Spotlight on Langham Hall – Meet the people behind our business
For the second instalment of our ‘Spotlight on Langham Hall’ series, we caught up with Owen Smith, a Fund Accountant based in our Guernsey office. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Owen is currently working towards his ACCA qualification.
Our Fund Accounting programme is designed to launch your career in the funds sector, with a focus on illiquid asset classes, such as private equity and real estate. Designed to provide our employees with the skills and expertise needed to make an impact – both within Langham Hall and across the wider industry.
Contributors
Owen Smith
Fund Accountant (Langham Hall Guernsey)
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career so far?
To consistently challenge myself by stretching my skill set and embracing any potential opportunities for professional and personal growth. I have come to learn that being successful in your career is 80% mindset – maintaining a positive and open attitude to learning is essential to develop new skills and effectively adapt throughout your career.
Q: What is your professional background?
With a strong analytical foundation from my Mathematics degree at the University of Exeter, I’ve brought fresh perspective to my nearly three years at Langham Hall Guernsey, I am now halfway through my ACCA qualification, and I have thoroughly enjoyed using my technical skills to increase the efficiency of our accounting processes and continuously enhance operational workflows.
Q: What is your favourite part about your role?
My favourite part of my role is the dynamic nature of the work which gives me the ability to see tangible growth every quarter. Knowing that I can spend time to reflect and improve on processes throughout the year boosts my confidence and keeps me engaged in my role. My favourite project involved enhancing our bookkeeping processes by introducing automation into a previously manual workflow. The result has saved the team countless hours and reflects the firm’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Opportunity for innovation has always been a big driving force in my career and is a big focus for me going forward.
Q: What advice would you give someone starting their career in the Private Funds sector?
In such a complex and rapidly evolving industry, the best piece of advice I can give is to stay proactive in seeking diverse experiences. Getting exposure to different areas of the sector is key to building a comprehensive skill set that allows for greater adaptability. All the clients I have worked with over the past couple of years have had diverse needs and operating model and it has given me a wealth of knowledge that is extremely valuable in my career.
Q: What do you like to do as a hobby/in your free time?
When I’m not painting or playing guitar, I am puzzle-solving. I enjoy cryptic crosswords as they use an entirely different part of the brain to solve and I have always been an avid chess enjoyer, though I have never been too great at it! I also do a lot of walking and running all year-round. Every June I take place in the annual Saffery Rotary Walk for local charities alongside a group of colleagues, where we walk 39 miles around the perimeter of Guernsey. The distance can be tough, but it is rewarding!
