Business

Management a recipe for success for baker Jennifer

Jennifer Glover
Jennifer Glover Jennifer Glover

THIS week's My Kind of Job is Jennifer Glover, tax manager at Exchange Accountants

What was your first job?

My first job was taking photographs for the local newspaper while I was still at secondary school.

What qualifications do you have?

I have a degree in Law & Accountancy from Queen’s University Belfast. I have also completed all the professional exams for the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), the Institute of Chartered Tax Advisors (CIOT) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

What do you attribute your success to?

I think that working hard and studying for exams was the most important thing for me. Second to that was having the confidence to try different jobs until I found the right fit– I’m currently in a role that I love so it seems to have worked.

How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?

Friendly, outgoing and hard working.

Who do you look up to in business?

I’m always impressed by anyone that has an innovative idea and the belief to take the risk of starting their own business. A prime example would be Irish brothers, Patrick and John Collison, who are now the youngest billionaires listed on the Forbes Rich List after starting their online payment software company.

How do you get the best out of people who work for you?

By having the patience to teach and listen to them properly. I think building a relationship with staff where they can talk openly to you is crucial to getting the best out of people.

If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?

I find that many businesses in Northern Ireland have a tendency to be management heavy when it comes to reviewing their internal processes and developing new ideas. I think involving staff can bring about fresh ideas and give a new perspective that management can often miss. I really believe that staff input is key for successfully growing a business.

What website or app could you not do without?

Pinterest. I spend most evenings browsing through posts on new recipes, home décor ideas and holiday inspiration.

What was the last book you read?

Women who run with the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

What car do you drive?

A Volvo S90.

Tell us something interesting about yourself?

I considered opening a wedding cake shop when I was in my early twenties. However, after spending a year selling my cakes from home, I decided that it was better to enjoy baking as a hobby than have it as my main job.

What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?

Definitely cooking, I have loved cooking since I was small and in general everything that I eat is homemade. I love having friends and family over for food as well as baking with my daughter.