Travis Perkins has a variety of different finance roles providing opportunities for people at every level and with all kinds of different backgrounds. Finance Business Partner Matthew Warren joined Travis Perkins in 2016 after working in finance at Argos, developing his skillset and establishing meaningful business relationships with colleagues throughout the group. He spoke to us about his experiences:
Why did you join Travis Perkins?
Previously I worked in finance at Argos where I was approached by a recruiter, who presented me with an opportunity to work at Travis Perkins in a role that would take my career to the next level and progress my personal development. I liked the idea of working for the Travis Perkins group, as the merchant and DIY sector is an industry that I have always shown an interest in. I felt really excited to be able to combine this with my career progression. When I attended my interview I felt relaxed and calm which made the whole experience really positive – and the rest, shall we say, is history!
What are your colleagues like?
All the teams I’ve worked with have been friendly and supportive. There is a focus on team goals and everyone is happy to step in and help out, but there’s also a lot of autonomy in my role. The structure is different to what I’ve experienced before, which makes me feel empowered and gives me opportunities to speak with people at different levels across various departments within the business. Having someone provide me with study support and guidance has been extremely helpful, and it was this support that gave me the courage to take the next step within my career, progressing from Finance Systems Analyst to Finance Business Partner.
What skills have you gained?
Both of my roles have been internal customer focussed, this has given me a lot of opportunity to learn how to deal with stakeholders across the group. It has also given me the confidence to effectively communicate with finance and non-finance colleagues at a range of levels, tailoring my message depending on the level of finance knowledge my colleagues have.
What’s been your proudest moment?
Whilst in the role of Finance Systems Analyst I successfully launched new processes that are now widely used across the business. This included building, introducing and establishing a new end-of-month template. I felt really proud to be given the opportunity to be able to work on a project to create something that directly impacts the group, it was very rewarding. When you work in finance at Travis Perkins, you’re not just pushing numbers around on a spreadsheet, you get to see the direct impact of your work.
What’s the hardest thing that you’ve done to date?
The most challenging part was being able to find time to balance completing my qualification whilst ensuring I deliver within the day job, spending time with my young family and still being able to do the charity work which I feel very passionate about. As with any new challenge it was difficult and looking back I really had to push myself, so becoming qualified was hugely rewarding to me. I look forward to my next challenge.
What have you learnt about yourself?
I know now that I am good within a pressurised situation, I have learnt I can interact with people in a calm and collected way which helps defuse the pressure. I avoid getting stressed when things aren’t going well, and instead approach situations in a logical way that allows me to step back and consider the problems, outcomes and messages in an efficient way.
If someone was thinking about joining Travis Perkins what would you say to them?
I’ve recommended Travis Perkins in the past and will continue to do so. It’s friendly, with approachable colleagues and plenty of opportunities to move around a business where you are encouraged to develop your skills and career. As a big group with several varied businesses, there are many different finance teams across the group and roles available for you to consider, which means you can experience different areas of the finance function. It’s a great place to learn and grow.
Find your next finance and accounting job with Travis Perkins.
