Some Background Information
My first senior job was as PA to 2 Senior Managers in Arthur Andersen in London (now a defunct company, it used to be one of the “big 5” international accounting firms). By the time the company was taken over 3 years later, I was the PA to a Senior Global Partner.
My next position was at HFAM, a Pension Fund Management firm, working for the Managing Director and another senior manager. I stayed with them for a year until I moved to Leeds, where I took a position working for two Partners at Deloitte & Touche.
In 2005 I embarked on a round-the-world trip with my husband; this took us to 16 countries in 21 months. 6 of these months were spent in New Zealand, during which time we fell in love with the country in every possible way. Upon our return to the UK, we applied for permanent residency, and we have now set up home in the beautiful Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
Whilst I learnt many invaluable skills during my years working in corporate environments, when I moved to New Zealand I felt it was time for a change. Working on my own business from home means I get to work for many different customers, which adds more variety to my days and provides me with fresh new challenges; and since every customer project is different, it allows me to use my wide range of skills - something that no office job could possibly offer.
Additionally, being able to choose my own working hours means I can enjoy the quality of life I came looking for when I settled in New Zealand.
About my skills
I am fully proficient in the use of the main MS Office products (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). I obtained my touch typing certificate at the tender age of 13 and can type in excess of 70 words per minute (depending on the source) with a very high accuracy level.
I am bilingual in English and Spanish and have some basic knowledge of German, French and Italian. I am a keen amateur photographer and although I say that I don't take as many pictures as I would like, my husband would probably disagree!
I enjoy being creative and always take pride in my work. I have an excellent eye for detail and presentation and have been told that my quest for perfectionism is legendary. I will not be happy until you are! I will always endeavour to exceed your expectations and to deal with any issues that may arise in a positive manner.
Over the past couple of years I have been teaching myself to write websites in HTML and CSS. If you are in need of a simple, yet elegant website for your business that won't break the bank, please take a look at my brand new business No Frills Websites. We may just have what you are looking for!
In my spare time...
They say the best things in life are free and I couldn't agree more. I find enjoyment in doing simple things like going for a walk with my husband, catching up with friends or simply relaxing with a good book. To keep myself active, I try to go to the gym twice a week and when the weather's good at weekends we often take our kayaks out for a paddle. I am currently re-learning how to ride my bike and two of my goals this year are to take up pilates and learn latin / ballroom dancing.
I am also determined to explore my creative side a bit more and have recently started to experiment with painting on canvas with acrylics. This will be the perfect activity for thos rainy days we get in Auckland... but I suspect it'll be some time before I can hold an exhibition!
I have an inquisitive mind and simply cannot bear to be idle. I don't watch TV (although I do enjoy movies and documentaries), but prefer to use my time more productively. This and the fact that I do not have children means that I have more spare time than most people to dedicate to charitable causes. To find out about the charities I am currently supporting, please visit this page on my web development's website: www.nofrillswebsites.co.nz/charities.php. Whilst I cannot afford to donate any more of my time for free at the moment, If you are a registered charity or non-for-profit group you can benefit from a special discount.
