UK Sectors
UK Sectors is a podcast from ACCA’s Sectors and Communities team. It features conversations with ACCA members working across different parts of the profession. Episodes explore career journeys, current trends, and the insights shaping finance today. The show is aimed at accountants and finance professionals who want to understand how their sectors are evolving.
Episodes
Janine Rennie FCCA – Resilience built from a determination to beat the odds
Despite being told at 25 that a lupus diagnosis would mean only having 5 years to live and never being able to have children, Janine has beaten the odds to build a 30 year career in the third sector and has three grown up children.
Currently working as an elected councillor for Clackmannanshire Council, as well as the CEO of Money Advice Scotland, Janine’s desire to create an impact which makes a
Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Maria Ghibu
With more than 20 years’ experience across technology, biotech and financial services, Maria has held senior roles including CFO, COO, CEO and Non-Executive Director. She has led businesses through finance transformation, fundraising, M&A, international growth and periods of rapid change.
Alongside her career in finance and leadership, Maria also makes time for her creative pursuits, including
Finance redefined: Making digital investment work
What happens when the technology is chosen, the transformation begins, and finance has to make it work in the real world?
In this episode of Finance Redefined, Clare Elliott FCCA, Group CFO at NetSupport, draws on her experience of leading finance transformation to explore the decisions and lessons behind making digital investment work in practice. She discusses how to identify the problems worth
The Resilient Accountant: Steph Beeston-Clarke FCCA, finding resilience through helping others
Hear from Steph Beeston-Clarke FCCA as she speaks to Donna Beddis FCCA about her determination to use her qualification and knowledge to provide advice and guidance to help others, how her "charity chatter" series seeks to support smaller charities and CICs, how she and her team ensure each others' wellbeing and how her plans for moving to Lanzarote will still involve providing an excellent servic
At the 4 Front: From curiosity to global leadership with Cristina Gutu FCCA
Cristina reflects on her journey from starting her career in Romania, where international opportunities once felt out of reach, to becoming ACCA Vice President and Director with KPMG (L&D Lead).
Cristina shares how curiosity, discipline and a willingness to embrace opportunities before feeling fully ready helped shape her career, and why she believes the most successful careers are built throu
Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Amanda Burton FCCA
Amanda reflects on her career journey, from being the first in her family to attend university to building a successful career in finance. She shares how proud she is of where her ACCA qualification has taken her over the past two decades, why her career hasn't always followed a linear path, and how working with an executive coach helped shape her leadership style.
Amanda also discusses the import
The Resilient Accountant: Steven Pink FCCA, building resilience in a time of crisis
Hear from Steven Pink FCCA, Director of Finance & Resources (S151) at Havant Borough Council as he talks to Donna Beddis FCCA about a career which has seen him work across the public sector, starting out in local government and returning to the sector after time spent as the senior lead in the National Covid Vaccination Programme.
A strong believer in embracing change and the opportunities it
Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Sophia Levell
In this candid conversation with Rachel Shorter FCCA, Sophia shares her unique journey to finance leadership, the lessons she's learned along the way, and her thoughts on leadership, resilience and building a successful career on your own terms.
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Inside BFSI: Navigating opportunities in financial services with Vinay Handa
Vinay reflects on how a planned 12-month sabbatical in Australia turned into six years of professional growth, taking him from corporate accountant to finance leader. He shares what really changes when you step into senior roles, how technology, AI and ESG are reshaping financial services, and why networking and staying curious are essential for building a long-term career in the sector.
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Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Rajiv Chandra FCCA
Rajiv shares insights from his career journey, reflecting on the experiences, challenges and opportunities that have shaped his path to senior finance leadership. He discusses the evolving role of finance, the growing importance of data and analytics in driving business value, and the skills finance professionals need to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
Alongside his profe
Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Sinéad McCormack FCCA
Welcome to ACCA's Journey to CFO, in partnership with BDO, the podcast exploring the real stories behind finance leadership. Hosted by Rachel Shorter, each episode features candid conversations with leading CFOs and finance leaders, uncovering the successes, challenges and lessons that have shaped their careers.
In this episode, Rachel is joined by Sinéad McCormack, Chief Financial Officer at Medi
Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Cécile Parker FCCA
Welcome to ACCA's Journey to CFO, in partnership with BDO, the podcast exploring the real stories behind finance leadership. Hosted by Rachel Shorter, each episode features candid conversations with leading CFOs and Finance leaders, uncovering the successes, challenges and lessons that have shaped their careers.
In this episode, Rachel is joined by Cécile Parker, Group CFO at Vital Energi. With mo
At the 4 Front: Breaking barriers, taking risks and leading with purpose with Bano Sheikh FCCA
In this episode, Bano candidly speaks about her inspiring journey through the accounting profession and the lessons she has learned along the way.
She reflects on discovering ACCA in Lahore, at a time when very few women were studying ACCA or working in the Big Four outside of administrative roles, and how she made the decision to challenge expectations and help open the door for others.
Bano
The Resilient Accountant: Veena Patel FCCA - resilience born from a desire to seize opportunities
Donna Beddis FCCA speaks to Veena Patel FCCA, Director of Finance at the UK’s leading accident prevention charity RoSPA. Veena shares her journey across sectors to arrive at a place that feels like home, with a clear mission and people working together to bring in around 10 million in grants and membership, training, and consultancy, combining commercial thinking with real purpose.
The Resilient Accountant: Leading through a determination to drive change
Hear Owen Davies FCCA, Head of Finance at Transport for Wales and secondee at Pullman Rail, talk to Donna Beddis FCCA about finding resilience in leading through a determination to drive change.
As well as being an advocate for the public sector, Owen is also a crusader for being brave and embracing the commercial sector, hunting out value in commercial opportunities to improve the value propositi
Finance redefined: Risk management and controls with Jane Walde
Are your finance and business decisions fully protected against the risks quietly building in your organisation? In this episode, we show how finance teams can work smarter with risk and audit functions to stay ahead.
We break down what an effective controls framework really looks like, with practical examples of proportionate controls and insights into the common risks that often slip under the r
The Resilient Accountant: Making space for the future even though the present is busy
Donna Bedis interviews Veer Parmar, the 2025 UK Public Sector Advocate of the Year, about his work in the NHS. Veer, a finance business partner at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, has been instrumental in promoting innovation, particularly in AI in healthcare, and developing a finance graduate scheme across nine NHS Trusts. He emphasizes the importance of consistency, collaboration, and integrity
At the 4Front: Clients and career growth with Freddie Winter
Bridget Foley sits down with Freddie Winter, Senior Finance Consultant at EY, to explore the realities of pursuing the ACCA qualification while working in a Big Four firm.
Freddie shares what sparked his interest in finance and accounting, and how that curiosity evolved into a career at EY.
He brings the qualification to life with a practical example of applying audit and assurance knowledge d
Inside BFSI: Redesigning finance and payroll with Varun Monteiro
Varun shares how his ACCA training and experience across the business helped him execute a management buyout, scale and exit his first company, and build a payroll and HR tech business with a clear vision.
We explore how AI, real-time payments, and open finance are transforming finance roles, why leaders must manage complexity rather than control, and how the BFSI sector can shift from risk avoida
The Resilient Accountant: The power of digital engagement
James Wright, a senior lecturer at the University of Chichester and runner-up for the 2025 UK Public Sector Advocate of the Year, discusses his digital advocacy for ACCA. His content, which has reached over 20 million views, aims to break down barriers and inspire the next generation. James emphasizes the importance of digital platforms in strengthening communities and shares his strategies for ma
At the 4Front: Lessons in longevity with Fran Simpson FCCA
In this episode, we’re joined by Fran Simpson, who reflects on a 27-year career built on resilience, relationships and a willingness to say yes.
Fran shares how all she ever wanted was to be a “businesswoman” - earning her own money and making her own way in life, and how the variety of experiences throughout her career have shaped the leader she is today. She speaks openly about the power of lo
Finance redefined: The modern finance landscape
The UK corporate sector is changing fast, and finance teams are expected to do more than ever. Are you keeping up?
In this episode of Finance Redefined, Alistair Roman shares his insights on the trends shaping the role of accountants in business. He explores the economic pressures and regulatory changes affecting organisations, the skills and behaviours finance teams need to thrive, and how digita
The Resilient Accountant: Finance as the "language of hope and truth”
The Resilient Accountant podcast series is for finance professionals in the UK public, not-for-profit, and health sectors.
Deepa Mistry, a runner-up for the 2025 Public Sector Advocate of the Year Award, discussed her role in challenging the UK government's leaseholder loan scheme post-Grenfell Tower tragedy. Mistry, a leaseholder herself, used her financial expertise to expose the scheme's potent
Inside BFSI: Forging your own path with Becky Glover
Welcome to Inside BFSI: voices from across the financial services sector. The series that showcases the stories of professionals shaping the future of banking, financial services, and insurance. In this episode, we sit down with Becky Glover, CFO at Mazuma, to explore her unconventional journey into the finance profession. From starting out as a 17 year old apprentice to becoming a finance leader,
At the 4Front: Taking your career global with Araib Sultan
In this episode, we’re joined by Araib Sultan, Senior Manager at Deloitte, who shares his international career journey across Pakistan, the UAE, and the UK - and the lessons learned along the way.
Araib reflects on qualifying with ACCA in Pakistan at EY, moving to the UAE, and eventually relocating to Edinburgh with Deloitte. He discusses how international opportunities often come from having the
At the 4Front: Leadership in Action with Allee Bonnard
In this episode, Allee Bonnard, UK Managing Partner at Deloitte, shares the story of what brought her to the firm and what’s kept her there throughout her career. She reflects on how the profession is evolving, the realities of audit, and why technology is opening the door to an exciting new era for young professionals.
Allee offers candid insight into setting boundaries, stepping into leadership,
