Carolyn Barnard | Audit Apprentice | KPMG
My career in Accountancy at KPMG began in 2018 when I joined as an Audit Apprentice straight from Sixth Form on a six year apprenticeship in the Milton Keynes/Watford regional areas.
Since joining the firm I have taken on key roles in both audits and wider departmental activities, consistently contributing to the success of our team and the firm as a whole. In 2023, I became the audit In-charge on two of my department`s largest and high-risk audit engagements of which one was a first year audit. My project management, coaching, and up-front planning led to the first engagement receiving a gold award in the Audit Quality and Culture awards within the firm.
In addition to my day to day role working on audits I was selected to participate and contribute to a high-profile audit tender representing both my department and KPMG.
I have also endeavoured to embrace further opportunities beyond my role within KPMG, such as becoming an assistant draw adjudicator for the National Lottery in 2021. This includes working as an assistant independent adjudicator for all National Lottery draw types which are held in the UK. This includes Euromillions, Lotto, Set for Life and Thunderball.
In addition to this I have also made use of KPMG`s volunteering hours which are offered to all employees by taking part in local volunteering projects through the firm. This has notable included time spent working with local schools as part of National Numeracy Day to promote the importance of numeracy skills.
Faridah Ramirez | Team Manager support | Ethos Farm
I've always been involved in customer service from working 10+ years in the retail field.
Being able to work myself up the ladder to where I am today. I have always had a passion to work at the frontline for guests and to bring a sense amazing customer service to my role.
Gemma McLaughlin | Associate Director | Gravita
11 years ago I arrived in London from Derry, embarking on a transformative journey filled with new experiences and growth.
Although moving to London was not short of its challenges, the excitement and opportunities that came with it made the relocation truly worthwhile.
My career in London began at Simpson Wreford in Southeast London, where I progressed rapidly from a Senior position to a Managerial role in a mix of audit and accounts, and ended up staying there for 6 years. Seeking further skill development, I moved to Fitzgerald and Law (now Zedra), assuming the role of Audit Manager. Here, I was focused on overseeing the audit and preparation of financial statements under both UK GAAP and IFRS of UK subsidiaries of overseas companies. At this time, Covid struck, bringing with it a new era of remote work and professional challenges such as overworking, an unclear work-life balance, and stress.
Fast forward to 2024, I am now an Associate Director with Gravita (legacy ABG team) and flourishing in this role. Through seeking professional help and moving roles, I put better boundaries in place and am now reaping the rewards of a more balanced work-life dynamic. However, I would never change the struggles I faced as they have fostered my personal and professional growth. I now use these coping mechanisms I learnt to mentor my team while maintaining my own self-belief. I am now pushing myself to the next level with confidence and am excited to see what’s next.
Helen Lees | Senior Sales Manager | Fine & Country
I am the Senior Sales Manager for the Mid and South Essex operation of Fine & Country based out of our Brentwood office, with 20 years property experience and a background in the airline industry.
Having previously gained a wealth of knowledge at British Airways and Virgin Airlines - both extremely fast paced and demanding work environments needing first class customer management skills I moved across to the property sector over 20 years ago. I have worked within various estate agency positions at a range of organisations nationally.
Joney Ramirez Soto | Principal Planning Consultant | RPS
I am a chartered town planner (MRTPI) with over 10 years of experience in the UK and abroad, specialized in residential, leisure and renewable energy projects.
Originally from Venezuela where I was formed as a Town Planner, I moved to the UK in 2012. Since then, I obtained a MA in Planning and Sustainability from Kingston University London and worked as a Planning Officer at different levels in a number of London Boroughs (Hammersmith and Fulham, Newham, Hounslow and Ealing) and in the South East of England (Slough). I also hold a certificate in Leadership and Management from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Since 2019 I`ve been working at RPS based in Oxfordshire, leading projects of different scales of complexity and budgets, most notably on the Outline and initial Reserved Matter applications for Valley Park (circa 4,000 new homes) in Oxfordshire.
I was awarded the South East Young Planner of the Year award from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in 2023 and sit in the Regional Activities Committee and Regional Management Board of the RTPI South East. I also enjoy mentoring other planners and volunteering with Planning Aid England assisting communities with planning matters.
Katie Dee-Davies | Account Manager | ParetoFM
My eyes were first opened to the world of Facilities Management & Property during my time as Assistant Manager at a co working and office space in Manchester.
With no room for progression I went into a Front of House Facilities Assistant role for ParetoFM based at a multi-tenanted site in 2021, eager to contribute and grow within the organisation. Over time I embraced challenges and opportunities, learning on the job and steadily advancing to the position of Account Manager after 12 months running multiple commercial properties in the North on behalf of a real estate company. As of April 2024, just under 2 years into the role, I will be managing the clients whole portfolio which covers 13 sites across England making it one of the biggest accounts in the company. During this time, I have built a fantastic team, strong client relationships and a community feel within the spaces that we run. As I reflect on my journey, from an office manager learning the ropes to an Account Manager overseeing multiple sites, I am proud of the progress and positive changes I`ve brought to the company. I look forward to continuing this journey of growth, impact, and innovation.
Leigh-Ann Smith | Site Manager | Barratt London
I have been working for Barratt London for almost 3 years and I have worked on some amazing projects that have been challenging and complex in there own ways.
Upton Gardens - Former West Ham United Stadium I completed 9 blocks running the external façade on all blocks with my own team behind me.
Mill Hill Ridgeway Views - Former National Institute Of Medical Research - This project had so much history and its own story to tell and it is my best project to date I built 3 blocks on this project again managing the external façade and landscaping works to all three blocks. The redesign of these development was to keep it very much the same but different to allow more natural light into the blocks and landscape areas and also the landscape area of the parkland with more than 4,000 trees and includes 47 acres of green space.
Bethan Handley | Associate - Residential Valuation & Advisory | Knight Frank
I grew up in rural Staffordshire and went on to study Accounting & Finance at the University of Bath.
Once I realised that I wanted to pursue a career in Real Estate, I then undertook a masters degree in Real Estate Management.
Having worked in residential valuation since July 2016, I qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer in May 2019 and later joined Knight Frank in December 2019.
As a member of Knight Frank’s Residential Valuation and Advisory team, I specialise in the valuation of houses and flats across Central London.
My role is focused on the valuation of single residential units for secured lending, but I also undertake valuations for taxation (CGT and IHT), private individuals, and accounting purposes.
I was promoted from Surveyor to Senior Surveyor in July 2021, and to Associate Partner in June 2023.
Charlotte Hewett | Associate, Manager | Knight Frank
I was an international Opera Singer for seven years when I decided to embark upon the Property industry which has run in my family for decades.
I quickly had five interviews and subsequently had five job offers from all the interviews that I attended and I decided to accept the job offer from one of the most prestigious companies in prime central London.
During my endeavour at my first company I was consecutively the top performer for volume within the London region year on year and was promoted from negotiator to associate director within three years, which was unheard of within our industry.
I was a loyal director and stayed with that company for four years despite the fact that I was head-hunted by other companies and was given other job offers on a regular basis.
I decided after four years that it was time to embark upon a new challenge and eventually accepted a position within another prestigious company having turned their job offer down few years prior.
Financial aspect of the occupation is of course important but this was not the centre of my attention. What I was craving for was a position where I can inspire other people and lead a team of individuals towards success in their career. I have managed to create a great team within my current company having been promoted to manager position after only four months.
Rochelle Gordon-Blake | Residential Property Graduate | Knight Frank
I am a Residential Property Graduate within Knight Frank, having started as an intern I have navigated my early career from Sales, letting to International residential developments.
I entered the world of property with an open mind as I was studying marketing for my degree. I sold my first property at £560,000 in my 3 month internship at Hampstead which essentially gave me drive to Perdue it as a career. I loved the client consult and advisory sector of sales and knew this was the perfect fit for my interests and personality.
Fast forward, two years and now I’ve collected a wide range of experience through my rotations, which has ultimately led me to find my feet in the Residential development sector of Real estate.
Not only am I passionate about real estate but I’m passionate about the diversity in the industry. I’m the Co-Chair of our ERG for Age and Generations. I want to be an advocate for change in the industry no matter how big or small. I wasn’t able to see people that looked like me or where from a similar background as me (single parent household, Edmonton raised, non privately educated) at the top and I’ve been keen to be that for others wanting to break into the dynamic world of Real estate.