What do you do?

I’m a Director in the specialist Not for Profit team here at Cooper Parry.  

I work with a variety of clients across the Not for Profit sector including local and regional charities, academies and colleges.  

My main role is to provide clients with independent assurance so they can have confidence in their financial reporting. I work alongside them to share best practice and improve the robustness and efficiency of their systems and controls.  

My aim is to enable my clients to focus on delivering their strategic mission and objectives safe in the knowledge that their financial reporting systems are efficient, accurate and fully compliant. 

Why do you do it?

The Not for Profit sector is full of organisations that provide essential services and make a genuine difference to people’s lives. I enjoy learning about what these organisations do, why they do it, and how they help to make the world a better place. I get a real buzz from supporting them so they can focus on achieving their mission and objectives. 

I particularly enjoy working with the education sector. Schools and colleges have such an important role in society and working alongside them and helping them overcome their challenges is very rewarding. The school environment, with that constant drive for learning and improvement, is something that has always resonated with me. 

Although schools have many similarities, they also have many differences and I love learning about different approaches and cultures – every day is a school day! I also have three young children so schools will continue to be a major part of my life for the foreseeable future!

What kind of projects have you been involved in?

Audit and assurance are at the core of my work with clients, however I have enjoyed getting involved in a number of other projects over the years. 

These projects have included providing bespoke training to trustee boards on governance and financial roles and responsibilities, due diligence projects for potential new schools joining academy trusts, and assisting with business plans and the subsequent set up of trading subsidiaries.  

What’s on top of your bucket list?

Two of the things I love are running and travel – and if I can combine the two then even better! 

I’ve managed to coincide a number of running events alongside family holidays over recent years. This has included trail runs in the lake district and half marathons at Disneyland Paris and Disneyworld Florida.  

Top of the bucket list is the New York Marathon. I’ve entered the drawing for the last three years but yet to be lucky enough to be selected – fingers crossed for the next one!