Miranda Golding

Miranda joined Accenture straight from University. She therefore didn't have a career before joining unless you count working in a warehouse counting screws in the holidays! Miranda joined in 1988 and is now a Senior Executive within Systems Integration and Technology (SI&T) Consulting.

Accenture was much smaller when I joined and so the community was much more one of Accenture-UK where we all knew each other pretty well. I think we have done well as we have grown, to maintain that sense of community by offering many different ‘homes’ for people whether it be a centre of excellence for group of people interested in the same technologies as you, your project home or your deployed to home. It is everyone’s responsibility to help others develop their careers and you can always find someone to guide and help. You build your network throughout your working life and I find now I can turn to a range of people, peers and more senior people depending on what I need.

The best thing about working at Accenture is the people. I am also constantly impressed by our efforts to treat people fairly and honourably. We expect a lot of our people, but through the performance management process, the promotions process, support networks, training, career counselling, and flexible working even the grievance process we do support all our people and give them every opportunity to have a great career.

I have been involved in a range of things, currently I am the co-sponsor of the Accent on Parents network, I am also involved in the Accent on Women network and I mentor a range of people with specific needs alongside my standard counselees. These are such worthwhile causes and I am really glad to be able to be involved and help people just as I have been supported now and in the past.

I have used almost all of the policies at Accenture! During my maternity leave with my second child, Zoë, my husband drowned in a diving accident and it was almost simultaneously discovered that I had a bone tumour in my jaw, so I had a little longer off than expected. When I came back to work this time I worked part time; first three days then four days a week and then job-shared for a while as well. I am fortunate to work for someone who is very switched on to the whole flexible working scene.

Felix is now 15 and Zoë is 10 and I work 90% working from home two days a week so I can collect the children from school on those days. I take them to school on the way to work - which given I am not a morning person is a significant personal challenge. I have a nanny who collects the children from school when I am not there and does most of the holidays.

I enjoy my current role - I am Global Operations Director (G.O.D.) for the Delivery Centre Network. It’s very challenging and varied – no two days are ever the same. I get to work with a huge range of people at all levels and from all over the world. Culturally it’s very varied as well, I have to constantly adapt my style. I have plenty of freedom to come up with ideas and to do my job in my own way, a lot of responsibilities and I work with a great, supportive and high achieving team.