My mother was petty trader, and from a young age I was so fascinated with figures that I became my mother’s bookkeeper, and went on to study accounting. While I was studying for my ACCA Qualification, I became the student president of ACCA in Ghana, and this gave me the opportunity to learn under many great finance professionals.
After I qualified, the Bolloré Group in Ghana gave me my first major opportunity as a junior financial controller. Currently, I am the controller at Lakeside Produce, a greenhouse company with operations in Canada, the US and Mexico. Prior to this role, I was the finance manager for West Africa at Tetra Technologies, group financial reporting manager at SABMiller Ghana, and accounting manager at Academy for Educational Development.
I am most happy when I project the right results to help make the right decisions
Working across various industries has broadened my knowledge and sharpened my skills in different financial and reporting requirements. With all the industries that I have experience in, the similarity lies in the fact that each company looks at the bottom line. Financial goals are similar with most organisations. The differences come through how each company goes about achieving and reporting them.
My remote role at Tetra Technology in Canada was possible due to the strong structures, systems and procedures created by the business. Anyone could do their work from anywhere in the world. During my seven years there, I established a strong relationship with all major stakeholders, including Tetra team members, from my office and other locations, and with customers across the world. This made it easy to quickly access whatever information I needed to perform my role.
I enjoy challenging opportunities and have gone out of my comfort zone on multiple occasions, ultimately extending my comfort zone. I recently joined Lakeside Produce as a controller. The sector is new to me, but I have taken up the challenge and I am enjoying myself.
If I could, I would make a law to reduce the use of plastics. That would save the world from the harmful effects that these materials cause to life in the sea and on land.
What I enjoy most about my job is simplifying and making meaning out of numbers for various stakeholders to aid them in making decisions. I am most happy when I project the right results to help make the right decisions.
My biggest achievement was when I joined Tetra Netherlands as finance manager for West Africa. Prior to my joining the company, part of the function was run from the UK office, and other parts were carried out by one of the Big Four firms. I brought all the finance functions in-house and implemented a full ERP system for Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. This streamlining saved the company significant costs.
If I were not an accountant, I would have been a mechanic. I knew and admired some mechanics when growing up and I wanted to be like them.
I am passionate about football. I support Arsenal in the English Premier League and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League.
