How did you get into corporate finance?

I began studying for a degree in English literature at Queen’s University, Belfast, but I quickly decided economics would also be interesting. I switched to a joint honours Economics and English literature degree. It made a clearer route into business and accounting.

I wanted a role that would build on that element of my degree, give a breadth of knowledge of sectors and allow me to meet lots of different businesses. The ACA felt like a logical step. Once qualified, I saw corporate finance as an area where I could really add value for clients.

My father had been through an MBO around the same time as I was making this decision. That gave me invaluable insight into how it felt as a client to have the support of good advisers. My firm at the time, Bloomer Heaven, gave me great training, but it didn’t have a corporate finance offering and I joined Grant Thornton’s Birmingham office in 2007.

What were the challenges of training as an ACA?

Mainly it was balancing the volume of work and study requirements, rather than the difficulty of the work itself. I was in a workplace environment for the first time, trying to develop skills and build relationships with colleagues and clients, while giving it my all when studying. There’s no time for yourself. It’s one of the most difficult qualifications because of that, and it was hard when I saw friends out enjoying themselves. But I focused on the longer-term objective – gaining a professional qualification that would give me a clear pathway to a career. The training did give me resilience. I now know I can achieve pretty big goals in a quite pressurised environment.

What’s your current role?

I’m a director of corporate finance, specialising in M&A and leading deals in the mid-market. A lot of my time is spent speaking to potential investors – global strategic acquirers – then negotiating transactions for clients. Much of my role is project management, ensuring we meet client expectations on deals, overcoming challenges and working with other professionals and specialists to deliver the desired outcome. 

More recently, I’ve focused on the consumer sector, including food and beverage. Innovation in the sector means that it’s constantly changing and driving investment activity.

We’re one of the leaders in M&A for mid-market businesses in the consumer space and it’s great to be part of that team. I meet interesting businesses and brands that are instantly recognisable. It also makes it easy to explain my work to friends and family.

What transaction stands out in your career so far?

I was the lead on the sale of Hayley Group, a mid-market distributor of engineering components, to Descours & Cabaud in 2016. It had been founded 40 years earlier by two shareholders, as an engineering firm selling bearings to the industrial sector.

The deal we negotiated gave the company access to continental Europe and allowed our clients to realise significant value for the business while remaining on board for a period to create a proper succession plan. We helped them make two acquisitions prior to the sale, so it was a complex deal. We ultimately exceeded the valuation.

At the time, I was going through the director process, so it was a great piece of evidence to show that I could act in a leadership role on a complex deal and achieve a successful outcome for our clients.

And your goals for the future?

I want to increase my profile in the food and beverage sector as an adviser, to gain more credibility both within the firm and in the marketplace, so that I am a natural choice for people to go to for opportunities within this space.

I also want to maintain a level of work-life balance. I’m an ambassador for working mums in corporate finance roles. I’ve signed up to Mentor Mums, which helps mothers who are returning to work. I want to share my experiences, but also be a good example to others in the way I act and manage both aspects of my life.