On Friday 21st March, Manager Harry Young hosted the sixth instalment of the Future Finance Leaders Forum. This event series is aimed at the most highly aspirational qualified accountants in West and Central Scotland.
The purpose of the event series is to connect future finance leaders, allowing them to network with like-minded individuals, whilst also providing them with insights from our network of established leaders, helping to shape their careers and accelerate their professional development. Harry shares some highlights from the recent event below.
The sixth event in the Future Finance Leaders Forum series was a roundtable lunch in partnership with Cameron Provan, Finance Director at whisky retailer Glenkeir Whiskies Ltd (The Whisky Shop). At this exclusive, invite-only event, Cameron discussed his journey to leadership within a growing whisky-focused retail business. He offered great insights into some of the things that have helped shape his career, including completing his MBA and focusing on broadening his skillset with a leadership role in mind.
Cameron began his career at BDO in 2004, completing his ICAS qualification, before moving to EY in 2007 as he advanced to Audit Assistant Manager. In 2010, he transitioned into the commercial sector, joining City FM as a Senior Financial Accountant. In 2013, Cameron joined C&C as a Commercial Finance Manager within the Magners division. Three years and two promotions later, he left C&C in 2017 as the Head of Finance for Off-Trade and Commercial Projects.
In 2017, Cameron joined Whyte & Mackay as Head of Commercial Finance UK, later progressing to Global Head of Commercial Finance. In 2023, he made the move to The Whisky Shop for his first director-level role. Alongside his professional experience and CA qualification, Cameron also completed an MBA from Imperial College London in 2023.
During the roundtable event, Cameron shared five key pieces of advice that helped him achieve his ambitions:
- Adopt a growth mindset: Embrace every new challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. Focus on chasing opportunities rather than seeking titles. This mindset will be crucial for any future professional advancement.
- What got you here, won’t get you there: Transition from focusing on individual tasks to building relationships and focusing on people. Networking and cultivating strong connections are essential for continued success and growth.
- Get a mentor: Seek advice and guidance from others to gain deeper insights into an industry or role. A mentor can provide valuable perspective and help navigate your career path.
- Make finance easy for others: If others are confused by your financial explanations, it indicates a communication failure. However, if they ask for clear guidance on what actions to take, you’ve succeeded. Aim to be a business leader who translates finance into actionable insights for others, not just a finance expert.
- Don’t be a passenger: Take control of your career by being proactive and defining your goals. Create a clear career plan and consider alternative paths by having a plan B in place. Your success depends on making things happen through purposeful action.
To register your interest in joining the Future Finance Leaders Forum and to be notified regarding future events, please contact Harry Young at [email protected].
