Financial Controller
Rob Brown, Financial Controller of Group NBT PLC, talks about his career path and explains how he made it to the top of the profession.
Day-to-day
Tell us a bit about your key day-to-day duties?
I oversee the day-to-day functioning of the Finance department, making sure everyone knows what they’re doing and what the deadlines are. I’m responsible for the hiring and firing within the department as well as training and developing staff. From a technical viewpoint I ensure the preparation of management and statutory accounts, payment of taxes before deadline and am the main point of contact with external parties during audits and VAT visits. My job also involves a lot of analysis of numbers, budgeting and forecasting.
Academics and study
How important was your academic qualification in getting your first job? What route did you take into the Profession?
Academic qualifications were fundamental to getting my first role in Accountancy. Having gained an MA in Economics at St Andrews University I did a bit of travelling around Asia trying to decide what I wanted to do for a career. I settled on working in the Media but, having discovered how difficult it was to get a Media job and also how badly paid they are initially, I opted for training as an Accountant at HW Fisher & Co, a Top 25 firm with a broad base of Media clients. HW Fisher only take on Graduate trainees with good academic results.
What has prompted you to change jobs in your career?
Having spent 3 years training as an Auditor, I left 8 days after qualifying as an ACA - audit just wasn't commercial enough for me! I then spent a gap year travelling in Australia where I spent some time working as an Accountant for Sydney University. When I returned to London, I was looking for a role offering a good work/life balance, some international exposure and the opportunity to manage my own team.
As we speak
What's the best thing about your current role?
The two main things are my own role and the company culture. I get to manage the accounts of the whole company rather than a section of the company, as is the case with larger organisations. I find it very satisfying being able to see things work from beginning to end whilst still having the challenges that working for an international PLC throws at you.
When was the last time you felt daunted by something you had to do at work?
When I first started at Group NBT it was quite a daunting prospect managing a team of 9 having only had experience of managing much smaller Audit teams. I think you learn how to manage by looking at those Managers who have inspired you during your career and I have also been lucky to have inherited a friendly, capable team.
How do you keep a good balance between your job and life outside work?
I definitely work to live rather than live to work, although I think your job definitely contributes to your self-esteem. Although I often work long hours, I go to the gym a couple of days a week and make sure I'm always out of the office by six on those days. I make sure I keep my weekends free by working lunches and the occasional late night if needs be.
Tips from the top
What advice can you offer to someone looking to start out in Accountancy?
Be prepared for a lot of hard work and losing some of your social life whilst you are studying. Accountancy exams are the hardest exams I've had to sit as you need to know absolutely everything on the syllabus inside and out because the exams are so time-pressured. However, it's all worth it once you've qualified as you have the opportunity to work in challenging, well paid roles across all industry sectors – every company needs an Accountant!