Get ready to find out more about another valued staff member in this instalment of our Meet the Team series! Today, we’re introducing you to our Financial Controller, Sophie Kerrison. Now, Sophie is a Chartered Accountant who joined us in 2022 after 15 years of experience in Big Four accountancy firms, as well as the commercial and retail sectors – so we’ve really fallen on our feet with her! Read on to find out more about what makes Sophie tick.
Where it all started
After graduating in Economics and Law at the University of Leicester, Sophie started out strong as a Trainee Accountant at big four accountancy firm, KPMG. Over the next decade, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant – which, understandably, she calls the proudest moment in her career – before taking up Financial Controller and Management and Statutory Accountant posts in the retail, banking and other sectors.
After a career break to raise her family, Sophie arrived at Insight Associates.
“I was attracted to Insight as it’s such a client-focused business, with a huge emphasis on building great working relationships with clients,” Sophie recalls. “Having previously only worked in large companies, the prospect of joining a smaller, local firm was very appealing to me at this point in my career.”
How it’s going
Today, Sophie spends her time providing her clients with the quality financial data they need to make good business decisions. A typical day is busy, she says, but varied. “I spend most of my day preparing monthly management accounts and helping answer client queries.”
As Christmas approaches, Sophie says that she feels particularly appreciative of Insight’s policy of closing during the festive season. “It’s lovely that we get a good long break at this time – I enjoy spending it with my family and never got the chance when I worked in finance for larger companies!”
She also enjoys working with such a warm and friendly bunch (her words, not ours!), who she describes as “extremely entertaining” – glad to be of service, Sophie!
Although she can find tight deadlines challenging some months, Sophie acknowledges that’s it’s all part of working in finance – and it’s all balanced out by the pleasure of delivering great outcomes for her clients. And she knows she has a great team to back her up and flexible working hours when she needs them.
Client relationships
“My favourite part of client relationships for me is watching the trust develop over the months as what we’re doing starts making a real difference and gives them increasing confidence in their business finances,” says Sophie. “Being freed from the financial side of things gives our clients headspace to step back, look at the bigger picture and make key strategic decisions that will help them achieve their goals and maximise growth.”
Sophie is so good at her job that one of her clients even tried to recruit her! “I worked closely with one particular client for 12 months and developed a really great working relationship with them. I proved that I could offer them accurate information, meet all the deadlines they set and generally provide them with confidence in their finances and their future. So, when they offered me an in-house job to work directly for them, I thought there was no higher compliment!”
For our part, we’re very glad she’s still with us. Although we’re going to have to keep a closer eye on her from now on…
Now for the fun part…
Accountants aren’t particularly known for being the sportiest of people, so you might be surprised to hear a fun fact about Sophie – she was a very keen sailor in her younger years and passed her Certificate of Competence with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) as a teenager.
Sailing sounds like a great skill to have if you’re trapped on a desert island – but Sophie would rather live the high life! “If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d want my whole family with me, a luxury yacht to live on, and a radio to listen to Jazz FM.” Not much then, Sophie!