Leading learners

Celebrating with our top learners!

This month we catch up with 2020 prize winner Simon Bickle, who is currently an Assistant Cluster Financial Controller at Crowne Plaza Plymouth (Valor Hospitality Europe).

Simon achieved the highest overall grade for Level Two Operational Management Accounting on the HOSPA Financial Management course which he completed in 2019.

Simon then went on to finish his studies by successfully completing Level Three in Strategic Management Accounting. Completion of the full course gives Simon Certified Associate membership of HOSPA and enables him to use the letters AHOSPA Certified FM in his business correspondence.

The Crowne Plaza Plymouth is a refined hotel with a leisure club, meeting rooms and rooftop restaurant. It is situated an easy walk from the seafront and city centre.

Simon tells us:

“I first entered the Industry in F&B as Kitchen Staff, moved to front of house and worked up to F&B and Accommodation management positions in hotels and restaurants. Eventually working up to Operations Manager.

I was working in Cornwall as Operations Manager of a Hotel and I wanted a role that was closer to home and more conducive with Family life, but still within the hospitality industry. This narrows your options within this industry, and Finance was an area of Hotels I hadn’t worked in, I wanted a new challenge and to broaden my understanding of this area of the operation.

As I had no Finance background the course has helped to improve my understanding and capability within the department. I started 3 years ago as an Accounts Assistant looking after the purchase ledger and developed from there to my current role of Assistant Financial Controller of two hotels.

Ultimately, I would like to progress into Management Accounting, possibly within the hospitality sector.”

For more information regarding all the HOSPA courses in Revenue Management, Financial Management and Asset Management starting March 2021 visit www.hospa.org/hospa-scholarships or email education@hospa.org to find out more.

Forthcoming webinar from the Professional Development team:

Online Open Day – learn more about the HOSPA Education courses with members of the course team on hand to answer your questions Thursday 21st January at 2.00pm and Thursday 18th February at 2.00pm. As I had no Finance background the course has helped to improve my understanding and capability within the department. I started 3 years ago as an Accounts Assistant looking after the purchase ledger and developed from there to my current role of Assistant Financial Controller of two hotels.