TRAVEL BUYER
Bob Papworth talks to Carmen Ford, international travel coordinator at AAT, the UK professional body for vocational accountants
Could you explain what AAT [the Association of Accounting Technicians] does? And to what extent is travel important? AAT has more than 130,000 students and members in more than 100 countries. AAT provides entry-level accounting qualifications, and we pride ourselves on equipping future finance professionals with the skills required in today’s business. We have more than 1,000 training
providers, employers and government stakeholders around world, who we visit on a regular basis. This is to ensure the quality of the tuition provided to students meets AAT’s high standards. We run a series of events – one of the biggest, the Achievement Awards Ceremony,
is held in Gaborone, in
Botswana, which is currently our biggest international market.
Has the nature and/or number of those trips changed in recent years? The international team is flying around the world, having meetings with employers and government stakeholders. Travel has changed in recent years – I used to book visits two months ahead, but now everything is much faster and visits can take place within one week. It certainly keeps me on my toes.
Do you have a particular travel policy – for example, standard-class rail or three-star hotels only? Yes, we do have a travel policy. All long-haul flights are in business class,
and accommodation has to be very comfortable. Business travel sounds so glamorous, but it isn’t – people forget the jetlag, the time difference, time away from your family and so on. I am lucky to work with a great team – they certainly work very hard.
Accountants are renowned for their attention to financial detail – do they understand the nuances of your role? Is compliance an issue? At the beginning, no, they didn’t understand. But once they start to travel themselves, they understand the cost and the work involved. Compliance is not an issue at AAT, as we have very strict policies in place.
Cost-control is presumably a priority, but how important are corporate social responsibility (CSR) and duty- of-care in your travel programme? Environmental issues and sustainability are taken seriously across all our business practices. And duty-of-care has always been a priority.
What are your biggest challenges, and what are your greatest professional achievements?
My biggest challenge is working out the travel logistics. Business often takes my colleagues to rural areas, which can be particularly challenging when served by infrequent flights. Another challenge is managing the volume and expectations of those who are very new to business travel.
I was looking for a job where I could put my passion for travel into practice
32 BBT JULY/AUGUST 2016
My greatest professional achievement is bringing my international outlook not only to my role but to the entire business.
What do you enjoy most about the travel management sector? I enjoy finding out about new countries. I brief my travellers individually.
I
produce a comprehensive travel pack for each traveller, which includes business etiquette tips, plus a social, economic, political and security briefing. I provide local information and maps for orientation so they feel safe and get an overview of distance – this is highly important, as the traveller has to be well informed and feel safe.
On a personal level, was it always your ambition to work in the travel sector, or did you have other early career plans?
I started off in the fashion industry, but changed my career early to travel and I have now worked in the travel industry for nearly 30 years. I’ve lived in California, Japan and Ibiza, but now I live with my family in London.
How long have you been in your current post, and what attracted you to the role in the first place? I have been in my post for 15 years, and working for AAT is great. I worked as a tour guide in Ibiza before I met my husband. We returned to his hometown of London and I started to look for a job where I could put my passion for travel into practice. I love working in a global setting.
If you could change just one element of the travel experience, what would it be?
If I could change one thing, I would invent tele-transportation for people!
Finally, the working week is over – how do you like to spend your spare time? I spend my time with my husband and my two daughters, and walking our dog. I love a drink in the pub, I love shopping, and I love cooking and entertaining.˜
AAT is a UK qualification and membership body for vocational accountants,
and companies that have used AAT’s services include Bupa, the Co-operative Bank, Greater Manchester Police and TUI Travel. AAT qualifications are part of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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