Can you give a brief outline of your role at Ant Hire Solutions?
I’m our Financial Controller. I look after the day-to-day financial operations of the company, overseeing the management accounts process, cash collection and procurement. I lead a team of 4, providing support and mentoring where needed. I also work as part of the management team, meaning I often get involved in the wider business.
What did you do before your role here at Ant Hire Solutions?
I began my career as an apprentice at an accountancy firm, completing the AAT Accounting Technician qualification. I then moved to work as a Cost Accountant (construction supply industry), Management Accountant (healthcare supply industry), and then Group Management Accountant (healthcare supply industry). During this time, I qualified as a CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) Accountant.
What has working at Ant Hire Solutions taught you?
Working for an SME has allowed me to get more involved in the wider business. It has exposed me to more strategic management and has allowed me to gain a lot of experience outside of finance. Working in finance we sometimes forget there is more than ‘just the numbers’. With the freedom within my role to look at improvements outside the finance department, I’ve worked collectively with others in the business to both grow and improve the financial performance of the business. Seeing these operational improvements put in place and seeing the financial benefit to the company has been particularly rewarding. Through Ant Hire Solution’s core value ‘love of learning’ they have actively promoted learning outside of our roles. I have been involved in going to Seminars and been involved in management coaching gaining knowledge to help scale the business. This has given me a lot of invaluable experience and the push to do more reading outside of work. It has also given me the confidence to pursue an Executive MBA qualification which I have recently started at Sheffield Hallam University.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Ant Hire Solutions?
The variety of things I get involved with on a day-to-day basis. Working as part of a small team means I have to be adaptable and often work outside of a typical financial role. The company is very supportive and has a great friendly family feel.
What are your interests outside of work?
I am a bit of a foodie which means most of my weekends are spent trying new places to eat with my wife Lisa and son Freddie. To counteract all the food I eat, I like to keep fit by walking and weight lifting.
Name one thing that people might not know about you
When I was a teenager I used to have long, shoulder-length curly hair.
As Ant Hire Solutions grows, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Hopefully, I will have completed the Executive MBA qualification and continue to learn new things and take on more responsibility.
