Building relationships
With a background in accountancy my natural tendency is to focus on the numbers. What’s more important to me though is that a founder understands the commercial drivers of their business and can relate those to the financials. I’m not from a technical background so I really value founders who can clearly explain their proposition in plain English!
Background
I started my working life straight from school as a Management Trainee at WH Smith. I enjoyed being customer facing as it gave me the chance to develop skills in problem solving, conflict resolution (complaints!) and how to communicate and build relationships. As an 18-year-old, trying to influence colleagues who were ‘proper’ adults presented some challenges and I had to learn quickly. A six week stint in the finance team changed my career plans and at the end of my training programme I chose to leave retail to chase the bright lights of accountancy.
A diversion to University in York followed with the aim of getting a training contract at one of the major accountancy firms. After university I joined PwC in Newcastle where I spent five years as an auditor before moving to London to work in M&A. From there I spent most of the next 20 years working with clients who were looking to sell their business or raise capital to grow their business eventually as a Partner at Armstrong Watson.
I decided to move seats round the deal table and joined Mercia in January 2023 as an investor. I’ve worked with a wide range of businesses over the years, but have deepest knowledge in the education and training / transport and logistics / healthcare sectors, so I am interested in businesses applying technology in these markets.
What’s important to me is that a founder understands the commercial drivers of their business and can relate those to the financials.
- American football
- Gigs
- Golf