ACR Journal

ACR industry February | March 2021 42 WOMEN IN ACR Helen Sharratt is Finance Director with Coolair Equipment Limited. no previous experience in the construction / HVAC industry, but started spending six weeks each year on site at Coolair in 1994 as part of the audit team, preparing and auditing the accounts from scratch. I got to know the whole team (accounts and sales) quite well and worked closely with the FD. Everyone made me feel so welcome, and somehow, I just seemed like a natural fit for the business. What excites/interests you about the industry? No days or no two jobs are ever the same. I like the fact that life is always “interesting”…even the seemingly simplest of jobs can through up unexpected problems part way through and dealing with these issues at short notice keeps you on your toes. Volume 7 No.2 What was your first job? It was a Saturday job at Perrys greengrocers in Crewe, right from 4th year at senior school all the way through college and university. Then six months off to travel round Australia, followed by six months working as a geologist at Geochem in Chester (my degree is in geology). My first financial job was as an audit trainee with Robson Rhodes where I undertook my ICAEW chartered accountancy training What does your current role involve? • All aspects of financial planning and control (management accounts, forecasts etc) • Strategic planning at board level (developing short-term plans and long- term strategy) • IT planning and management • Overseeing of HR • Co-ordination of operating procedures across all offices • Liaison with key suppliers • Ultimate responsibility for approval of customer credit accounts • Planning of small and large-scale customer events What attracted you to the industry? I wasn’t so much attracted to the industry as to the people and the company. I had