A good business to join

As a company, LloydsPharmacy was flying high in the healthcare arena, and turned a healthy bottom line. Its size and complex business model enticed me in as a real challenge. Another reason I joined was because I liked their healthcare agenda and socially responsible stance. At the time, they were the first company to move towards not selling any sun cream under SPF15.

Keeping everything moving

My current role as Financial Planning and Cost Control Manager takes in cost control of the business’ supply chain and support costs, ranging from IT, HR, Operations and property investments. I also manage monthly budgets, forecasting and long-range views of future profitability. I manage a team of 17, ranging from accountants, analysts and business partners at various levels.

Day-to-day is spent spinning many different plates within individual elements of my team. I see my role as knowledge and knowhow, keeping the cogs of financial planning and cost control moving through effective challenge and positive friction.

Since being here, I’ve been given the chance to broaden my skillset through a very wide range of roles, from analytics to management to business partnering to reporting. I’ve also gone on a number of courses, which have enabled me to develop through MBTI and management tools.

Support to study and qualify

I became a Chartered Accountant here (after being taken on as a part-qualified Accountant), with the opportunity to have my training paid for, and time off to study. My line managers were always mindful to let me put enough time into it, and not to overload me during that time.

Some years on, I’m now an FCCA (Fellow Certified Chartered Accountant) and continue to learn through quarterly continual professional development courses, held by the business.

Shining a torch/

My proudest achievement so far in my reporting team is in taking an Operating Board pack from inception to completion. This helps the business understand its key drivers each month. There are probably more developments, but I would liken it to shining a torch in a dark room; the torch is pretty high powered now, but we still have some things slightly in the shade… we continuously work to increase the light!

Get, grow and keep

I think McKesson has a really good understanding of how to ‘Get, Grow, Keep’ their colleagues. They have a programme under each area from recruitment through to development, which shows they want to push forward equipped with the leaders of the future.

When I joined 14 years ago, I didn’t expect I would stay this long. The variety of roles I’ve delivered, and the ever-changing market environment means the business needs to keep on adapting to stay ahead of the curve.