Toni Hunter's SuperBlog

When I say here, I really mean a partner in a Chartered Accountancy practice, a wife, mum, MLM businesswomen, twitterholic and now a blogger!  Quite a lot for a 25 year old (I thought if I said 21 you wouldn’t have believed me!)

Having left school without any A-levels, my Saturday retail job became my day job.  I was grateful but knew I needed to do more.  I heard about a new Littlewoods store being developed in the town’s shopping arcade, so went to the Job Centre in the hope of a more secure job perhaps with some training and opportunities.  I completed the application form stating that I was willing to be flexible, pretty much take anything they were willing to offer!  I sat an aptitude test and attended an interview.  I was confident that it had gone well and I would be offered at least a part-time position.  I was given the role of a full-time senior-sales assistant and would be responsible for the ladieswear department, approximately one third of the store! I was utterly amazed and my confidence and self-esteem was bolstered further when I turned up for the training to find out I was employee number 001.  I loved that job, but it was hard work.

During this time, I attempted to rectify my poor education record by studying A-level economics at the local college.

At 19 I was engaged and I left home (ran away to be accurate).  Commuting became a nightmare, it just didn’t suit me.  I needed to find another job.  I applied for several retail positions in Cambridge and the surrounding areas, but my heart wasn’t in it, I wanted more, a career. 

A temporary position at Alliance & Leicester in Huntingdon covering maternity leave intrigued me as I always had an interest in finance.  Again I sat an aptitude test and was interviewed by the area manager.  I was surprised when I was invited to attend a second interview at the Ely branch.  It transpired that once again I had excelled in the aptitude test and a permanent job was being created for me!  Customer service combined with investment knowledge would prove to be the stepping stone to my career in accountancy, not that I was aware of my destiny at this point.

A member of the family was a tax accountant, which gave me the impotus to research this career option.  After a chance conversation with a customer, I was invited to interview at a small rural accounting practice in the village where I lived.  That very evening, I attended the first lesson of a GCSE book-keeping course at the regional college, which I really enjoyed.  With my husband’s support, I jumped in the deep end and left Alliance & Leicester to persue a new career and have never looked back.

After attaining a GCSE grade A, I moved on to the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) and found myself amoungst fellow students who seemed to progressing faster than me in their working lives.  The practice I was working for was very traditional and there wasn’t much room for progression.  Whilst I liked being there, I knew that I could not accept the lack of opportunities.  Whilst scanning the local paper I noticed an advert for a semi-senior accounts clerk at George Hay in Huntingdon. I decided to apply to see if I could get an interview because I wanted to find out what a bigger practice had to offer.  The paper wasn’t recent so rather than write in I called the partner responsible and hand delivered my C.V.  I was invited to interview and within two hours of leaving the office I was called and offered the job!  Same salary but much better training package.  That wasn’t meant to happen, I was just being nosey!

I had the weekend to mull it over, but to be honest the decision was already made.  I handed in my resignation - the best decision I have ever made.

I completed the AAT course, and moved on to ACCA, qualifying in 2001.

Shortly after I joined HBN, a friendly, sociable business network that helped me to develop my confidence, profile in the community and exposure to business people.  I repaid the organisation by acting as secretary to the committee, treasurer and then finally chairperson.  I truly believe that it was this involvement and committment to the business community that differentiated me from my peers and showed the partners that I had potential to drive their business forward. 

In May 2007, I became the first female partner of George Hay, something I am very proud of and humbled by as less than 11% of partners in practice are female and not least because I left school without any qualifications, proving that hard work, determination and enjoyment of your work goes a very long way. 

In January 2008, Billy was born fulfilling another ambition of mine.  He is the light of my life, he gives me so much joy and pride that makes me even more determined to succeed in my career - but above all enjoy life.