Sheetal is one of the most influential voices in the financial leadership community across the East Midlands.

She currently undertakes two leadership roles at RSM:

• Managing Partner for the Nottingham RSM office
• Head of Innovation Reliefs across East Midlands, West Midlands, Milton Keynes, East Anglia, and the Southwest

Sheetal has also just been shortlisted as finalist in the prestigious Multicultural Business & Community Champion Awards in the category of Outstanding Senior Leader of the Year.

We only met Sheetal for the first time this year but had known of her reputation for some time. After our first meeting we knew that she would have some valuable experience and advice to share in our CFO Network interviews and across our network.

It is always very special to talk to a successful finance leader who has spent their entire professional career with one employer.

All 18 of your career years have been at RSM with 6 promotions and rising to Nottingham Managing Partner in that time. Was it always the plan to stay with RSM and what has been the secret to your success in the firm?

I realised quite early on how great a place RSM is to start your career in this profession - I worked in a very supportive and collaborative environment, I had plenty of opportunities to learn and develop, but most importantly, I was able to be myself, I didn’t have to compromise on my values, and I had fun. So, yes, the plan was to stay and progress as far as I can within the organisation. But I must admit, I never imagined that I would ever reach the position that I have today, and I do often have to pinch myself and take a step back and reflect on what has been an incredible journey to date.

The secret to my success is not rocket science at all, it is fairly simple - be yourself, find a job that you love, grab opportunities that come your way with both hands, be patient (don’t chase titles), don’t be afraid to fail and learn from your mistakes, listen to those experienced around you, work hard and own your career. At the end of the day, if you do the right things, the results and successes will follow.

Tell us some more about the Research & Development tax reliefs work at RSM.

Research and development (R&D) tax relief and payable R&D tax credits are part of the UK Government’s strategy to encourage investment in innovation in the UK and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) continues to encourage businesses investing in UK based innovation to take advantage of this generous tax relief.  Without going into the technical detail, R&D claims could entitle businesses to significant tax relief, which results in either a reduction in the amount of corporation tax payable to HMRC or in some cases a significant cash repayment. We have a national team of R&D specialists which comprises of four partners (including myself) and over 60 specialists (who come from both technical and tax backgrounds), all of whom have extensive expertise in advising businesses of all sizes (from start-up businesses to large corporates) across a range of sectors on R&D tax credits.

Please share your views on what are the major strengths of the East Midlands region currently, and where are the opportunities that the region needs to exploit?

Like many other regions, the East Midlands economy is still recovering from the pandemic. Leicester was hit particularly hard by this, having been in lockdown for longer than any other UK city. However, despite the challenges, the region is now in a period of recovery in which businesses seek new domestic and international growth opportunities. Collectively, we are putting the East Midlands on the map as a centre of trading excellence, a place for making things, moving them, and innovating in how we do this.

We were not surprised to see your success in reaching the final shortlist for the Multicultural Business & Community Champion Awards after spending some time with you.

How important has the Diversity & Inclusion strategy at RSM been?

Thank you, that is very kind – I feel very honoured to be listed amongst such credible individuals in their field and fingers crossed for the awards night later this year.

Being a first generation born British Asian, I am very passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace at RSM. Our people are our greatest strength and as a firm we are proud to have created a strong sense of belonging so that people of all identities, backgrounds, and cultures are comfortable being themselves at work. As with many organisations, our clients come from different walks of life, and we strive to achieve that same level of diversity in our own teams. RSM have created a number of employee networks who all play a pivotal role our strategy and these networks provide an important platform for our staff to share experiences and actively support diversity and inclusion initiatives. The responsibility falls on all of us within the business and we all have a duty to help shape the firm’s D&I strategy and make a real impact. RSM has a come a long way in this area and whilst we are heading in the right direction, we recognise that there is still more to do.

We are at a time of year when may sixth formers and undergraduates are considering their career choices. Would you share your sales pitch for accountancy as a fantastic career choice?

I guess, different individuals will have different takes on this, but if you are looking for a career that will always be in demand; provides stability, flexibility, and rewards well; provides opportunities to progress both professionally and personally; provides a route into alternative careers in business and any industry; a career that can be intellectually challenging but also fulfilling; then accounting is a field that you should definitely consider as a sound career choice.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

That is a tough question – I don’t think it is fair to highlight one person, because throughout my time at RSM, I have had a tremendous amount of support from a significant amount of people at all levels within the business. You can’t progress in a professional environment on your own, you need that internal support network around you and everything that I have achieved to date is down to all those that have invested in me (they know who they are), and I will forever be grateful for that. A number of people do ask me where I get my drive from and that undoubtedly comes from my family – my parents, more so my mum (I lost my father at a very young age) sacrificed so much in life to give me the best start which has enabled me to have a successful career. I owe it to them both to continue to push myself and be the best person that I can be in and outside of work.