Assistant Finance Manager - Viji

What do you do?

I am Assistant Finance Manager in the finance department of The Crown Estate, having just been promoted to this role following a review of the finance function.

I assist the Urban Finance Manager in supporting the urban business’ financial and management accounting needs, I also provide advice on a wide range of issues from taxation to technical accounting matters not only to internal colleagues but also to our external partners / managing agents.

Where did you come from?

I joined The Crown Estate in 1987 as a typist and was promoted to the position of secretary to the Deputy Crown Estate Surveyor. I then moved on to various secretarial roles within different departments at The Crown Estate and finally was promoted to the position of Private Secretary to the Chief Executive. In 1995 I moved to the PR department, where I used to compile the budgets for senior management and PR. I found that I enjoyed this aspect of the job and discovered that I had a natural aptitude for accounting. As a result in 2002, I requested a move to Finance to be trained as an accountant. I am now a finalist Chartered Management Accountant.

How does your role fit into your department and The Crown Estate as a business?

My typical day begins around 8.30 am when I arrive in the office, switch on my computer and check my emails. The finance department in The Crown Estate is carefully planned around deadlines for reporting purposes. I regularly plan and prioritise my workload in order to meet the financial deadlines and keep my customers (both internal departments and external managing agents) satisfied.

What are your favourite aspects of the role and why do you enjoy working for The Crown Estate?

When I came to The Crown Estate in 1987 I had three year-old twin sons and subsequently had a daughter in 1990. I found that the flexible working hours and other benefits such as the holiday playscheme enabled me to achieve a work / life balance, which makes The Crown Estate an attractive employer for working mothers.

I also feel that The Crown Estate is a prestigious organisation which not only provides a unique work environment but also, due to the diverse nature of the business, provides constant challenges which I am continually learning from.

What are your future career plans?

My current priority is to gain my qualification in Chartered Management Accountancy.