Fred Smith
When did you start with Informa?
I started with IIR in London in 1995 working as Financial Controller for the International Faculty of Finance.
What was your first role?
I was Financial Controller for the International Faculty of Finance (IFF), now a part of the UK Finance Events business.
What attracted you to join us?
IFF had just been established as a separate finance unit, and thus presented challenge, also, the people I met at the interview seemed a really nice and interesting group – later borne out by my meeting people from 13 different nationalities in my first week – much around my own age at the time
What is your role now?
Group Shared Service Manager – working to share information, knowledge and best practice across our Shared Service Centres locally, as well as report upon their progress, achievement and challenges to the Group Senior Executive.
What was the pathway to getting where you are now?
I worked as Financial Controller for the first two and a half years in training events divisions before joining the first UK Shared Services and working on the Conference business in the UK. In 2000 I was given a great opportunity to transfer over to the US and work in Sarasota with the US SSC helping transfer work into the SSC as well as doing project work for the Group Finance function which allowed me to travel to all parts of the US, Brazil and Australia. In 2003 I transferred back to UK and helped relocate the UK SSC to Glasgow before moving to Amsterdam to continue working with Group Finance in supporting finance systems – which gave me further exposure in Europe as well. In 2005 upon IIR’s acquisition by Informa I then worked with Group Finance and the Financial Applications Team based in Eindhoven role out our use of Coda 10 and Business Objects for finance reporting. In 2009 I took on the role of Group Shared Services Manager which is where I am right now!
What is the best thing about working here?
People, travel and the international reach of our business. People are key to Informa and I have met and worked with some great people. Travel – I have been fortunate to see much of Informa’s businesses around the world. The international reach brings great challenges around different culture, business practices and even different business types – it all makes it interesting in addition to the challenges.
How would you sum up the Informa working experience? Or why do you think others would like working in your division?
Great challenges offered up, with nice people in a growing and international business which has some excellent products
Can you sum up the people you work with?
Great people, good to work with, good to have laughs with and good to socialize with after completing a hard day’s work!