David Keens
finance director, Next plc, UK
David Keens' belief that 'the most influential person in your career is yourself' perhaps goes some way to explain his rapid career progression.
His desire to develop a broad range of skills across different sectors and industries has taken his career from public practice, to manufacturing, to a range of retailing opportunities, and his current position as finance director for Next plc. In his own words, 'qualification is the start, not the end, of personal development.'
As an ACCA member at 21, the ACCA qualification certainly aided his ambitions. 'The wide examination curriculum and broad spread of career options influenced me in choosing ACCA, and I have been rewarded with extensive career opportunities and financial experience,' says David. His membership has afforded him 'automatic recognition by others of a high level of ability and achievement.'
David's retail career alone has spanned clothing, footwear, pharmaceutical and home shopping, both in the UK and overseas, as well as experiencing significant developments in the profession such as the consolidation of the 'Big Eight' firms down to 'Four'.