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A Saffery Trust director is marking her 40th year with the business this week, which includes 24 years in the Guernsey office.
Helen Green became the firm’s first female General Practice Partner in the London office in 1998 after learning to love accountancy and recognising earning while learning was an attractive proposition which Saffery supported.
She most recently led the international rebrand of the firm.
The industry has changed markedly since she started in the 1980s, and she recalled how one senior colleague told her she may have to set aside ideas of a family if she wanted to achieve her ambition of being the first woman to rise the ranks.
“It wasn’t a shocking comment; it was just how things were at the time. I was a woman in a man’s world and had to work harder to prove myself,” she said. However, she soon proved the doubters wrong by getting the promotion while seven months pregnant with her second child.
“Things have progressed hugely since then and Saffery Trust has a higher proportion of women than men in management roles and above. There is an ethos of putting the right people in the right place regardless of their demographic.”
Ms Green made the move to Guernsey in 2001 after supporting the office with weekly trips the previous year.
She has since chaired the NED forum and is also a member of the Guernsey Investment & Funds Association NED committee and wants to shine a light on the sector for up-and-coming professionals.
“As I head towards retirement, I hope to encourage the next generation to make the most of opportunities. As I grew up I was determined to choose a career with progression opportunities and security, which I found at Saffery and Saffery Trust. I hope to teach the next generation to think about their future and be proactive in working towards their goals. Life is short; it’s so important to make the most of it,” she said.
Saffery Trust Managing Director, Nick Batiste, praised her valued contributions to the firm and for being someone to look up to.
“Helen truly encompasses our core values of integrity, collegiality, excellence and enthusiasm. These values underpin all that we do, and we have created a culture of longevity not only in the delivery of our services, but within our teams. We are incredibly fortunate that Helen chose to dedicate her entire career to the firm and that she remains deeply committed to our clients, our people and our community,” he said.
Pictured (top): Helen Green.
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