From Paper Round to CFO: Growing Up Gen X

I grew up in Glasgow in the 70s and 80s, part of Generation X, with baby boomer parents who gave me plenty of freedom. My friends and I roamed the neighbourhood until the streetlights came on. That independence shaped me early. By age ten, I had a paper round (come wind, rain or shine), followed by a string of part-time jobs that gave me a sense of financial freedom. From those first jobs, I learned that working hard could give you choice and opportunity. I never imagined at the time that one day I would become a CFO, but the seeds of responsibility and commitment were planted early.

Starting Out: From Glasgow to Jersey

After studying Accounting and Computer Science at Strathclyde University, I landed my first real job at Cooper & Lybrand in Jersey at 21. It was a shock to the system having lived at home for my four years at university and well looked after at “Hotel Nayar,” by my very tolerant parents.

The transition to Jersey life was brutal. The work hard, play hard theme at Coopers masked my insecurities and I found it quite lonely at times. I buried myself in work and play. Early on I was fortunate enough to make a good friend, someone slightly older than me, who was able to give me some good guidance and advice.

Through that friendship though, I joined the Jersey Rugby Club and finally found a sense of belonging. The rugby ethos suited me well. I was a hard trainer, soaked up the experience of those around me and enjoyed the social side. I wasn’t (and still am not!) the biggest, so suitable rugby positions were somewhat limited. I started on the wing for the 2nd XV before moving to scrum half, which matched my direct and eager style. Eventually, I earned a place in the 1st XV and my club tie, something I still treasure today.

Lessons from the Pitch

Rugby taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life and career. You have to be honest with yourself. On a rugby pitch there is nowhere to hide. You’d give it everything you had and win or lose you gained a certain amount of satisfaction knowing you didn’t hold back. Everything was left on the pitch, and you then shared a few beers after which helped numb the pain and cement the camaraderie.

After my playing years, I also carried a different kind of responsibility at the club, serving as Treasurer. The club needed financial help at the time, and stepping up to support it taught me early lessons about stewardship and accountability. These are lessons I now apply every day as a CFO.

Career Growth and Family Life

My life changed for the better when I met my wife. I grew up (not completely and still haven’t). My career kept moving. After four years at Coopers, I joined RBSI where I spent ten years and truly found my footing. I began in systems and data projects before moving into financial and regulatory reporting, an area I had no direct experience in. It was a steep learning curve, but I was supported by a great team and developed as a leader.

I didn’t set out to be a CFO. In fact, when I was growing up, my biggest dreams were far removed from finance. I was (and still am) a big Star Wars fan and, after watching films like Top Gun back in the day, I actually wanted to become a fighter pilot! Life doesn’t always go to plan, but RBSI was where I think the road to CFO really begun. By the time I was 30 or 31, the path to becoming a financial director became clear. It wasn’t an early goal, but here I am.

As happens when you get married, kids follow. Time evaporates. No one prepares you for this. No one can. It’s a humbling experience, you go from being number one in your own life, to number three, then four, and the pressure to provide is constant. I have two “kids”. Both are amazing and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.

As they grew older, I found time to reconnect with my brother and some close friends. Since 2016, we’ve enjoyed going on hiking trips in Scotland, spending a few days off-grid in the “wild”. We hike, camp and stay in bothies, and these trips have almost become an annual pilgrimage and something we treasure (along with the hip flask of whisky!).

But, life does not always go to plan. During one of my CFO roles, our family faced a tough few years while navigating a major transaction at work. It took its toll on every member of the family, including the dog! Work became a place of solitude for me, which I know now wasn’t a particularly healthy outlet.

Managing Pressure

As CFO, you carry much of the business on your shoulders. You take on responsibility in ways that can feel heavy at times. Emails received late at night that you can’t forget about, urgent problems, and complex decisions all land with you. The pressure is one thing, but the responsibility is another. Buck stops with me. I have to say no sometimes because it is my responsibility to do so for the benefit of the company and, by extension, all our employees. Saying no hasn’t always been easy, but I have learned that by being fair, logical and able to explain the rationale, it’s better received. At the end of the day, it is why I am here.

I am not usually kept awake at night with worry, but there are days when the weight of work problems can feel heavy. To help manage the stress I took up Wim Hof a while back, did the breathing exercises, had cold showers, bought a whisky barrel for deeper cold-water exposure, (and even a chest freezer filled with water to take it to the extreme!). Extreme as it may sound, it allows me to step back, give my mind a rest, and return to work ready to tackle the challenges ahead – it’s still my go-to stress reliever to this day.

Reflections and Lessons Learned

My career has been a steady one, built slowly but incrementally over time. I am super disciplined. When I commit to something, I commit. I don’t quit easily. Everything in my life, from those early paper rounds to rugby, family, and professional challenges and development, has shaped that mindset. Handling challenges does not necessarily mean doing so with ease, but over time, the pressure doesn’t faze me in the same way.

Over the years I have tempered my enthusiasm and adopted a more reflective style which allows me to process information better and then provide clearer direction and insights to aid decision making. This is not how I started out!

I now mentor others and like giving back where I can. My experiences over the years have shaped me and, while a little cliched, have made me the person I am today - though I am still the same Glasgow lad at heart (and thankfully my Glasgow accent remains!).

I have a loving family (including our two beautiful dogs), a few good friends, and maybe a little wisdom now. Life and work are about balance, perspective, and responsibility. You cannot control everything, but you can control how you respond, how you support those around you, and how you carry yourself. Those are the lessons I hope will stick with me for the rest of my journey.