Building the future of Livestock Protection with Catherine Allen

Can you tell us about your role and the key responsibilities you manage on a daily basis?

I am the Group Finance Manager for Livetec, the role has grown significantly since I joined over five and a half years ago. It is a busy role that keeps me connected with all areas of the business and the different teams within it, which I really enjoy.

My main responsibility is managing the group’s cash flow. I ensure that funds are available across the different companies within the group to meet our financial commitments. This includes making sure our invoicing is completed on time, bills are paid promptly, and credit card transactions are properly reconciled.

I also play a key role in budgeting across departments, helping to keep costs under control and ensuring revenue remains a central focus. Sometimes that means I am the one who has to say “no” to spending, but ultimately that is about safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the business, supporting our employees, and continuing to deliver value for our clients.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your role?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is working with the wider Livetec team and seeing the incredible advancements we have made in supporting the British farming community. I take pride in playing a part in that progress by ensuring our finance function is robust and able to support the business as it grows.

My direct rewards come from helping to make sure our financial systems operate smoothly so that we can deliver a seamless and efficient experience for our clients. While things like financial portals may not be exciting to everyone, I find satisfaction in knowing that when everything runs well, from service delivery right through to invoicing, our clients benefit from a consistently high standard of service.

Internally, I also find it incredibly rewarding to work with such a strong and close-knit team. We collaborate well and support each other,

What does a typical day look like for you, and how do you prioritise your tasks?

My day typically starts with a 9:15 meeting with Joe and Donna, where we review any new requests, discuss our priorities for the day, week and month, and agree on the next steps. Finance is very deadline driven, especially with submissions to HMRC such as VAT returns, so it is important we stay aligned.

After the meeting, I focus on reviewing transactions in Xero from the previous day, checking our cash balances, and managing intercompany transfers to ensure funds are in the right places. This includes moving money between companies after large payments, and ensuring budgets set before the financial year begins are being followed across the business.

There is a lot of reconciliation, analysis and troubleshooting involved whether it’s chasing overdue payments, resolving partial or overpayments, or liaising with customers to clarify any issues. No two days are exactly the same, which keeps things interesting.

I prioritise tasks mainly based on urgency and deadlines. With Xero and our internal systems, we’re able to plan ahead and set up payments in advance, which helps avoid relying on memory. Diarising tasks, using reminders and supporting each other as a team all help us stay on track and meet our deadlines efficiently.

What’s the most challenging part of your day?

The most challenging part of my day is managing group spend, particularly when it involves telling people, including the company owners, that they cannot spend money. It’s never easy being the one to say no, but it’s essential for keeping us financially on track.

Balancing spend with incoming revenue is a constant challenge. I need to ensure we’re applying the right margins, that any issues are identified early, and that we maintain the financial oversight needed to support Livetec’s continued growth. It’s all about finding that balance and ensuring there’s always a contingency in place.

It can sometimes feel like a bit of a juggling act, but with good planning and strong systems, it becomes more manageable.

Are there any tools, technology, or methods you rely on to stay organised and productive?

Absolutely. Xero is a key tool for me it’s transformed the way we work. When I first joined, the team was using a very outdated version of Sage, which was frustratingly slow and unreliable. Running reports was a challenge, and the overall system just wasn’t fit for purpose. Moving to Xero made a huge difference in terms of efficiency and reliability.

Another tool I rely on is ApprovalMax. It’s incredibly useful for monitoring spend against departmental budgets. For example, if a team has a budget of £500 for PR but ends up spending £750, ApprovalMax flags that so we can investigate and manage future spending accordingly. It allows us to stay on top of budget tracking in real time and make sure spending is kept within limits.

Together, Xero and ApprovalMax help ensure everything is transparent, well-organised and under control which is crucial in a finance role.

How often do you work with your team or collaborate with other departments?

I work with my team and other departments every day. I’m fortunate to have a strong, supportive team around me, we each bring different skills to the table, which makes collaboration really effective.

As part of the wider Livetec team, we have a 360-degree view of the business. That level of visibility means we regularly engage with various departments, not just finance, which helps us stay aligned and make informed decisions. It is a unique position to be in and something I really value.

I am also a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), where we meet twice a month, once for a risk meeting and once for the general SLT meeting, which provides further opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and strategic input.

Can you describe a recent moment of teamwork that made a big impact on your workday?

A recent example would be the finance team working closely with the operations team to support the move of our office into a new premises. There was a lot of planning involved, and it was a great example of cross-team collaboration.

Joe and Donna were pivotal in this. Joe coordinated with the landlord at Wrest Park and developed a hot-desking plan, while Donna managed all the necessary building maintenance. They both did an excellent job, and everyone pulled together with the shared goal of reducing our overhead costs which we achieved significantly through the move.

It was a smooth process thanks to that strong collaboration, and I’m definitely proud of how well the teams worked together to make it happen.

Do you have a favourite way to relax or refocus?

Absolutely. I’m currently training for the Rome Marathon next year, it will be my first (and definitely only!) marathon, so it’s taking quite a bit of time and planning. Running is a great way for me to clear my head and stay focused.

I also love walking, especially with my three terriers. They keep me active and give me a good reason to get outdoors. In my downtime, I really enjoy reading, gardening, and renovating homes. We’ve just finished a renovation project in England, and I’m always looking for the next one.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting in your field, what would it be?

My route into finance wasn’t exactly traditional, I ended up in the field after racking up credit card debt travelling in South America in my twenties! A friend in finance encouraged me to apply, and before I knew it, I’d landed a job at an investment bank, which eventually led to a Junior Trading role. So, I’m not sure I’m the textbook example but I do have a few bits of advice.

First, keep your sense of humour. Finance can be intense, so being able to laugh and stay grounded is vital. Second, don’t get lost in the numbers. It’s just as important to connect with people across the business. Strong relationships make it easier to communicate financial insights and have a real impact.

So yes, stay human, stay curious, and keep things in perspective.

What excites you most about what’s ahead?

From a finance perspective, I’m really looking forward to refining our systems further. We’re about 85% of the way there, but the vision is to have a fully streamlined, well-oiled function where everything flows smoothly from platforms like HubSpot into Xero, creating a seamless and efficient financial operation.

What’s also exciting is how accessible our finance tools have become. Xero, in particular, has been a game-changer, it was designed with non-finance users in mind, and the adoption across the business has been fantastic. Everyone interacts with it in some way, from logging expenses to tracking project costs, which really supports a culture of transparency and collaboration.

Finally, I’m looking forward to growing our recurring revenue streams. Reducing our reliance on reactive operations and building consistent, sustainable income is a big part of our strategy and we’re already seeing strong growth month by month.