What is your role within RG?
I am an Outsourced Advisory Executive at RG and work in the firm’s Outsourced|FD service line.
I’m lucky to be a part of the fantastic O|FD team. As RG’s newest service line, we provide a complete outsourced finance function solution and board level advisory support for SME businesses, including management information, annual financial compliance, VAT returns, credit control and much more, using a range of technology and apps such as Dext and MayDay to increase efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
What I love about outsourcing and the O|FD team, is that no two days are the same. One day I could be raising weekly sales invoices for a recruitment client’s contract workers, including contractor self-billing, the next I could be preparing a set of management accounts and a VAT return, and the day after that I could be preparing a set of annual accounts.
Tell me about your career to date…
I began my career on a temporary summer contract with Hargreaves Services in their transport division sales invoicing team. It was a six-week position that ended up lasting nine years, with my eventual promotion to a team manager position.
During my time there, I began to study independently, completing my AAT Level 2 and 3, following which, I decided it was time for a change, as there was no scope for progression within the team or company at the time. I began looking for roles within the accounting sector and joined RSM UK in their International Outsourcing division in October 2017.
Within that team, I worked my way up from Assistant to Senior Assistant in February 2019 to Senior in November 2019, whilst continuing my studies to complete my AAT Level 4 qualification. During my time with RSM I worked for a wide range of internationally based clients, primarily in the technology and cloud sectors. We used a wide range of ERPs while regularly collaborating with colleagues at RSM International sister companies to deliver a full package service to our clients, from daily bookkeeping, payment runs, management accounts, payroll (UK and worldwide) and VAT returns.
After almost five years there, I was ready to get back to a more ‘local feel’ workplace and joined RG in September 2022.
What makes RG different?
From the start I could tell that RG was a great fit for me, with its ideal mix of a high-level corporate environment, within a competitive firm, but with a sense of true teamwork and collaborative working with clients.
The entire firm has a welcoming, friendly, and approachable nature – it is a pleasure to work for RG.
Tell us about your day so far….
06:45-Wake up and get ready for the day.
07:15-Leave for the office. Traffic, traffic, traffic!!
08:30-Arrive in office and prepare my desk for the day.
08:45-O|FD Weekly team meeting to discuss upcoming deadlines, workloads and any additional cover needed. Attended in person by the full team.
09:45-Various client emails, client credit control, weekly debtors’ reports, starter confirmations for recruitment clients, payables processing via Dext and Pleo, bank recs, VAT return partner review points.
13:00-Lunch
13:30-More emails and various admin tasks. Prepare a small payroll for a client who uses Xero payroll, assist a client with some software changes, raise and send customer sales invoices.
16:55-Check inbox is clear, make plan for following days’ work.
17:00-Hometime. Evening plans include family dinner and preparing for my upcoming holiday to Egypt to celebrate my mum’s 60th birthday.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading/audiobooks and a good TV box set.
I am also an avid home baker, making anything from biscuits and cupcakes to multi-layered celebration cakes, most recently for a close friend’s baby shower.
And finally, leave us with one interesting fact about yourself…
I was born on July 4th, and for a brief time after my birth my dad wanted to name me Independence instead of Lauren – my mum soon put him in his place!