This International Women’s Day theme is #AccelerateAction. At Simpson Financial Services, accelerating action is about prioritising recruiting, retaining and developing diverse talent. We’re proud that 2/3 of our board of directors are women and we have a predominantly female firm, with women representing every area of the business. We sat down with our Operations Director, Adele Tiff, and asked her a few questions... 

Hi Adele! Tell us about your role at the firm. 

Hello! I’m the Operations Director here at Simpson Financial Services. In my current role I focus on fostering the career progression of others. I'm on the board of directors, and some of my key responsibilities include recruiting talented and diverse individuals and ensuring that all staff have the resources and opportunities they need to advance their careers. I have mentored and continue to mentor many women throughout their apprenticeships and careers here. I’m very lucky to work and have worked with some very inspiring women who have had a positive impact on my career, and I enjoy now having the chance to do the same thing for others. 

When did you join the team?  

I joined the team as an apprentice back in 2013 immediately after completing my A Levels and with no experience in financial services whatsoever – just an interest in the business world. This year I will have been here for 12 years. I joined as a Financial Administrator, and I am now the Operations Director; there’s been a lot of learning in the middle, to say the least! Throughout the past 12 years, Simpson Financial Services has always been extremely supportive of my career progression, enabling me to succeed to my current leadership position by supporting me through my apprenticeship, multiple finance and business exams and Open University. I’m honoured to be a Director at such a supportive company with so many women in leadership roles – something we unfortunately don’t see a lot of in the finance world. 

What inspires you to excel in your finance career? 

I’m inspired to excel by the opportunity to be a role model for other young women in finance. This means openly sharing my experiences, my struggles and my achievements. I get so much joy out of supporting my fellow colleagues to succeed and progress their careers. The more women we can support into leadership roles in a predominantly male industry, the more normalised it becomes for young girls to seek careers in finance. Being a part of this shift is all the motivation I need. 

What do you think financial firms can do to accelerate action for women?  

I am a strong advocate for apprenticeships, mentoring and supporting many employees - mostly women - through various routes within the financial industry. Apprenticeships provide excellent career and education opportunities without discrimination, so that talented candidates can shine without needing to have relevant experience. Having a supportive and adaptive culture is also crucial; the needs of one are not the same as the needs of the many. We’re always paying attention to the details of what each staff member needs so that they can thrive in their own unique way and achieve their individual career goals. 

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today Adele. Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

Absolutely! I’m always on the lookout for talented young women to join us. If you’d like to explore a career in finance in a firm that nurtures your career, send your CV to me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.