Chief operating officer

Gordon Evans, Chief Operating Officer, T4 Media, UK

Why did you choose CIMA?
It was a professional accounting qualification forming a sound basis for commercial focus in business.

How has CIMA benefited your professional career?
It has enabled me to work in eight different industries from manufacturing, telecoms, media, online to retailing! I have learnt a great deal and am putting that experience to good use now.

Describe a typical working day.
Reviewing sales with sales manager, pricing strategy for 2009, acquisition opportunities, operational issues with delivery of products and product development, and last but not least the finances of the business - particularly cash flow as it's small!

What is the best thing about your job?
The diversity of my role, sitting at the heart of what the business does and will do in the future.

In what way have you added value to your company?
My financial awareness has greatly assisted the business, as well as the operational focus and structure I gained from larger companies. My general management skills have also brought better structure and enabled the business to grow with less constraint.