Vicky Malcolm has been promoted to Operational Finance Manager, which is a new position overseeing the day-to-day running of six teams.

 

And after spending around 12 years working part-time so she could balance being a mum to her young daughter, she is encouraging others to take the leap and go for their dream role.

 

Vicky, who has most recently been working as an Internal Audit Manager, said: “This type of opportunity doesn’t come up often, and I thought to myself it may be now or never.

 

“You either let it pass you by or you go for it. I could never have imagined five years ago I would be in this position.”

 

Vicky began her career with Hays Travel in 2001 as a Supplier Payments Clerk and quickly progressed to a managerial position early on.

 

But around six years later she decided to cut down her hours to concentrate on family life.

 

Vicky said: “After maternity leave I decided to go part time, and I am grateful to Hays Travel for enabling me to do that. I was happy for many years with this arrangement, which allowed me to take a step back and focus on being a mum.

 

“Fast forward a few years, I was working in Supplier Payments when COVID hit. This was a big turning point for me. I had also reached the big milestone of turning 40 and I started to reflect on my life generally.

 

“I realised my daughter had grown up and was starting to be independent. This was when I thought, ‘what do I want for myself?’”

The first step for Vicky was to return to full-time hours on a finance project role secondment.

 

She then progressed to manager of the company’s Internal Audit and Travel Ledger teams, which later merged.

 

It was from here that Vicky applied for Hays Travel’s new Operational Finance Position.

 

She added: “I have taken advantage of all the learning opportunities with Hays Travel and completed the Aspiring Managers Programme earlier this year.

"This really helped me develop my skills further with the support of Fiona Taylor in our Learning and Development team, which I am so grateful for.

 

“I am very proud of what I have achieved and encourage anyone who, like me, has put their career on pause to focus on other responsibilities, not to give up on securing their dream role.”

 

Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Hays Travel’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Offering Vicky this role was a no-brainer, and we are delighted she applied and has accepted. She has a wealth of knowledge, having worked in multiple areas of our finance department over the years.

 

“This is a complex job, which I know Vicky will bring her great energy and experience to as she supports and provides guidance and leadership to the managers across the department.

"She is a great asset to Hays Travel and we are delighted to support and enable her ambitions for her own career progression.”