Driven, honest, upbeat.
Coming out of audit, I wanted to do something different with my accounting qualification. Treasury presented an opportunity to do just that.
Its breadth: one minute I can be discussing the challenges of getting the new £5 note into tills, the next discussing the group’s strategy with rating agencies, and everything in between.
The degree of uncertainty and change resulting from geopolitical events that impact globally like never before.
Read, talk to peers, talk to banks & advisors, go to conferences and attend courses and seminars. Encourage the team to do the same and pick their brains regularly!
There are certainly more women in the profession than there were 20 years ago, but I think the change has come in the working environment more generally than just Treasury. There is more awareness of inequality and hence more equality and more opportunity – much of which has been made possible by changing attitudes especially to flexible working, and by technology that allows you to be connected wherever you are working.
I was attracted by the scale and complexity of the role here – there’s plenty to do in the treasury space! More than that I was attracted to Tesco as a great brand and a great business starting to recover and focusing on relationships: with customers, colleagues and suppliers. It’s an interesting time to join the organization.
My plan currently is to embed myself into my new role as quickly and effectively as possible. Outside of work my plans tend to revolve around my family – helping one daughter choose a university and learn to drive, and the other daughter through her grade 5 piano exam.
Select a business you understand, and a boss who will support and develop you (ask about this at interview!) Then be prepared to take the ACT’s exams – there is no better way to quickly get a solid technical foundation on which to build your career and it will help with the day job.
Ask me another – I am rubbish at jokes!!