Stephen Willis ACCA

Company: Pullmaflex UK Limited in Ammanford, which is part of Leggett & Platt Incorporated

Job title: Financial Controller / Branch Controller

Favourite food: Pizza

Who or what inspires you:

No one person, but I do take inspiration every time I see a colleague at any level trying their best every day

How did you study and if applicable with which organisation:

I started at USW, then to fit around month end deadlines I cherry picked some BPP courses, and self studied for the rest

Why did you choose ACCA:

Both of my parents are FCCA, and despite my best efforts not to end up in Finance it was an easy and natural step for me after a maths degree at Cardiff University

What do you do in your spare time:

Working from home has blurred a work life balance at the moment, but will be revisiting the concept of “spare time” when we are out of rolling lockdowns

Perfect job:

CFO of a multinational listed manufacturing company

Career aspiration:

Find a better work life balance (need to ignore the ‘perfect job’ listed above to achieve this one)

What did you want to be when you grew up:

Happy, and I had no specific job in mind

Favourite holiday destination or holiday type:

10 days anywhere with no mobile phone signal or WiFi so I can actually follow through on my “out of office” message

Biggest support throughout your studies and career:

Can’t beat hands on experience of actually having done the job that you later study

Advice for students going through the exams:

Find an employer that supports your studies, makes time for you to attend lectures, study, revise and sit exams

Advice for students completing PER:

Don’t put completing it off, as you never know when you or your boss may change jobs