March Partner Corner: Clare Eve

This months partner corner is about Clare Eve, Director at Colchester…

1. What was your first job?

My first proper job was as a paralegal within a litigation team in a law firm in London. I took a year out between my second and third year at University. Before then I worked in pubs, Sainsburys, River Island and  pulling together timetables for Newham College in East London.

2. When did you decide you wanted to work in the Accountancy industry?

I never actually decided I wanted to work in Accountancy! I just fell into the profession.

After leaving university, Kidsons Impey (which is now RSM) were advertising for a Tax Assistant in the Essex Chronicle. I decided to go for it and got the job! After a year in I actually decided tax wasn’t for me and got offered a teacher training position at Homerton College in Cambridge. Last minute I changed my mind and decided to stay in tax but moved out of practice and into private banks in London. The rest is history!

3. What was your early career aspirations?

I’ve always been driven right from a young age, and I knew from about age 13 that I wanted to have a career and do a well as I could. During my A levels I became really passionate about Biology and was on the cusp of applying for medical school but decided to study Human Biology instead. After graduating I secured a PhD at Kings College but backed out due to lack of sponsorship and parental pressure to earn some money!

4. What was your first car, and did you pass your driving test the first time?

I learnt to drive in my parents’ car, but my first car was a VW Polo.  I passed my test first time, but I was terrible at the highway code questions after the practical.

5. Did you know at the start of your career that you wanted to become ‘Partner’ one day?

At the very start of my career, I was quite confused as to what I wanted to do, as you can probably tell from the above!! Once I had settled into tax I focused on each stage of my career, dedicating my time to getting qualified as quickly as possible and then working towards manager level. As I worked in private banks, there was never an option to become a partner, it was only when I joined LB in 2017 that I actually decided I wanted to be a part of the business.

6. What would be your one piece of advice for those new trainees starting out in the accountancy/tax world?

Gain as much knowledge as you can, build relationships internally and externally and take responsibility for your career. Only you can drive your own success.

7. What challenges did you face early in your career?

When I was studying for my exams, there was no option for daytime courses, so I studied in the evening in London. Juggling a long commute into London for work and then adding evening classes on top, with the pressures of day to day work was exhausting mentally and physically. There was a lot of competition within the Banks and a lot of pressure on ensuring exams were passed first time, otherwise you could find yourself out of a job.

8. What do you most enjoy about your role?

The variety of my role and the challenges it brings. No one day is the same!

9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work (hobbies/activities)?

Most of my spare time revolves around my three children. I find I go a little stir crazy being at home all the time so I do try to get out and about as much as possible, whether that’s ferrying the kids around, or grabbing coffee with friends. I do enjoy watching a good film, on the rare occasion I get the time to do so!

10. Where do you enjoy going on holiday?

I’ve been quite fortunate that I travelled a lot in my 20s and early 30s. I do like to experience different places, whether that’s in the UK or overseas.

11. What’s your favourite film?

This is a difficult one to answer as there are so many good movies. I do like a Quentin Tarantino film, Inglorious Bastards and Django Unchained being my top 2.

12. What music do you enjoy?

To be honest I will listen to pretty much anything. At the moment on Spotify, I am listening to Imagine Dragons, but mainly because my youngest is totally into them!

13. What sports do you enjoy?

I’m not really a sporty person but do enjoy watching my sons play football.

14. Who inspires you and why?

Well this is easy, my mum was a true inspiration to me.  Shortly after retiring she was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, she never complained, despite having her health taken away from her and her life turned upside down. She just cracked on and fought right to the end with sheer grit, determination and strength.

15. What do you like about LB Group?

I like the fact that we are commercially driven and are solution focused for our clients. The ethos behind how we service our clients drives new business and increased referrals which makes our firm a very exciting place to be.

16. Where do you see LB Group in five years’ time?

With continued growth and investment in our staff I would hope that we will be positioning ourselves to be a much larger practice that drives high value client advice.