Finance at TravelLocal, with Laura Walker, Finance Assistant

Name: Laura Walker

Where are you based: Newport (South Wales)

Fun things you like to do in your spare time: Attending dance classes, playing badminton (badly), and listening to music. I’ve also recently got into gardening!

Dream trip: Iceland

1. Can you describe your typical day as a Finance Assistant at TravelLocal and how has your role evolved since you started your apprenticeship?

My daily tasks involve managing the finance inboxes, addressing our partners’ finance queries, making LTO and supplier payments, managing employee expenses, and carrying out checks and reconciliations. However, I spend a lot of my time working on various projects, which are always changing. Currently, I'm working on audit-related tasks, and I recently finished up a Task Force project measuring the company's carbon emissions. My next project is researching which banking import-files are available to us, to help streamline our payment process. Since starting in June 2022, I’ve gained so much knowledge and taken ownership of various operational tasks within Finance. I’m also becoming increasingly involved with the management accounting side of Finance. Being an apprentice is incredibly beneficial as I can directly apply what I learn in my studies to my role.

2. What initially attracted you to the finance field, and specifically to working at TravelLocal?

I’ve always had an interest in numbers and anything finance related from a young age. I wasn’t sure which route I wanted to take, so I studied Maths with Finance at university. It became clear that my passion lay more in Finance than in Maths. I realised that for numbers to excite me, they need to have real-world meaning and relevance, which I think Accounting and Finance offers. I was concerned about starting a career in Accounting and Finance without a degree in that specific field, so finding an employer that supports my studies and career growth was really important to me. From my interviews, it was evident that TravelLocal was committed to supporting my qualifications and investing in my career journey. My managers genuinely want to see me succeed in my career, which I really appreciate!

3. How does the finance team at TravelLocal work with other departments, and can you give an example of a collaborative project?

We collaborate closely with the Product and Engineering team to streamline our finance processes, reducing manual workload. We also work together to improve the payment experience for our customers and partners. For example, we recently introduced the Early Payout function on our platform in response to our partners’ concerns, P&E and finance worked together to ensure the solution works for everyone. We also work with the Travel Success Team to resolve any finance-related issues with our customers and partners. An ongoing project involves creating articles in our help section, where Finance and TST work together to provide our partners with dedicated resources for their finance queries.

4. What skills do you believe are essential for someone looking to succeed in a finance role at a company like TravelLocal?

While I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, I believe it's a myth that you need to be a maths-whiz to succeed in finance. The role involves much more than number crunching, it requires constant problem-solving and analysing processes to identify efficiencies. Communication skills are also important, as you often liaise with people outside the team or the business. You also need to be willing to adapt and take on various different roles, as the needs of the business are always changing. There are so many avenues within finance that don’t focus solely on numbers, so it’s important to find what works best for you and what you enjoy.

5. As you're nearing the completion of your apprenticeship, what are your professional aspirations or plans for the future?

After completing my AAT Level 4 apprenticeship, I plan to undertake a professional accounting qualification like ACCA (with a small break in between!) which will allow me to qualify as a chartered accountant in a few years. TravelLocal will support me through this, which is fantastic. I’m still exploring which exact area of accounting I’d like to branch out into. Even after becoming a chartered accountant though, I’ll never really stop learning as new challenges and opportunities will always arise.

6. Best things of working in Finance at TravelLocal?

Working for a scale-up means you are constantly learning and involved in various projects. This exposure to different aspects of the business is incredibly beneficial at this stage in my career. We also have an annual allowance for health and wellbeing, like home-office equipment and remote working. It also includes using it towards a holiday with TravelLocal, which I will be doing in July! It allows me to explore new countries and cultures that I might not have otherwise experienced.