Fran Jordan
What is your current role and what does a typical week look like?
I am the Assistant Management Accountant overseeing the processing finance team. My role involves supporting the finance team with their daily purchasing and expense tasks and day-to-day finance queries. I also ensure SLS complies with University Financial Regulations, monitoring the department cost code and budget queries.
Which skills help you most in being able to perform your role?
My Excel skills are the most important for my role. They help me with daily tasks and streamline reporting. Working in finance, I have to be adaptable and find solutions to meet everyone's requirements.
How has your education or roles previous to joining Life Sciences, informed your interests, and why did you choose this career direction?
I have been working at the University for over 10 years now. I started my university career at WMG, where I learned about the university's finance processing. After a couple of years, I moved to Research Finance, where I gained knowledge and experience on research projects, such as reporting and funder rules. I returned to WMG, where I looked after research projects from the department side. It was interesting to see the whole research process from a central view back to the department side. I decided to step away from research to gain additional experience in finance. I moved to WMS, where I gained further skills and knowledge in department management reports and staffing budgets. Now, I am at SLS, using all the knowledge I have gained at the university.
What is your favourite place on campus and why?
The woods and ponds. My team and I regularly take lunchtime walks together around these. We enjoy a good natter and watching the woods and ponds change with the seasons. I especially enjoy spring with the baby ducklings.
What are your main interests or passions, outside of work?
I own a little campervan and enjoy spending weekends in it. It’s fun to park up, go for long hikes, and then visit a pub for a drink and meal. My partner and I are keenly interested in motorsport, from stockcars to motorbikes, and I can sometimes be found sitting at a lake, enjoying a spot of fishing.
Interview date January 2025