves plants and garden planning. Last February I was there in time to see the plum blossom which is the first blossom to arrive and looks spectacular against the bare branches, in many different colours.
I’m always on the move and need to stay in touch with the various organisations where I work, so my best gadget is my phone which is a blackberry / android hybrid, one of the last, actually a very sleek design. I hope it will last forever!