Accounting for progression

As part of our regular feature series of talent progression and opportunities at Yorkshire Building Society , we’re talking with Niamh Gallagher , Assistant Accountant in the Cost and Investment Team.

Niamh had her sights set on studying the stars at university, but a global pandemic put paid to those plans – and it turns out she couldn’t be happier…

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Tell us about your current role.

I’m an assistant accountant in the Finance division, currently based in the Cost and Investment team. ?It’s a rotational role so later this year I’ll be moving into another team in Finance to learn the ins and outs and to pick up valuable experience along the way.

The main purpose of my current position is to contribute to building a clear view on costs across the business. That means I’m tasked with supporting the production of cost forecasts and pulling together reports for SLT on our current cost position.

A key part of my role is stakeholder management and working closely with colleagues in different areas of the business that I support. For the last 18 months this has been Risk, People and Internal Audit, and I’ve made some lovely connections with the people I’ve worked with.

Building these relationships is one of my favourite parts of the job, as you get to meet colleagues across the business that you wouldn’t usually work with and welcomed into their world to learn more about the work that they do.

Can you tell us a bit more about your development with YBS?

Back in 2018, I joined Share Plans on a secondment as a share incentive plan specialist, but it didn’t take long to realise I wanted to stay, and fortunately they wanted me to stay too! In my time there, I worked my way up to become an account manager, liaising with clients and managing a portfolio of share schemes before the closure was announced in 2021. It was hard work at times, but I loved my time there and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities I was given.

Leaving the Society following the closure didn’t feel like the right decision, and I was incredibly lucky to be copied into an email listing the vacancy for my current role. It felt like an instant fit from a stakeholder management perspective, but I had no accounting experience, so I was initially apprehensive about applying. I still feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity as an internal hire, as this isn’t the classic route into accountancy. But it means I’m always striving to prove myself, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come since I first joined.

What interested you in having a career in finance?

Like a lot of people who join YBS, I followed in the footsteps of my mum who also works here, so working in finance felt like a natural route to take. I’d been offered a place to go to university in the Netherlands to study astrophysics, so originally joined YBS to save up to fund my studies. Then the pandemic hit and I had to re-think my plans. Despite it not being what I’d planned, I genuinely wouldn’t change a thing.

Professionally, what are you most excited about achieving this year??

In the short term, I’m about to begin working with the Commercial division as my new business area and I’m really looking forward to meeting and supporting my new cost centre managers.

However, as the year goes on, I’m excited about continuing my accountancy studies with CIMA. The Society provides funding for professional accountancy qualifications in this role and this covers the cost of my studies and exams so that I can eventually become a qualified accountant.

What advice would you give to others looking to develop a career in finance?

Just give it a go. You could be the right fit for a role you never considered - even if it wasn’t part of your original plan!