We’re back with yet another new member to our growing team of expertise! We took a few minutes to sit down with our new recruit to get to know them a little more.
Name: Lisa Eccles
Position: Accountant and Operations Manager
What do you do at Stryde?
I have joined Stryde to provide accountancy services to the practice clients and to provide financial and operational management to Stryde Ltd. I will be working with my colleagues to implement and improve systems within the business to allow it to continue to grow and acquire new clients while operating effectively and efficiently to meet agreed service levels and financial objectives. My engagement should also facilitate colleagues to focus on key business areas within their own scope of expertise.
What relevant experience did you have before taking up this role?
I completed a degree in Accountancy and Finance in 1991, and have over 25 years experience in Industry working in all financial roles within businesses, starting as an Accounts Assistant and progressing with experience to Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer. I am affiliated with the ACCA and I am continuing my studies to achieve a Masters in Accountancy and Finance.
My experience covers the following areas – Retail, Manufacturing, Education and Apprenticeships, Film and TV, Animation, Media, Digital and Technology and Leisure. I have spent the majority of my time in Industry in the service sector working for multiple SME’s so I understand the needs of our clients operating their own businesses.
What is your favourite Movie or TV show?
I watch too many movies to have a particular favourite, there are many that I love, but if I had to name a few they would include The Greenmile and Schindler’s List or maybe Pretty Woman and West Side Story or maybe The Avengers, Hulk, Spiderman, and Batman. I am a stickler for a continuity error and if you are trying to scare me then it had better be believable or it just isn’t scary.
If you were a superhero, what superpower would you have?
Well, I am a bit of a control freak so my power would be the power of persuasion so I could bend people to my will – I am generally a nice person though so wouldn’t be getting you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Pre-children I used to love to read but that mainly happens on holidays these days. I go to a few gigs a year and the type of artists has expanded of late as my son has started taking an interest in pop music and rap. So along with the rock and heavy metal that my partner and I like I am covering a few new genres these days. The last few years have included Little Mix and Ed Sheeran as well as Pearl Jam and Metallica.
I also have a passion for property development and used to do a lot of DIY myself but only dabble at it these days.
You have been asked to choose a country to spend six months in. Where would it be?
I would probably choose Canada as I have always wanted to travel there and tour across from the east coast to the west coast – it’s also not too hot as I definitely don’t like it too hot for long periods of time.
Do you have any funny jokes or quotes you can share with us?
I am more of an anecdotes kind of girl and most of the jokes I know are probably too rude to share. My personal philosophy has changed along with life experience and I have come to understand that life is about the experiences you have and not the possessions – when you are old and grey you will remember where you went and who you were with not what you owned and how much it was worth.
What book would you recommend for having a positive impact on your life?
I wouldn’t say any book had impacted me in that way. I love to read but believe it is life experiences that mold who we are. What worked for someone else may not be for you – we all need to find our own path and live our own lives.
What musician would you most like to meet and why?
Sometimes meeting your heroes is not what it is cracked up to be as you then realise they are just as human as you. I admire Eddie Vedder as a great vocalist and would be interested to meet him. Sometimes the illusion is better than the reality though – who wants to live in the real world all the time?
What is your closest brush with fame?
I worked in television and media for 14 years and have crossed paths with numerous actors and musicians eg Shakira, Ant and Dec, Dermot O’Leary, Metallica to name some of the more famous. I have also appeared on a couple of TV quiz shows and had my name at the end of many TV shows in the credits for the accountancy work I did on those shows. Fame is not an ambition of mine – particularly in this day and age of 24-hour news and social media. I would, however, enjoy some of the perks of being famous and some of the wealth that sometimes goes with it would also be nice.
