Harnessing the power of people at giffgaff

Tell us about yourself and your role at giffgaff?

Hi, my name is Arlyne, one of the giffgaff Finance Managers. I was born in Zimbabwe and currently live in London. My main responsibilities at giffgaff include writing the annual statutory accounts, monthly financial performance reporting and supporting the business with strategic plans. I am also passionate about helping people in any way that I can. I have been a financial wellness advocate for a year and I have delivered some financial literacy sessions for the Ministry of Wellbeing.

How did you start your journey at giffgaff and what has it been like so far?

I joined giffgaff 2 years ago. I joined the telecommunication industry with little experience of working in the tech industry. I have learnt a lot during my time with giffgaff and I can safely say no two days have been the same. The people that work for giffgaff make it what it is. With country-wide restrictions and remote working in the last year, our leadership team has displayed a true empathy for all giffgaffers, helping us stay connected whilst being physically apart.

How do we do things differently at giffgaff?

Very inclusive. The tag line that the mobile network run by you doesn’t stop with members. I have had an opportunity to be involved in several events and my voice is heard which is very empowering. giffgaff have a unique ability to pivot. I believe this is because of the agile nature of the business.

One project that you’ve done at giffgaff that you are particularly proud of

giffgaff have grown from strength to strength since launching over a decade ago. As an entity owned by Telefonica which is listed on the New York stock exchange, giffgaff needed to become Sarbanes-Oxley SOX compliant. In 2020 I was tasked with understanding the business processes and ensuring we had sufficient controls to prevent and detect errors that would cause deficiencies in the process itself. Various departments had to collaborate for this project which is a perfect example of one of giffgaff’s values. This resulted in giffgaff passing the SOX compliance in its first year.

We have a Monday morning meeting every week which means everyone has the opportunity to meet other people from different departments. giffgaff is not a small company anymore however we have remained connected.

How has giffgaff contributed in your growth?

giffgaff harnesses the power of people. Since starting in giffgaff two years ago, I have had an opportunity to pick up various projects. I have been given tasks that lead to me developing new technical accounting skills. The O2 learning campus, free access to linkedin learning, and a training budget gave me an opportunity to develop my soft skills.

I have had the opportunity to present my Roots to Froots financial wellness sessions internally to my colleagues in giffgaff as well as O2. My confidence has grown because of it. giffgaff has supported my personal and professional growth in the time that I have worked here.

How does working at giffgaff help you with your work-life balance?

Working in the finance department of any organisation can be challenging especially during month end and year end. giffgaff emphasises the importance of having a work-life balance by offering flexible hours. As a team we are constantly looking for ways of working efficiently. We have monthly retro sessions that give us an opportunity of spotting bottlenecks and fixing issues for the following month. This means that we have found ways of making the job easier.

giffgaff organises yoga, exercise and social events which also help with a work-life balance. When we were in the office this meant that although we were at work we could have time away from the desk and relax with colleagues.

Describe your experience and time at giffgaff in 3 words

• Challenging (In a good way!)
• Exciting
• Rewarding