Having a financial background has been a real advantage. It has meant that when writing economic analysis, company reports, interviewing senior business people or trying to see through creatively prepared company accounts I had a competitive edge.

However, the most important consideration is always my audience. Most of what I write is about demystifying jargon and financial-speak for the ordinary reader.

But having a financial background is also an asset in other ways. It’s meant that I could do more than just write.

• I media train people who want to relate better to the financial and business press.
• My interviewing and analytical skills enable me to work on qualitative market research assignments.
• Financial training: I provide professional training in various forms of trade finance for banks and other financial institutions.
• And last but not least, I act as an expert witness in financial fraud and banking instrument litigation cases.

In the end everything links together. What I learn from one activity is valuable for another. And as, like it or not, we all need money in our lives, that is why I spend most of my time writing about money in all its forms for a wide variety of different audiences.