Accountant in praise of flexible working model

And the ability to work from home and secure the best childcare arrangement is critical for getting more women to continue their careers, a panel of successful women in business agreed at a International Women’s Day panel discussion yesterday.

Mrs De Garis qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG before taking on project management and chief financial officer roles in the banking and fund administration sectors. She took a career break to raise her children and then set up her firm De Garis Accounting.

‘After having two children I needed more flexibility to be a mother and starting up by myself was the only way I could get that,’ she said.

‘If you offer flexible working hours, employees will be more productive and you’ll get 10 times back.’

Also on the panel, was Shelaine Green, chairwoman of Women in Public Life, Bella Farrell, CEO of Health Connections and Ellie Lawrence, owner and director of Flexible Working Solutions.

They all agreed with Mrs De Garis that flexibility and childcare options were critically important to allow women to fully contribute in the workforce.

‘I couldn’t work out the balance to be present for both my children and my work, so looking into other options opened my eyes to different types of work, which turned out to be a beneficial rewarding experience,’ said Ms Lawrence.

Women’s Business Network Guernsey founder Karen Haith raised the point that the pandemic launched businesses into flexible working without them even realising.

‘Covid was the largest social experiment in the world and has proven that work can be flexible, including working from home and flexible hours,’ she said.

‘It’s not just women who want flexible hours either, men want it too and there’s currently a black hole in employment which could be filled with more flexible working hours.’

Guernsey Disability Alliance partnership director Karen Blanchford added that there were a lack of systems and processes in place for flexible working and working from home. Productivity in many businesses referred to the hours spent sat at a desk, however since Covid, managers have more experience in remote working and should make the work environment attractive to get the most out of their employees, and accommodate women who may want to return to work as their children start school.

The opportunity could, however, be industry specific. Charlie Walker of Little Big Hotel Group explained that the hospitality industry was not able to be as flexible as other sectors. If she had the choice she would lead at the forefront, but those who can, should, she said.