PAUL COLLIS Virtual Finance Director Services By Sarah Ridgway
This month we caught up with Lancashire based Paul Collis, founder and director of Virtual Finance Director Services which offers a flexible, and affordable finance service to businesses. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? I left school at 18 and was in two minds about going on to university, one of my tutors told me that the ‘big 4’ accounting firms were offering employment opportunities to A-level students, so I decided to apply. I was offered a job and in 2001 I started with PwC in Manchester where I did my AAT qualification and then ACCA, qualifying as a chartered certified accountant. Three years into the role I was offered the chance to move to the London office, I was 22 at the time 46
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
and it was a fantastic opportunity. Also, while people my age were leaving university and starting out their careers, I was at a huge advantage with three years of professional experience already under my belt. I left PwC in 2007 as I was more interested in working with businesses as opposed to within an accountancy practice. I applied for roles and was offered a position with the property group Savills and worked at their head office for two years. I then progressed to a role at property competitor DTZ which was a promotion and another step up. www.lancmag.com