I was fortunate to land a role in treasury immediately after graduating from University. I joined the Corporate Treasury team at Heathrow Airport when it was going through a large refinancing and securitisation project which meant I was in at the deep end right from the beginning. It was here I studied for my ACT qualifications. I then joined National Grid and have just celebrated my 10-year anniversary at the company. Although I have spent most of my career working in the funding and derivatives aspect of treasury, I have also focussed on core risk and operations.
Treasury is so fundamental to any business which allows you to see the direct impact of your own work, and it is very satisfying to know you are making a difference.
The ACT can offer so much. There is endless learning available, and on top of that there is such a broad range of people that you can meet in treasury across all industries. The networking can be endless.
Having worked for large treasuries, there have been such a variety of projects I that have worked on. The current transition National Grid is going through consisting of asset sales and a large acquisition makes for a challenging but rewording project. I also enjoyed a project I undertook which stripped back and challenged the boards financial risk appetite in order to create a framework in which to align future treasury decisions to the group’s overall strategy and risk appetite.
I think cluster risk is unpredictable but very real. We can all prepare for significant events, but are we prepared for multiple risks coinciding? The economy has had so many shocks over the last few years and with current inflation levels as well as geopolitical events overlayed with ESG goals - there is a lot of downside risk. Treasury has never been more vital to the success of a business than it is now.
During the pandemic over the past two years, I have found personal development has easily slipped to the bottom of my priority list, and I wonder how many other treasurers feel the same. So I am hoping to reignite the importance of personal development for others, not just for myself, and the ACT is a perfect place to start.
Honest, approachable and diligent.
Be patient, and always take time to take a step back. Instant reactions are often not thought through, and whatever the situation whether you take 5 mins, a day or a week, it can make a difference.
Shamefully it has to be my iPhone – I use it for everything, from Apple Wallet to reading books. You can pretty much get an app for anything these days!
I had a talent for gymnastics when I was younger, and not only did it help teach me to be disciplined, resilient and a team player but I was also lucky to be able to travel around Europe and America at such a young age.