Published: 1 May 2020
June Whittall is the University of Sunderland in London’s Finance Manager. She talked to us about her role and what she loves about life at the University.
"I’ve had quite a varied working life. My first job was taking a tea urn around a factory for the production line workers during the school holidays.
After I left school I decided to go into accounts and finance where, with one or two exceptions, I’ve stayed since. One of those exceptions found me walking around a building site in a hard hat and high vis jacket (a fluorescent jacket used to increase your visibility - like the ones you see people wearing at traffic accidents to let people know they're there), selling steel reinforcement. The other was as a doctor’s receptions. Both were fun but in quite different ways.
I originally joined the University of Sunderland in London as maternity cover for the then Finance Manager. I thought it would only last five months, I’m still here six years later! My role focused on the corporate side of finance, so I don’t deal with the student finances. Along with my assistant Shani, I pay the bills for the University, plus a few other responsibilities.
For example, I’m the Area Safety Health Environment Coordinator (or ASHEC for short). That means I’m responsible for making sure the University is safe, so you can blame me for all those fire drills on wet and cold days. The other role I have is Events Manager. I organise and coordinate the external hires and work with a wider team to help run internal student and staff activities.
"Life is what you make it so grab it with both hands and enjoy. Keep smiling." - June Whittall, Finance Manager
Some people think that managing accounts can be boring work, but I can honestly say that mine isn’t. I love what I do. Yes, there are times when I feel like I’m locked to my desk, but there are plenty of other when times I’m running around the building speaking with staff and students alike.
I miss the days before the lockdown. It was definitely helpful having all the other teams around me on the fourth floor. But I can do my role pretty easily from home, and I’ll admit I don’t miss the morning commute. But I do miss the buzz of the University and all my friends and students there.
In terms of what advice I would give you all during the lockdown, I would like to say something that I think applies to everyday life as well. Work hard, study hard and play hard! Life is what you make it so grab it with both hands and enjoy. Keep smiling."
If you want to get in touch with June, you can email her at june.whittall@sunderland.ac.uk. And keep smiling!
