So, to start, what do you all do in your roles? What does an average week look like for you?
Steve: It depends on the time of the month, the first few days of a month we will be preparing the management accounts for the month just finished, profit and loss, balance sheet and funds flow. In a “normal” week Mondays are filled with the weekly cashflow report, sales meetings & digital development meetings. Tuesday and Fridays are my working from home days, which I typically try to keep meeting free so I can do all my spreadsheet and report crunching intensive work (which are best done alone in a darkened room).
Anne Marie: Working in finance is mainly routine, and making sure all the numbers add up and accounts balance. At the start of each week, Steve will go through tasks for the coming week. We have deadlines to meet, weekly suppliers’ payments, monthly payroll and month-end balancing the books for Steve to produce the management accounts for the board. I also have been reviewing the HR processes since I joined the company to make us more efficient and streamlined.
What is your favourite aspect of your job?
Steve: Two things spring to mind, firstly the accountant in me likes order, tidiness, completing a task and putting a tick in the box when the task is done before moving on.
Secondly, in finance, we are lucky enough to work across the business with all departments as there is pretty much always a financial implication with any decision. This means I get to learn about new things and speak to people with interesting, and sometimes completely different points of view.
Anne Marie: Coming into the office environment and working with colleagues of different ages and options. Good discussions on various topics and supporting each other.
What drew you to Intelligent Health?
Steve: The opportunity to progress my career, and try out a completely new market sector. Not to mention the fact that the company is striving to get people out and physically active, which I believe is so important.
Anne Marie: I had worked with Steve for 6 years at a previous company, and when I approached him for a reference, he offered me a job and after meeting with the Directors felt it would be the right fit at this time in my career.
What advice would you give to someone entering the industry?
Steve: If you enter the world of accounting and finance study early in your career, get your professional qualifications, and don’t get tied to one specific market sector for too long.
Anne Marie: Come with an open mind and work in the office where possible as good for your mental health for one thing.
Who inspires you?
Steve: I had one boss when I was back in my early 20s who inspired me and showed me how to apply my textbook-learned skills into real life, and that things aren’t all just debits & credits. I am also inspired/encouraged/supported by my wife Karolina and two children Lottie (6) & Lucas (10). They made me realise that working 14 hour days and only going home to sleep was not a good work/life balance and that spending time as a family is the most important thing to me (except when they are arguing over which Bluey episode they want to watch, or whose turn it is in the Bathroom!).
Anne Marie: As I get older, I inspire myself to just get on with things that have been put in my path, be the best you can be, and be nice and thoughtful. Also, my ability to listen but still have a voice.
What was your very first job?
Steve: Budgens in Tadley, a shop floor worker for 6 months, then a warehouse supervisor before finding my home in the cash office counting all the money!
Anne Marie: Saturday job at the local chemist and then in accounts dept at Lloyds Bank Executor and Trustee Dept.
Did you go to University? If so, what did you study and where? If not, what did you do instead?
Steve: Uni wasn’t for me, I knew what I wanted to do, and I was keen to start earning money, so I began work as a trainee accountant working full-time and then studying evenings and weekends for 6 years to get qualified as an ACCA accountant.
Anne Marie: I never felt it was necessary, I have gained experience through my various jobs.
What is your decision-making process at work? How do you face challenges?
Steve: Make a judgement and assess the implications of a decision, collaborate and discuss if I alone can’t figure out a way forward.
Anne Marie: Talking things through with colleagues.
How do you motivate yourself? How do you motivate your colleagues?
Steve: I pride myself on doing the best job possible. I have always been a self-starter and being a bit competitive I always try to do a bit better than the time before. By working together as a team and collaborating to achieve goal.
Anne Marie: The nature of working in finance is the motivation as you must ensure everything is in order.
What does health mean to you?
Steve: Health to me means being physically active and trying to maintain a balanced lifestyle. I recognise that my physical health also has a knock on to my mental health. For example, if I have a few consecutive days without doing some form of intense physical exercise I become grumpy, short-tempered, and just generally downbeat.
Anne Marie: As you get older health is more important, making sure you have a healthy lifestyle, not only keeping your body working but your mind as well.
What has been your proudest moment working here?
Steve: Nothing specific springs to mind yet, but just general pride in my work, and appointing Anne-Marie as an assistant accountant to strengthen the finance team.
Fun facts
Do you have any hobbies?
Steve: Yes, mostly sport-related (I did used to collect stamps & coins and play D&D as a kid – who would have guessed I was going to be an accountant)
Anne Marie: Arts and crafts, music and spending time with family and friends.
Tell me a fact about you that no one will know…
Steve: I still have a giant Pink Panther in my loft that my parents gave me when I was unwell in hospital as a 4 year old.
Anne Marie: Saw the Beatles live. Yes, I am that old!
If you were a biscuit… which, would you be?
Steve: Difficult one … I do love a Gold bar or a Fox’s Classic.
Anne Marie: Florentine.
If they made a movie about your life, who would you want to play the lead role?
Steve: Ryan Reynolds.
Anne Marie: Maggie Smith or Judi Dench.
What 3 items would you take to a desert island?
Steve: A speed boat (so I can go home whenever I like), a football and some water in case I got thirsty doing keepy-ups.
Anne Marie: A box of art supplies, some sort of water sterilising kit, a big box of vegetables and seeds, but it would all depend on how long you would be there.
Anything to recommend – whether it’s a good podcast, book, film, or app you’ve loved recently?
Steve: I very much enjoyed the newest Top Gun movie. The original was one of my favourites back in the 80s. And books I have taken on holidays to read and enjoyed, Dark Pines & Red Snow part of the Tuva Moodson Mystery Series by Will Dean.
Anne Marie: Netflix Fantastic Fungi and any books by Ian Moore.
How do you keep active?
Steve: Cricket, football, running, weights, yoga and chasing my children.
Anne Marie: You have to keep both your body and mind active. I enjoy walking and swimming (when you can find a suitable pool), keeping my mind active- working, and doing a reflexology course (something to turn my hand to when I do give up the day job !).
