Julie, who is based in Biggleswade, joined George Hay back in 1987 and so has now been with us for over 30 years. She is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and, day-to-day, supports sole traders, partnerships, charities and limited companies with accounts preparation and VAT Return Submissions.
Q1. Describe George Hay in one word?
Friendly.
Q2. Have you made any New Year’s resolutions for 2021, or is there anything specific you’d like to achieve in the next 12 months?
To start a journal/diary – 2020 flew by too quickly and there was nothing to write about other than doom & gloom – I am hoping that 2021 proves to be a better and more interesting year.
Q3. Describe yourself in three words?
Approachable, Efficient and Professional.
Q4. Having been with George Hay for over 30 years, can you tell us a bit about how your role has changed in that time and what you enjoy most about being part of the team?
Technology has made a big impact in this profession – when I first started working at George Hay it was pen & paper and 30 years on, computers have taken over!
Being part of a big team definitely has its advantages – it allows us to bounce ideas off of one another, as we have a wide range of expertise within the practice.
Q5. What is your food heaven, and your food hell?
Food Heaven – for savoury it must be Chinese and for sweet I’m afraid I cannot say no to Sticky Toffee Pudding 😊
Food Hell – that would be Liver with gravy, bacon & onions – something my mum used to dish up for us when we were young! ☹
Q6. The last book you read and a score out of 10 for it?
I have read a variety of books, but the last one I recall reading was the final in the trilogy by JoJo Moyes “Still Me”. I would give it a 10/10, just because it made me feel a mixture of emotions and the character in it was very down to earth – most people can relate to her mishaps.
Q7. Name three things we’d find on your bucket list?
- Hire a RV and tour the coastline – there are lots of lovely areas to see in the UK.
- Build our own house – which may happen this year if we manage to sell our current home.
- Have a big family party – we have had many milestone birthdays in our family which have all taken place during lockdown. It would be great to celebrate them all in one go together.
Q8. You work with lots of different businesses in your role, some of whom have been clients for many years. What benefit do you think clients get from having regular contact with the same adviser?
Familiarity – having contact with the same adviser, on a regular basis, means our clients can be assured that we have a comprehensive knowledge of what’s occurring within their business.
Q9. What’s your favourite film?
Notting Hill – you can’t beat a Romcom 😊.
Q10. What’s the best thing you’ve learned, or the best piece of advice you’ve been given during your career?
Client satisfaction is of paramount importance – whether that’s talking them through their accounts, or simply responding to an email!
