The latest edition of our Then and Now feature puts Simon Hammond, our Client Services Director, in the hot seat. Having spent his whole career to date with Insight, Simon has had quite the journey – read on to find out his proudest moments, biggest challenges and plans for the future.
- Where were you in your career when you joined Insight Associates?
At the very beginning! I had just graduated from The University of Plymouth and had started applying for jobs in accounting. I looked through the Yellow Pages (is that still a thing?!) and saw Insight Associates. After looking at the website, I sent an unsolicited letter.
Although Insight wasn’t hiring at the time, it must have been fate because my letter dropped through the door the same week that an existing employee decided to move on. I had an interview and the rest, as they say, is history. - What was your job title when you started vs. now?
I was originally a Finance Assistant, and I am now the Client Services Director. - What is the biggest thing you’ve learned at Insight Associates?
I don’t think there’s room on the internet to list everything I’ve learned whilst working here! I think learning how to manage myself and moving from spending my time on technical, client-delivery focused work, to the more business and client management side of the business has been the most fundamental. - What has been your biggest challenge?
I thoroughly enjoy the client-facing side of my role and still get my hands dirty with some client delivery work, but that is (rightly) much reduced these days. Making sure I have the self-discipline to spend time on important business management tasks has been a challenge at times. - What were your career aspirations when you were younger? Have they changed?
I was in the relatively rare position of knowing exactly what I wanted from my career after doing work experience in Year 10 at school. I discovered I had a knack for numbers and was asked back for paid work in the summer holidays the following year so decided that a career in accountancy was the right path for me. Although what we do at Insight Associates has accounting and finance at its core, the way we work with clients is not the same as a ‘typical’ accounting firm and the range of industries, client situations and people that we see continues to keep me interested and motivated. I can’t imagine having sat in an audit office for the past 22 years, that’s for sure! - What is your biggest professional highlight of the past year?
This is not so much a highlight as a continual process, but as we gradually shift more and more of the business management workload from Garry to me, it’s been very interesting and rewarding to get exposure and understanding to that side of the business. - What are you most looking forward to about the year ahead?
We have an exciting new opportunity with our software partner iplicit, which has allowed us to branch out into software integration. It’s a new area for us as a business but one that I think will be very successful. - What has changed for you personally since joining Insight Associates?
A lot! When I joined Insight Associates I was a fresh-faced graduate and have since been through most of the major life events! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my son Jacob is just starting his GCSE year and continues to keep us busy with his various sporting and modelling endeavours. In recent times, my partner MJ convinced me that a refurb project was a good idea for our new house and three years on we’re still working on the finishing touches – but at least the end is now in sight (or should that be Insight?!).
