Like many people in their early careers, confidence didn’t come naturally to me. Even while working towards a first-class honour’s degree, I often felt like I didn’t quite belong.

During my milk-round interviews, I never imagined myself actually working at a Big Four firm. I assumed I was always one step behind.

About 12 years ago, I did apply for a job with a Big Four firm that became another defining moment in my career. At the end of the interview, I was asked where else I had applied for jobs.

I admitted—a little sheepishly—that I had only applied to this one Big Four firm and another small firm. I had basically “chanced my arm” with the Big Four firm, I told my interviewer.

He paused and replied, “You need to understand your worth”. Then, he shook my hand and wished me luck with my job search.

This experience didn’t change my mindset immediately, but it has stayed with me. I still think back to that moment today whenever I start doubting myself.

As it turned out, I was offered both that Big Four role as well as the position with the smaller firm, but it still took a few more years for me to truly recognise my value.

When I did, it changed everything for me. Learning to understand my worth reshaped how I approached my career.

I stopped settling. I started advocating for myself. I began pursuing roles that would stretch me and allow me to grow— this mindset now underpins how I lead my team.

Environments built on trust

With trust, guidance and space to grow, I progressed to Group Accountant and worked through an acquisition into a plc environment. The journey was challenging and a huge learning experience.

It also coincided with my becoming a parent. I was juggling a lot—professionally and personally—and, for a while, it felt like all the balls were in the air at once, until inevitably some of them dropped.

The hardest part was accepting I couldn’t do everything perfectly. I had to learn to reprioritise. When a finance manager role became available with a smaller company offering a four-day work week, I still hesitated, however.

Surely work-life balance in finance didn’t really exist? I was wrong. Accepting that role was one of the best career decisions I have made.

It allowed me to achieve a better work-life balance when I needed it, but my experience in the Big Four and plc environments was also invaluable—setting the technical and professional foundations I rely on to this day and shaping my understanding of leadership.

In those early roles, I learned very clearly the type of leader I wanted to be. Your manager often becomes your mentor, whether formally or informally.

I was lucky to have a manager in my last role who allowed me to take ownership, and this played a big part in building my confidence. It showed me how much I thrive in environments built on trust and respect—an approach I’m committed to creating for others today.

Finance: the nexus of business

I joined Hunter Apparel Solutions in Derry in 2023 as Finance Manager and, within a year, stepped into the role of Chief Financial Officer at 31.

Since then, my career has continued to evolve beyond spreadsheets and month-end cycles to focus more on people, strategy and navigating the constant challenges of a scaling business.

I have learned that finance doesn’t exist in isolation—it is really the nexus of how a business functions, grows and survives.

Hunter is a purpose-driven business, and this is evident not just in what we do, but in how we do it. Understanding the human impact of our work is one of the most grounding aspects of my role today.

Hunter designs and manufactures advanced personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE has historically been designed around a narrow set of assumptions, often failing to properly accommodate women and diverse body types.

Seeing innovation that consciously challenges that— ensuring protection works for everyone—aligns strongly with my own values around equality and representation.

Equally important is Hunter’s work in PPE care and decontamination. Firefighters face significantly increased cancer risks due to repeated exposure to toxic contaminants embedded in their protective clothing.

Through our advanced decontamination and lifecycle management solutions, we can remove harmful carcinogens left behind by traditional washing methods.

Knowing the systems we put in place can directly reduce long-term health risks—and potentially save lives years down the line—gives real meaning to my work.

Lessons in leadership

The same values guide how we work together internally. Half our senior leadership team is female—simply because the right people are in the right roles.

Hunter is an environment in which people can succeed without having to change who they are.

I work four days a week and have the flexibility I need in my role to be present in the lives of my two young sons, aged four and one, while also being able to build the career I want.

For me, managing work-life balance effectively comes down to trust, delegation and boundaries. Trusting people to do their jobs without micromanaging allows them to take ownership and perform at their best.

Networking and mentoring plays a big role in working life— not just in my own career, but also in creating opportunities for others.

Many of our key hires at Hunter have come through trusted networks rather than traditional recruitment routes. People matter, and relationships matter.

For women in accounting, mentoring is more than guidance—it’s sponsorship. Having someone advocate for you when you’re not in the room can mean the difference between stagnation and progression.

Professional bodies like Chartered Accountants Ireland are invaluable for technical updates and continuing professional development. Equally, informal networks and peer groups are essential for practical advice and confidence-building.

When I reflect on my journey, I can see that my most valuable lessons haven’t come from formal education alone, but from experience—from exposure to leadership and active involvement in real decisions with real consequences.

Staying curious, open and willing to grow beyond traditional finance has been essential for me.

I didn’t plan this career but every step—the uncertainty, self-doubt, support and moments of growth—has shaped the leader I am today.

Creating an environment in which others can recognise their worth, grow with confidence and build careers that fit their lives feels like the most meaningful work of all— alongside being the best mum I can be to my boys.”

Interested in a career with an award winning company? contact jobs@hunterapparelsolutions.com to enquire.