Diane Pilling, CIMA member

Case study

Diane Pilling, CIMA member

Founder
Affordable Accounts

Case study
Affordable Accounts

Diane

CIMA people look
forwards rather than
backwards, so you can

become more of a
business advisor.

Pilling

Diane Pilling formed Diane Pilling wherever you want. It makes working
Affordable Accounts Group in Diane Pilling has come a long way since much more flexible.’ Being techno-savvy
she left school at 15. After a career as a means that Diane can also help her
May 2003. The organisation local government accountant and then as clients to use their own software more
has since grown from two an accountancy lecturer, Diane now runs effectively. ‘Part of the service we now
to ten employees and now her own pioneering accountancy practice provide is training clients to develop their
provides services for over that promotes the concept of flexible software skills. Some of them haven’t got
450 businesses throughout working, which has been very popular over their technophobia yet, but we’re
the country. Diane was with her all-woman team. working on it,’ she adds.
named 2005 On Track
Business Personality ‘The idea came about by accident really,’ Since the company was formed five
of the Year. Diane says. ‘I have two children and I hated years ago, Affordable Accounts has gone
the fact that I had to miss things like sports from strength to strength. There are now
day and the Christmas play. I started the around 450 clients on the books and
business from home and as it developed the company has attracted an armful
I found that there were a lot of qualified of awards. Under the UK government’s
accountants who felt the same way as I did. Exemplar Employer Initiative, the firm
So I introduced a style of working that fits was also recently invited to become one
around our particular needs.’ of 100 selected companies which help
to promote flexible working and ways of
Modern technology has made flexible helping women with children to get back
working easier than ever before. The team to work.
of six accountants working for Diane’s
company, Affordable Accounts, are all Diane says her training as a
provided with equipment to make it CIMA-qualified management accountant
possible to work either from home or at has been invaluable in setting up the
the company’s base in Bolton, Lancashire. company and providing a more rounded
‘My staff choose their own routine,’ Diane service to its clients. ‘CIMA is crucial,’
explains. ‘I decided I wouldn’t have a she says. ‘The qualification is great for
nine-to-five policy. Everyone can take time entrepreneurs because you study so many
off to do what they needed to do, provided different aspects of business life and it gives
they get the work done and put the hours in.’ you the tools to run a business effectively.’

Affordable Accounts now has a virtually The flexible studying options offered by
paperless office and this is a benefit to CIMA is also an attractive proposition for
both staff and clients. ‘It used to be the anyone wanting to improve their career
case that I’d drive round to everyone’s opportunities. ‘There are no minimum
house with big brown boxes of paperwork,’ entry requirements with the CIMA
she recalls. ‘Now we scan everything. All qualification so provided that your maths
the information is available electronically and English are good, anyone can go for it,’
which means you can use your computer she explains.

Diane Pilling, CIMA member

Founder

Affordable Accounts

‘CIMA’s flexibility is also useful for anyone ‘The structure of the syllabus and the way her CIMA expertise. ‘CIMA gives you a
considering a career change,’ Diane adds. the examinations are designed gives you different outlook on doing accounts,’ she
One member of her current staff is a a very good philosophy of learning,’ Diane explains. ‘CIMA people look forwards
former electrician who is now studying explains. ‘To pass CIMA exams, you have rather than backwards, so you can become
for the CIMA qualification. ‘CIMA fits in to evaluate information rather than just more of a business advisor than someone
perfectly with the way we work here,’ she absorb it. In the exams themselves, you who just does the self-assessment and
accounts. You have the skills to add value
‘CIMA is crucial. The qualification is great for entrepreneurs because to the client’s business.’
you study so many different aspects of business life and it gives you
the tools to run a business effectively.’ Diane is the first to admit that flexible
working doesn’t suit everybody but it has
says. ‘So there’s plenty of scope for the aren’t spoon-fed. You have to think on certainly given a new lease of life to her
staff to develop their skills further.’ your feet. Those skills never leave you and team. ‘We’ve had some people who’ve
make you a very valuable person to have tried it out and found that there were too
Even before qualifying, CIMA’s approach around.’ many distractions at home,’ she says. ‘But
to learning helps to develop skills that generally speaking, the work gets done
are directly transferable to the workplace. Diane’s clients are also benefiting from more quickly and everyone is far happier.
Personally, my family is everything to me.
So to be able to fit in work around them is
the best thing possible.’

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