Ann joined Incentivesmart as Finance Director in spring 2021, she brings knowledge and experience earned during an outstanding career in finance.
As you might expect of any great FD, Ann is extremely organised, and efficient, but she also has a knack of bringing the numbers to life, making them interesting and meaningful to the board and wider team.
I grabbed a quick coffee with Ann to chat about her career and life at Incentivesmart.
Hi Ann! Tell us a bit about your work experience and background.
I’ve had a career of two halves, with the first half in huge international corporations with lots of travel and the second half in owner managed businesses broadly in the UK. I’ve had some amazing experiences over that time, with stints in Vancouver and Germany covering for absent Finance Directors, setting up a company in Malta, and nearer home feeding giraffes, and entering the Lion house at Woburn surrounded by men with guns! However, most of the time, I’ve been in front of a computer playing with numbers. More seriously, I do enjoy helping a business understand its financial position and being clear about its options and possibilities for the future
What does your role on the board entail?
The role of a Finance Director on the Incentivesmart board is wide-ranging, but in summary, the overall aim is to help to align the business and finance strategy to grow the company. Alongside that, the role includes clear communication of the current financial position, effective risk management and ensuring compliance with financial and other regulations.
What excites you about working with Incentivesmart?
What is exciting is the growth over the last few years and the growth potential and I’m very much looking forward to helping the team to deliver that. The great team culture, lovely offices (good coffee and cakes), and near to home are bonuses on top.
What’s your favourite quote?
Don’t ever let your business get ahead of the financial side of your business. Accounting, accounting, accounting. Know your numbers. And another favourite: Step lightly upon the earth for she is precious.
