International Women's Day 2023 - My story: Alice Elsmore

Tell us about your career to date and how you got to your current role in Monahans
In my early twenties I found myself a young single mum with no job and no money. Up to that point, my life had ticked along quick nicely. I was living in London studying for a degree and working in hospitality. I worked long hours, but I loved the excitement and the showbiz of the events industry. Suddenly that all disappeared.

I moved back to Wiltshire to be with family and, to be honest, after a year off I was at a bit of a loss as to what I should do with my life. I’d considered going back to finish my degree, but I didn’t have the funds to move back to London and I knew I was going to really struggle with childcare without my family network around me.

As a single parent, my main thought was that I needed a stable job with sociable hours to fit around childcare. I started to look at local courses and found the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians). It was a way to gain a qualification that fitted with my new life. Wiltshire college was running a course the following month and I signed up for it. What did I have to lose!

After Wiltshire college I gained a training contract, completed my AAT, then my ACA, got promoted to Manager, Associate Director and most recently Director. I picked my job to provide a stable future for my daughter, but it has become much more than that, growing into an exciting career. What I love most about accountancy is that I get meet new interesting people from all walks of life whether that’s colleagues or clients. I’m constantly learning.

There are many ways into accountancy and it’s building a team with these diverse backgrounds that I think it so important. After all, when we say we’re accountants, often we’re problem solvers. Different perspectives are key.

Alongside the day job, I’m also a board advisor for a few social enterprises, one being The Women’s Work Lab. WWL help mums on benefits back into work – it does feel amazing that I’m now able to help women when I was once in their shoes.

Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
Safe to say it’s my husband, Joe. He’s an accountant too and I met him when my daughter was 3. It’s his role in the background that has made it possible for me to achieve what I’ve wanted.

There are always days when I doubt myself and he’s that sounding board I need to boost me back up. We split childcare and household tasks 50/50 too because both can be full time jobs. We’re forever battling the mundane and it can be exhausting – Who’s staying up to midnight to make that last-minute world book day costume? Anything vaguely nutritious in the fridge for pack lunches? Did we put the bins out on the right day? After one too many bitter experiences, we now follow our neighbour Gerald’s lead.

Somehow, we always manage to make it work. Joe is great at going out of his way to make sure we can do it all. I think it’s understated how much men influence women’s careers whether that’s family support, as a boss or a colleague.

What advice would you give to someone who is in the early stages of their career?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself forward for something because you think you might not be good enough.

I took up playing rugby 5 years ago after much persuasion. I’d declined the offer to join numerous times as I thought I was terribly unfit and knew none of the rules. Now it’s one of my great passions. I’ve learnt a new skill, got marginally fitter and met a huge number of inspirational women. It’s unlikely I’ll ever learn all the rules as they’re so complicated, but I don’t let that stop me, that’s what the referee is for!

Alice Elsmore