Working away diligently behind the scenes to keep our office running and our team happy, Connie Carter is, in many ways, the glue that holds A.W. Hardy together. Learn more about Connie’s career to date and get a feel for what a typical day looks like for our Office & Accounts Manager.

 

What’s your role at A.W. Hardy?

I look after the accounts department for the whole group and its subsidiaries.

My staff have their own jobs and responsibilities – but I understand how every aspect works, which means I can manage them and make sure we’re getting the best outcomes from the entire team.

 

How did you end up joining the company?

I’ve been in this position for 12 years. Before that, I was a taxi driver, so it was a very different way of life! When my children grew up and went to university, I wanted to explore a new career path. A friend of mine was working at Hardy’s and was looking for a temp, so I immediately said, “I’ll do it!”. I started on reception, then moved into accounts, and I spent the next few years rising up through the ranks.

 

How has the business changed since you joined?

When I first came into the company, everything was handled with pen and paper. From invoicing to credit control, all the work on the finance side of things was carried out manually. It worked – but there were definitely ways we could make things easier for ourselves.

Over the years, we’ve implemented lots of new systems, and things run so much more smoothly now. Our HR portal makes life simpler from an admin point of view, and payslips are all sent electronically rather than through the post. Office life is much more streamlined, which I’m grateful for!

 

What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

I’ve always been open to upskilling and learning new things, and I love that I’ve been able to explore new training opportunities during my time at Hardy’s. So far, I’ve completed a payroll course, a couple of management courses, and studied for my AAT (which wasn’t required for my role but was something I wanted to achieve personally).

Last year, I also steered the company towards completing our Constructionline accreditation. It was a very involved process, and it definitely taught me a lot more about the construction side of what we do, particularly in terms of what goes on onsite and in terms of health and safety. The journey wasn’t without its challenges but I’m very proud of the team for achieving Gold Member status and I feel it’s the next step in our development as a business.

 

And what’s the most challenging aspect?

My team and I often get pulled from all sides, as there’s so much going on – so we must be flexible and able to prioritise tasks as they come in.

 

What do you enjoy outside of work?

My grandchildren keep me busy! My weekends are usually jampacked; I spend a lot of time with my family, going out for meals, hosting dinner parties, and having fun at various get-togethers. Plus, my two dogs keep me very active. I attend a lot of events with my husband, and we usually have a full social calendar.