Mark Poles Email & Phone Number

In many ways, my career path has been unusual. After graduating from Magdalen College, Oxford with an MA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics, I qualified as a chartered accountant and spent the first few years of my career as an auditor, moving to a Big 4 firm when I finished my exams in 1997 – so far, so ordinary. But somewhere along the line I became a Google Qualified Advertising Professional and a Google Analytics Qualified Individual, I worked in sales then risk management, I ran a Europe-wide quality review programme, worked in recruitment and then training. I advised big businesses on sustainability issues and small businesses on risk and strategy. I helped colleagues to develop their skills and I helped clients to improve their businesses.Accounting qualifications plus marketing qualifications is an unusual combination, but to me it makes perfect sense. It’s all about having a breadth of skills and experience to advise clients.While some of my clients have been large multinationals, most of my career has been spent serving middle-market and owner-managed businesses. That’s where the fun happens, where a consultant can really make a difference. Making a difference is what gives that buzz. I like to think I’ve made a difference for my clients. And I’m very proud of the “You’re Hired!” competition – my idea and one that, by improving their employment skills, has made a real difference to the prospects of young people across Plymouth.

Listed skills include Strategy, External Audit, Risk Management, Project Management, and 34 others.