Where did you work before coming to FI?

Way back in time,  I initially started my career as a horse-riding instructor.  As much as I enjoyed working with horses, it wasn’t long before I realised I liked having horses as my pets and much preferred working in a warm, dry office environment! My first finance role was as an admin in a finance role.  I enjoyed the mental challenges this presented and was keen to accept the chance to complete my AAT.  From here I progressed to processing management accounts for another company within the Education Sector.  The exposure I initially had when starting with this company, to help individuals and being a part of helping to improve children’s futures, I found extremely rewarding.

Soon, I felt like I needed to push myself even further so I requested to begin my ACCA studies.  I thoroughly enjoyed my studies, yet within my role as a Finance Manager, I felt that there was something missing. I missed interacting with people, as I had been doing more of this when I initially started and helped to set up the business.

The exposure to auditing and practice accounting in my studies sparked my interest, so I looked to join a company with this role in mind. Again, I enjoyed this position and with my management experience, I was soon able to fulfill the role of Audit & Accounts Senior.  However, I still felt that there was something missing.

What led to you becoming a Skills Coach at FI? 

I leaped at the chance to work with First Intuition and feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a fantastic team.  It ticked every box for me, with the chance to use my accountancy knowledge to help assist others with progressing in their careers.  The people are so friendly and welcoming, the company is very dynamic, flexible, and always puts the learner and their needs above everything else. I look forward to working every day and have such a sense of contentment, knowing that I’m contributing to helping others achieve success in their careers.

What is your favourite thing about working at FI?

Working at First Intuition doesn’t even feel like work – I’m surrounded by a wonderful, supportive team and feel valued as an individual, with my thoughts and ideas listened to and acted on. My favourite thing about working here is the drive every single member of staff has to ensure our learners get the best quality experience they possibly can.

What do you think makes a good Skills Coach 

I believe a good coach is able to understand and tailor their approach to the individual needs of each student, as well as having very good organisation skills.  I can completely empathise with the time pressure learners may face, having been in the same position myself, and I feel that this helps me to relate to them and understand those worries and anxieties they may have.

What are the main challenges of being a coach?

The role of a coach does come with its challenges, I think I’ll always find it hard when some students feel this just isn’t the right pathway for them at this stage of their lives.  However, it’s also extremely satisfying when I am able to re-motivate someone to get back on track with their studies and pass all of those tricky exams!

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