Surekha Aggarwal ACA
My experience is both wide ranging and deep, reflecting a curiosity about people & business, as well as professional versatility and creativity. I am passionate about making the understanding of finance more accessible to non-financial people and this has strongly influenced both the type of work and clients I’ve taken on, as well as the way I deliver my service.
Since 1995, I have successfully built up a consultancy business, providing a range of services to Owner Managed Businesses. I love to work with the decision makers and there is a tremendous satisfaction from seeing the impact of my input. While there are many issues common to entrepreneurial businesses that cut across industry sectors, the common thread among the organisations I’ve worked with is that they are trying to break some new ground, either with their products or with their business practices.
My “first” career was with Deloitte (previously known as Touche Ross) where I qualified as a chartered accountant. Corporate Finance beckoned in 1989, and I worked on a variety of transactions, both in an advisory capacity as well as “due diligence” investigations. Transactions ranged from small private start-ups to groups listed on the London Stock Exchange. My clients were from a wide range of industries, from publishing to banking, casinos to telecoms. I also did consultancy assignments, some in Eastern Europe, at a very challenging time of transition for those economies.
In recent years, I have been closely involved in the conception, founding and launch of an ecommerce business. This has given me first hand experience of standing in the shoes of the entrepreneur!
Summary of Formal Appointments
- Owner manager of Carnelian Business Services Ltd
- Founded and launched www.richesofindia.co.uk – ecommerce site selling products on Indian culture and philosophy
- Qualified Chartered Accountant
- Advisory Board member of City Fringe Partnership www.cityfringe.org.uk (2009 to 2010)
- Non-executive director of Higher Nature Ltd (2000 to 2009) www.highernature.co.uk
- Governor of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (1998 to 1999) www.ion.ac.uk
- Lecturer (for non-financial people) for DTI-sponsored activities
- Lecturer (for non-financial people) at Cranfield University (2001 to 2005)
Personal Interests
Yoga, cooking (and eating of course!), sudoku puzzles (especially killer sudoku).