Job Title: Finance Director
Year you joined Quilter: 2018
Interesting Fact about you:
Louise Williams
I’m Louise Williams and I’m a Finance Director at Quilter.
I’ve been at Quilter since 2018 and joined the Board of our subsidiary businesses in 2021. I’ve spent most of my career in financial services, namely in asset management, following an introduction to accountancy and finance via roles in local authority, travel and insolvency practice. I have a young son who challenges me nearly as much as my corporate role and I’m a keen (mostly unsuccessful!) tennis player.
My Mum and Dad. They have always believed in me and have never doubted my abilities. That said, they have also sometimes been my harshest critic so I can rely on them for a balanced, fair view. They have engrained in me that girls can do anything and that it is better to try and fail rather than not to try at all.
Professionally, I have been lucky to work for some inspirational leaders throughout my career. I have tried to take elements of where and who I find inspiration from with me on my career journey and into my leadership style.
Don’t worry about trying to map out your career in the early stages. You will often get asked ‘where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years?’ when the reality is that you may not know, particularly at the outset. Many people’s careers follow a meandering path as they develop their skillset and learn about what interests them. My advice is to say ‘yes’ to new opportunities as they present themselves, particularly if these opportunities are outside of your comfort zone. You will get noticed for putting your hand up and who knows where it could lead!
I joined at an exciting time for the business and wanted to join a company at a pivotal moment where I could be a significant part of the change journey. I was also immediately struck by the dynamism and commitment of the Quilter colleagues I first met at my interview – many of which left a lasting impression and are still colleagues today!
Over the last five years, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in exciting projects to simplify and grow the business to ensure that Quilter is set up for continued success.