Meet the Team: Karen Green

Name: Karen Green

Role: Senior Payroll Officer

Tell us about your career to date?

I have been working in Accounting for the last 30 or so years. I started off working in PWC eons ago as a Trainee Chartered Accountant in the Derry offices, I moved back to Belfast and this is when I fell in love with Forensic Accounting while working in Goldblatt McGuigan and then ASM Horwath.

I took a two-year career break when I had my daughter in August 1999, during which time I spent several months in Salem, MA touring around in a Pontiac Grand AM while my then-husband worked in Boston. Returning home, I decided I was not really stay at home mum so I set up my own accountancy services business and worked long hours covering all aspects of accounting and financial administration from VAT, PAYE, Accounts Preparation, ITR’s, HMRC investigations etc. For a variety of businesses.

When my daughter left full-time education (and no longer needed mum at her beck and call) I returned to working full time for the Extern Group as Payroll & Pensions Administrator in Dec 2017 leaving them in September 2020 for a brief stint in industry before returning to the third sector with CILNI.

What qualifications did you bring to your role in the Centre for Independent Living?

I hold a DipHE in Accounts, and I am a part qualified ACCA, having, in my wisdom, decided the final exams were not for me as I was concentrating on Forensic Accounting. I am also an Associate member of CIPP.

What does a typical day in Centre for Independent Living look like?

I am only on week 4 so I am still finding my feet in CIL.  So far everyone has been really friendly and helpful and I am looking forward to contributing more as I get more familiar with the procedures and practices. It certainly does not look like I will get bored anytime soon!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy pottering about in the garden, feeding the wildlife and rescuing random critters I find along the way (to date we have had bumble bees, a swallow, a field mouse – that seemed to drop from the sky in front of me!, a baby rabbit (a bird actually dropped it), and kittens – from a small feral group I feed daily).

I bake cakes also and recipients have included, Gareth McAuley – NI Football; Mark Allen – Snooker player; May McFetridge – Actor; HRH Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge; various charities for auctions and fundraising.

What’s your favourite movie?

My favourite movie(s) (there is no way I can rank them!) include The Lost Boys, Blade Runner (the original) The Wizard of Oz, Mama Mia & Alien.