Women in Accounting & Finance - Anastasia Clarke, GPT

To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, this week we will be bringing you a series of guest blogs from leading senior females in Accounting and Finance. They will be discussing their success, career-defining moments and what advice they would give to another female looking to pursue a similar career. This is what Anastasia Clarke, Chief Financial Officer of The GPT Group had to say.

Profile: Anastasia joined The GPT Group in 2009 and is currently the Chief Financial Officer, responsible for capital management, financial reporting, accounting, tax and technology. Named one of Asia’s 25 Most Influential Women in Finance & Treasury in 2015, and with over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, Anastasia’s past roles include Chief Financial Officer at New City Australia and Singapore, Treasurer and Head of Finance at Dexus Property Group and corporate treasury and project finance roles at Lendlease. Anastasia is currently President of the Property Council’s Capital Markets Division.

Anastasia is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants, a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Technology, Sydney.

What would be the key things that allowed you to get to where you are today and what do you attribute your success to?

I never considered not having a career or thinking I would take a pause or backward step while starting a family. I even asked for a promotion while pregnant – and got one!

Have there been any career-defining moments?

Being permitted to make decisions was career defining for me. Reaching the point in my career where making decisions, often with significant financial consequences, was within my authority was very liberating, and something I really enjoyed. I also realised that not everyone likes making big decisions and that having the confidence and conviction to make them was to my advantage.

What advice would you give to other females looking to pursue a career in Finance?

Decide this early on and agree with your partner to share the joy of parenting so you can stay on track pursuing your career.

Join in on the conversation on Twitter for this years' International Women's Day using the hashtag #BalanceforBetter