Christine is a multi-award-winning Business Mentor, speaker and author. She has authored 4 business books and is a regular keynote speaker on Succession and Exit Planning. As a businesswoman who has built multi-million turnover businesses over the last 30 years, she has worked with many business owners in all sectors including taking one from bankruptcy to 8-figure exit in 18 months. Her latest book, SELL IT, helps business owners get their business and themselves ready for the hardest part of the entrepreneur journey, leaving their business in the hands of others.
From starting her career in the Royal Navy to her predictions for the coming year, hear more from Christine…
How did you get into the profession?
I’m a military veteran and when I left the Royal Navy I knew my best chances of long term employment would involve a professional qualification. I really wanted to study law but accounting was a better fit for working and studying AND offered a wider range of post-study options. I’ve since studied law and recognise that being a qualified accountant was definitely a better move for me personally.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Personal advice: Never worry about getting old, it’s a privilege denied to many.
Professional advice: You can do anything you want to you just have to decide to do it, then do it.
What do you see as key trends for the sector in the coming year?
Two things – a WON’T happen and a WILL happen:
WON’T Happen: Sadly accountants will still talk about wanting to help their clients more but not do anything about changing the way they work with their clients.
WILL Happen: Young accountants will leave practice, where they can’t see a future. They will either go into industry or set up in their own practices without the burden of legacy structures (partnership model) or legacy systems (spreadsheets and manual entry).
What one person or business in the accounting industry do you really admire and why?
Lucy Cohen and Mazuma.
Lucy is a true pioneer and thought really carefully about how to better serve one of the hardest sectors in the accounting industry. Turns out she’s also a great person and is indefatigable!
What’s the best part of your job?
Taking business owners from the agony of finding out their business is worth nothing because it’s unsaleable to the joy of successfully sold. It’s what I have spent my entire life working towards after seeing my favourite uncle destroyed by the loss of his business when I was in my early teens. I started realising I could make an impact when I got through my accounting qualification. I’ve worked at it for 25 years and I’m doing exactly what I hoped I would.
