Ben sits down with Claire Emery to discuss her career and experience as the Managing Director at Elsby & Co.
Elsby & Co. is a well-connected and trusted accountancy practice. They have been operating since 1993 and have strong roots in the local Northamptonshire community.
Education and Apprenticeships
After quitting her musical theatre course three months in, Claire explored local apprenticeship opportunities. She spent a year training as a hairdresser before moving to another apprenticeship in accountancy. She was able to gain valuable work experience and even won Apprentice of the Year.
Claire spent the next few years gaining her professional qualifications and becoming a chartered accountant. She says this time was busy both in her career and personal life. As well as having a wedding and two children, Claire secured her accountancy qualifications. During this time, she also joined the team at Elsby & Co.
A coffee shop and a letter of resignation
After a few years, Claire met Founder and Partner Carl Elsby in a coffee shop with a letter of notice in her bag.
She asked Carl for more flexibility and hybrid working at a time when this was rare. She had another job lined up in case he disagreed, but thankfully, he did.
In 2017, Elsby & Co. bought accountancy firm Trevor Newell & Co. in Rushden. Claire headed up the new company with Equity Partner, Leona Bateman.
The culture clash between the two companies was one of the biggest challenges Claire faced in her career. She only felt she had made the right transition after about four years at the company. However, since then, the company has flourished.
The singing accountant
Outside of work, Claire is part of an ABBA tribute act called Honey Honey. She began the duo with Louisa Nixon in 2020.
Even though many of their shows were cancelled because of the pandemic, they now love performing regularly across Northampton. Claire says her favourite ABBA song to perform is Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
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