ERIKA BEGAJ

Sectors/Support

SaaS & Technology. E-Commerce. Scaling Businesses.

A Week That’s Never the Same

My weeks can vary quite a lot, which is one of the things I enjoy about the role. It can range from a standard month-end closing review to a demo a day with new software. I’m always working closely with stakeholders across the business to get and provide a holistic view of all decisions.

I’ve always enjoyed pushing finance out of the silo and into the open, cross-functionally. Getting into the details and going backwards to ask the right questions is what helps turn that information into decisions that move the business forward.

I bring a combination of finance knowledge from a variety of industries, commercial understanding and strong stakeholder management. I’m comfortable getting into the granular detail, but I also focus on stepping back and understanding the bigger picture, so that financial information is useful rather than just numbers on a page.

Listening Before the Numbers

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that finance is as much about communication as it is about technical knowledge. Early in my career, I focused heavily on getting the numbers right; over time I’ve learnt that the real value comes from being able to explain what those numbers mean and bring stakeholders with you. It’s made me much more focused on clarity, collaboration and understanding different perspectives.

I make a point of understanding the person and the business before jumping into the numbers. Everyone has different priorities and challenges, so I think listening properly at the start is essential. For me, trust comes from being reliable, honest and doing what you say you’re going to do.

I’ve found that the strongest relationships develop when you move beyond simply delivering what’s been asked for and start understanding what the client is actually trying to achieve. In one relationship, regular communication and taking the time to understand the wider commercial challenges meant we were able to become much more of a sounding board rather than simply a finance function. That trust made conversations much more open and ultimately made the work more valuable. Even after that client moved on, I’m still very much in contact with most of the team, and regularly visit them and their events.

Seeing the Impact

The most satisfying aspect of working with clients for me is seeing the impact of the work. I particularly enjoy taking something that initially feels complicated or unclear and turning it into something a client can understand and act on. It’s rewarding when you can see that your input has genuinely helped a business. What stands out most about being part of both my team and the wider AAB organisation is the people and the breadth of expertise across the organisation; there’s a real benefit to being able to draw on different perspectives and specialists when solving a client problem, while still having a strong team around you. It’s exciting to know we’re all tapping into a wider pool of possibilities.

The greatest compliment a client has ever given me was probably being told that I made finance so much more impactful and approachable, and being asked, only half-jokingly, please could I never leave them.