- What does your job involve?
I manage finance and IT for the charity and handle the administration of our London office. I look after a budget of about £5m a year and manage a team of five people.
- Why did you choose this charity?
It provides support services for carers, and that gives me a personal connection - my parents cared for their parents in their later years. I also knew our finance function had to change. Charities often neglect their infrastructure in favour of maximising the amount going to the beneficiaries, then reach a crunch point where they need to update procedures or technology.
- What's the most challenging part of the job?
Ending the day. My struggle is not to work long hours. I get engrossed in things and take work home.
- What's the most interesting aspect?
Strategic planning - looking at how the external environment affects the charity. Finance is becoming more about service delivery and planning.
- What's taking up most of your time right now?
We're implementing new financial software. You have to make sure that the day-to-day stuff doesn't fall through the cracks. Planning for the environment after the spending review will also be a big part of my job.
- What's the best advice you've had?
Sleep on it. A problem is always clearer in the morning.
