Name and role:

Smriti Pandey, Finance Officer

How long have you been with RVA Group?

Two years this month!

Describe your career journey before that?

I began my career in a bookmakers, working there for a few years before deciding to venture into a completely new area to challenge myself. I completed my ACCA qualification and worked as an auditor for a reputable firm in Nepal for a couple of years, before returning to the UK and becoming an accountant. I’ve worked in healthcare, a van rental business and then the Visual Merchandising (VM) industry.  Then, I joined RVA.

What did you want to be, when you were younger?

When I was in school I wanted to be a doctor, then I changed my mind at college and thought about becoming an IT/software developer!

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful Finance Officer?

You need to be able to adapt to the changing work environment – the latest example being Making Tax Digital (MTD). The world of finance is constantly changing so it’s important to keep up to date with the latest accounting and reporting standards.

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date?

When I moved from a part-time role to a full-time position, I was able to bring all of RVA’s bookkeeping and financial management reporting in-house, in only a short time period. I felt especially proud of this as it gave us more structure and financial excellence, as a business.

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career?

Having worked in lots of different industries – albeit in finance – I’ve enjoyed learning about new businesses, challenges and opportunities. For example, in my previous job, I was able to understand the process of getting a product from the earliest conceptualisation and design stage through to manufacturing, and was able to visit factories to understand the production cycle. The same applied when I was in the healthcare sector and now in the decommissioning industry – I’ve found each role fascinating, and loved the chance to learn about what we do, and the impact our work has.

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry?

I would like to think this is because the company has been able to develop and implement policies and procedures that enable all employees, working on different projects worldwide, to deliver the highest quality of service. There is also a shared knowledge within the company that every employee benefits from.

What makes you tick outside of work?

I am a big-time foodie and love travelling, reading books, and watching movies.

If you could be given a plane ticket for anywhere, where would you choose?

Malaysia.

Which one word would you hope colleagues would use to describe you?

Diligent.