Optimum Finance celebrates Women in Finance on International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day brings into sharp relief the need to further increase the diversity of the financial services sector generally, and the world of invoice finance specifically, to better map the needs of future customers. And it’s not just a numbers game; representation needs to be at all levels, including the Board.
Vicky Rose, chief financial officer of Optimum Finance, the invoice finance specialist, says that Optimum places gender diversity at the heart of its operation: “We have a growing team where more than half of our employees (58%) identify as women,” she says. “Crucially, however, 60% of our senior leadership team (SLT) are female. Having better representation of women in the workplace is a testament to our success.”
Vicky started her career in the finance function of a manufacturing firm: “I often found myself to be the only women in the meetings I attended,” she continues. “This narrative is changing, and we’re seeing a seismic change in the demand for diversity which can only be considered a good thing in a male dominated industry.
“Thanks to the lead that organisations like ours are taking, the industry is bringing forward a new wave of confidence for women in senior roles and helping to unravel unhelpful stereotypes that no longer have a place.”
Hannah Ansell, relationship management support executive at Optimum Finance, agrees: “I was somewhat nervous moving into finance from a demographically female dominant degree. However, my experience at Optimum has been resoundingly positive.
“Having role models within the business allows women who are new to the industry to feel confident that the financial sector is a place where we can grow in our careers and aspire to achieve highly within. International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the achievement of women in a historically male-dominant industry and businesses that place gender representation high in their priorities too.”
Relationship manager, Vicky Baber, says having strong female mentors encourages women to progress in a competitive industry: “Since joining the team, I’ve been encouraged by the SLT to upskill and apply transferrable skills into a number of roles, including management of a team of credit controllers. Optimum Finance has created an environment that encourages women to progress and help them to feel supported in doing so.”
