Richard Smith Spotlight

Richard Smith Spotlight

Meet Richard Smith, our Financial Controller.  Richard joined us just over a year ago, and he fits in perfectly, even referring to Radius as his new ‘home’. Read more about Richard’s role and also some interesting facts that may surprise you about our ‘not-so-boring’ Accountant!

What career path did you take to get to where you are now?  Various – I trained as an accountant in a small practice in Northampton. Progressed through different roles in industry; pausing my career at this point as an Assistant Accountant and moved into corporate finance; mergers and acquisitions. After spending 15 months in M&A, I felt a calling back to industry and found Radius as my new home.

What does your daily routine look like?
Hard to pinpoint a daily routine as change occurs on a daily basis. However, I am the heart of the business – money in, money out, and finding the right balance between the two is crucial to my role.

What is your biggest accomplishment since working at Radius?
Building good relationships with my colleagues.

How have you grown professionally whilst working at Radius?
I am still on my path of growth and development. Ask me again in a year’s time.

What is the biggest challenge you have experienced?
As with all roles, the work itself may not be new, but the processes and people are. Adapting to this is key, otherwise, it would never work. I believe being a year on I am past the point of learning who the people and key processes are, however, at the beginning of my career with Radius, this was the most difficult challenge I had to overcome.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Contrary to the boring accountant persona I may exude, I have a tattoo/sleeve on my left arm.

Who would be your perfect dinner party guests (dead or alive)? 
Stephen Hawking and David Attenborough

What’s the best concert you’ve been to? 
Papa Roach in Birmingham a few years back. More for the nostalgia from my teens, however, the atmosphere was epic as well.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently? 
Not the best but being the most recent book I have read (only halfway through mind), Jeremy Clarkson – Diddly Squat: A Year on The Farm.

What are you really proud of?
My daughter, Elara.

What is one thing you are really good at?
Always learning, but I’m an avid baker.

If you could have a career in anything, what would it be? 
With no hesitation…. Accountant. If money and time were no concern, a Formula 1 Driver or maybe something akin to my own enjoyment, so a professional baker or chef.

What’s your idea of a perfect day? 
Spending time with my fiancée Kerri and our daughter Elara – no issue with where, but a day (or week) on a beach wouldn’t hurt. 😊