Put up your hand

Angela Foyle, Head of Risk Management and Economic Crime at BDO Global Office, is the ICAEW Regulatory Board’s (IRB) newest member. In the first of a two-part interview, she tells us about her professional background, shares her experience of resuming practice after a career break, and explains why putting up your hand can be so important.???

Angela grew up in Ireland where she studied law at Trinity College, Dublin. After graduating, she moved to the UK to take up an accountancy training contract at Price Waterhouse.

She spent five years at Price Waterhouse as a tax specialist before moving to Linklaters and then becoming a tax partner, first at KPMG and later at BDO.?

After leaving KPMG, she had a four-year career break following the birth of her youngest daughter.

“I did a couple of non-executive roles during that time, but I actually didn't work within practice,” she says. “And I think a lot of people think it's almost impossible to come back after that length of time.”

“Of course, it meant quite a lot of reading to get back up to speed,” she adds. “But there was also support there to do it.” When she started back in practice, she joined BDO as a tax partner, later becoming the firm’s money laundering reporting officer. She is now Head of Risk Management and Economic Crime at BDO Global Office.?

“From the time my eldest daughter was born, I only ever worked four days a week, which I think was also something that was relatively unusual at that time,” she says. “But again, that's been supported by all of the firms that I've worked for, even at partner level.”?

She believes it’s important to get out the message that taking a break or working non-standard hours aren’t barriers to progressing your career, or taking on leadership or high-profile roles within the accountancy profession.

“I think there are a lot of women who still just don't think these things are possible,” she explains. But her career path is proof that, not only are they possible, they are also fulfilling and rewarding.?

Use your skills

During her career gap, Angela sat on the boards of a housing association and an NHS trust. “I had a skill base and I'd been working as a partner in KPMG,” she says. “And I now had the time. If you've got some skills and there are people who need them, it’s a good feeling that you can use them to benefit wider society.”

Her skills as a chartered accountant – the ability to analyse data, ask the right questions and also a strong sense of professional scepticism – were particularly useful in these non-exec roles. And, equally, the experience she gained in these different environments provided an additional perspective when she moved back into practice.

This combination of personal and professional reward, allied with serving the wider public interest, are part of why she is such an advocate of doing committee work, no matter what stage you’re at in your career.?

Alongside – and as a key part of – her day job, she continues to contribute to a range of committees and groups. Until recently, she had chaired ICAEW’s Economic Crime Sub-Committee for about 10 years, and she is also Chair of the CCAB Economic Crime Working Group and of the Accountancy Europe Anti-Money Laundering Expert Working Group.

“What you learn from other people by going on these committees cannot be underestimated,” she explains. “There’s always a broad range of views and it's good to have your views challenged and learn how other people might approach the same problems.”

“I've benefited a lot from participating in all of the groupings I've been engaged in, including the ICAEW ones, and I'd definitely encourage anyone else to put up their hand and volunteer.”

“It's amazing how it can benefit your day-to-day work,” she adds. “So even if you don't think you've got the time, actually, you sometimes find it saves you time.”

In the second part of this interview, Angela will talk more about her motivation for joining the ICAEW Regulatory Board, what she sees the main challenges are for the #board and how she hopes to contribute.

Women in leadership

ICAEW’s Women in Leadership (#WiL) programme is designed to support women working across practice, industry and the public sector in senior #management, #partner or board roles. Find out more about WiL or register your interest.