Rutherford Cross Consultant, Will Dodds reflects on another successful instalment in our ‘Planning Your Career Journey’ event series which aims to provide an opportunity for development and networking for candidates in the earlier stages of their careers.
Despite a rainy Thursday evening in Edinburgh, last month we were delighted to welcome a number of finance professionals to one of Scotland’s leading luxury hotels, Fingal, for an enjoyable evening of conversation, networking and presentations from three fantastic speakers.
The speakers on the night included Pete Rubie, Director of Finance at Fingal Hotel & The Royal Yacht Britania; Karen McBride, Head of Finance and Operations at Social Investment Scotland; and Craig Morrison, Head of FP&A at Zonal.
Pete, Karen and Craig all spoke passionately about their careers to date, the journey it took to get to their current position, and their key learnings along the way.
Pete highlighted the need to find a differentiator or USP when selling yourself to future opportunities, whilst also having a passion for the company you are working for. He has always had an interest in hospitality, which was something he was truly interested in pursuing when his most recent opportunity arose.
He is also a believer in immersing yourself in a business and being proactive when getting finance in front of the wider company. It is evident now more than ever that finance is more than just a service function.
Karen talked us through her journey from an accounting practice to her move into industry after working in a few roles abroad. She also highlighted that no career is a straight line and that deviating from what is presented to most as the norm in the early stages of your career can shape an intriguing route for growth.
It is important to have a clear mind when making decisions; in Karen’s experience, this was key in her decision to move abroad and which business to work for. She also highlighted that it’s important not to compare yourself to others, however easy that may be. Finance is a small community, so it is crucial to utilise colleagues as a good way to network beyond the usual routes.
Craig finished the presentations by discussing his roles throughout industry and his transition to that area from financial services, whilst also putting a focus on the value that building relationships with a variety of people has had throughout his career. Those who work in finance are in a strong position to influence others, so it is important to recognise this and use it to your advantage.
Craig summarised his presentation with a few key takeaways, including:
- If you fancy it, try it
- Always know your worth
- Find what you enjoy
- Invest time in your colleagues – they can also be a good resource for your wider network
- Listen to those closest to you
- Don’t be afraid to put your hand up and get involved in new projects
We finished the presentations with a Q&A session where the audience asked each speaker some great follow-up points regarding the progression of their own careers and thoughts on specific challenges. We then enjoyed the rest of the evening with further networking, drinks and some delicious canapés prepared by the fantastic team at Fingal.
We are now looking forward to the next instalment of the ‘Planning Your Career Journey’ series; please contact [email protected] if you would like to attend it.
