Finance: Joanne Durkin

Name: Joanne Durkin

Job: Assistant analyst

Employer: Debenhams Plc

Area of work: Finance

Qualifications: BA business and financial services, Nottingham Trent University

I decided on this career after doing a finance work placement for a large retailer, which I really loved. With a finance role you get a real insight into how a business operates and how all the different functions work together – so retail finance is a great first job, especially if you have a passion for retail.

My job

Within a team of 12, I am responsible for nine stores. We act as the main point of contact for the store managers, regional sales directors and the retail operations director. I carry out various types of financial analysis, including sales, profit margins, costs, and capital expenditure, to highlight potential opportunities and financial forecasts to help support and develop the business. The majority of my time is spent in the office, but I regularly visit stores to meet store managers and keep up to date with what’s happening beyond head office.

A fast-paced environment

There’s a real buzz to working in retail – there’s always something different going on and it is very motivating being directly involved in driving the business forward. The hardest aspect at the moment is studying for my CIMA finance qualification alongside doing a full-time job, but I feel it’s a small compromise to make to achieve my longer-term goals.