Meet Alex Hird, our newest Partner who joined BHP last month to head up a brand new service – Financial Reporting, Advisory and Valuations. Read on to find out what excites Alex about his work and to gain an insight into the special service he offers.
What attracted you to BHP?
Having been in a large firm before, I was enthusiastic about the family feel of BHP and the flexibility that this allows us to offer to the market through the independent mindset. This really shone through in my first few days and the firm has clearly won its employee awards for a reason!
What does your day-to-day role involve?
Nobody knows! Being the Financial Reporting, Advisory & Valuations Partner means that I’m officially a geek who is most commonly found with my head in a guidebook, or doing some complex valuation with a giant spreadsheet.
This skillset helps all of our client base at times, but I also work with clients of other audit firms, especially listed companies, to help them to deliver on the more challenging areas of financial reporting. I find this bit in particular really rewarding because it allows me to go into battle for a client and resolve major headaches for them. But essentially, my job involves anything weird and wonderful that crops up in the world of work, which means that no two days are the same.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
There is rarely one right answer in my world – just toolkits to get there. So you can never just have a day without thinking. There’s always a big challenge to overcome and brain power to be applied to something – plus plenty of professional arguments to have with auditors! It’s a really special niche role, which means I’m always learning.
What is your proudest moment in your career so far?
At my old firm, I won quite a few awards over the years and it’s great to get that recognition. However, building a team of great people and inspiring the next generation of accounting geniuses is a thrill that is hard to replicate.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Anything but an accountant! There were a few in the family… that went well as a plan!
What can you talk about for hours?
There can only be one subject… IFRS accounting standards?! (Best to avoid me at the Christmas party).
What might surprise people to learn about you?
I once had a three-minute slot on Radio 1 telling accounting puns to Matt Edmondson. It must have been absolute gold for the listeners!
Where is the best place you have ever visited and why?
I’ve been lucky enough to do two round-the-world trips, one of them as part of a wedding/honeymoon combination. The world is full of amazing places and experiences, but some are close to home – Iceland and Slovenia are two magical countries.
