The purpose of my role is to support the Finance Team in the production of financial information that, in turn, supports management decision making.

Self-reflection and the fact that I studied civil engineering and went on to become an accounting technician would suggest a preference for the sciences. However, for me finance becomes more interesting when you are trying to predict, using forecasts and budgets, the future performance of an organisation. Historic numbers are used as the basis but that only tells part of the story. By considering external factors, such as changes in the economy/society to build a model that identifies issues so that management may take corrective action when things are not going to plan. In this area the work becomes more arts than science. 

This work is enabled by my financial training, continuing professional development, and work experience with a range of organisations including a large multi-national oil company, small firm of architects and charities. 

In respect of continuing professional development there is never a shortage of new things to learn from tax updates, changes in software, economics, changes in society due to, for example, the influence of the Internet on people and businesses.