Onboarding new clients. Developing marketing campaigns. Assisting colleagues. As Associate Director for Development and Support at Insight Associates, Shirley Hoy is always ready for the next challenge. In our latest staff promo feature, we talk to Shirley about why she loves the flexibility and diversity of her role, even when it involves sewage pipe inspections!
Variety is the spice of life for Shirley
Insight Associates helps to provide growing businesses with the financial management support they need to make great decisions. In this article, Shirley explains how she helps to support both clients and colleagues and what she’s learned along the way.
What is your role at Insight Associates?
My focus is slightly different to my colleagues. They’re all ‘number geeks’ while I’m the wordsmith. My primary responsibility is the marketing for Insight Associates. For example, I create social media posts and specific campaigns as well as drive the overall strategy. My goal is to help businesses understand there is a better way to manage their finances and to explain how Insight Associates offers added value compared to a traditional accountant.
I’m also involved in the early stages of onboarding new clients. This includes initial conversations to understand their requirements, liaising with our team and developing proposals. I’m often the extra pair of eyes checking a document before it goes out.
We’re a close-knit family at Insight Associates and we genuinely care about each other. I provide practical and pastoral support to the team and look out for their wellbeing. We all have things going on in our lives and a kind and caring workplace can make all the difference during difficult times.
What are some of your more unusual tasks?
One of the more surprising parts of my role is my involvement in the day-to-day management of the communal areas at the business park in Essex where Insight House is based. For example, I could be talking to Network Rail about fencing or liaising with residents about tree cutting.
It’s an incredibly varied role and that is one of the things I enjoy most about it. I might be doing something creative one moment, helping to drive strategy the next and then supporting a colleague with something practical or personal.
It’s great to have such flexibility. When you’ve been consumed for hours by a difficult task, it’s nice to break for a few minutes to do something different or take a moment away from your desk. Even if that involves co-ordinating sewage pipe inspections with Thames Water and local suppliers!
How do you stay on top of such a varied workload?
I plan my work based on different deadlines and block out time in my calendar for specific weekly tasks, such as payment approvals. Longer-term development projects then slot in around these regular activities.
Insight Associates uses a workflow solution that generates tasks for different team members, which helps keep me focused on what needs to be done and when. AI tools also help maximise my efficiency.
What have you learned from your time at Insight Associates?
I’ve learned a lot from Garry Mumford, one of the company’s founders, about being meticulous and not letting things slide. That approach helps keep our standards high and is especially useful when I’m approving payments.
I’ve also come to recognise the importance of supplier relationships. Without them, we could not deliver as well as we do. I want them to know they are valued and appreciated; I hope that comes across when we work together.
Do you have any career highlights?
I’ve been fortunate to be involved in a lot of interesting projects during my time at Insight Associates. For example, I led the company’s migration to a new HR system and I continue to play an active role in its operation and staff training.
I also supported our 25th anniversary celebrations, which included a number of event management tasks as well as locating old photos and creating a quiz. It was a fantastic party! The celebrations coincided with the launch of our new website and the publication of a book by Garry, so it involved a lot of coordination, creativity and a very firm deadline.
I’ve organised a lot of events during my time with Insight Associates – from breakfast clubs and networking sessions to Christmas parties and afternoon teas. After weeks of hard work, it’s great to see colleagues and clients coming together to collaborate and celebrate.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Insight Associates?
Where do I start?! I love so many different elements, which is why I’ve stayed with the company for more than 20 years. I particularly enjoy supporting our team and watching people grow in their roles.
I’m also really proud of what we do as a business. Keeping our clients on the right financial path is hugely rewarding. I know how it feels to be part of a distressed business – the fear around cashflow, the lack of control and the sense of constantly being in flux. If we can help prevent a business from falling into that trap, then that is a job well done.
If I had to pick just ONE thing, then it would be working with the team at Insight Associates. Everyone collaborates seamlessly to deliver great results for our clients. But that’s not all: we truly support each other. Every day, we find a moment to laugh together, which is really important when we are under pressure. It’s a very special team and I’m proud to be part of it.
