STAFF STORIES
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Sharon Robertson is an Accountant with John Lawrie Metals, but she wears multiple hats being our multi-talented HR and general Office Manager go-to as well. She lives with her husband Tommy and daughter Chloe on the outskirts of Aberdeen City and has been with the company for 18 years.
Sharon met her husband, Tommy, 25 years ago and their daughter Chloe, 19, is following in her mum’s footsteps studying Accounts at The Robert Gordon University. They have both been a great support to Sharon throughout her career.
“I started my career at the age 18 when I was approached by a company that I had done some work experience with as an Office Junior. I was there for three years when unfortunately, the company went into administration. I was one of the fortunate ones who got transferred to the parent company and it was at this point I moved into the Accounts team. I really enjoyed this move, getting a taste for accounts. This is where I could see a future and started focusing on progressing my way through the department roles. I went to night school and did a HNC in Accounting to get some formal qualifications to my name.
“After 10 years I felt the opportunity for progression slow, so I decided to move on to further my opportunities and that’s when a role at John Lawrie (as it was then) came up. This role was newly created, and I was a little apprehensive about the move, but thankfully it has all worked out for the best.
“I started as Assistant Accountant and then as the opportunities arose, I gathered a bit of pace taking on additional responsibilities and making the role my own. I moved into a supervisory role in charge of the Accounts team and then got the promotion to Accountant about 12 years ago. I need to thank Charlie Parker for supporting me through my progression and having belief in my capabilities. He has been a great mentor for me over the years and I’m grateful to have had his guidance.
“Since then, I have been fortunate enough to be able to continue to develop my role growing the Accounts team as well as overseeing HR and general office management duties – I’m a bit of go-to for my colleagues which I appreciate. I have also enjoyed working more closely with Dave Weston and the operations team as the business has evolved in more recent years.
“In the last few years, I have had the opportunity to work on some great projects – I supported the business through the management buy-out back in 2017, and then with the dividing of the companies from John Lawrie Aberdeen Ltd to John Lawrie Metals Ltd and John Lawrie Tubulars Ltd in 2019. More recently, I supported the acquisition of John Lawrie Metals Ltd by ArcelorMittal. I have thoroughly enjoyed and gained much insight working with investors and third parties through these processes and I’m proud to have been part of these projects and to have played a role in the progression of the businesses over the last few years. It has been a real team effort and I’m excited to work on where we go from here.
“I’ve definitely had a few challenges along the way – nothing is ever plain sailing - but Charlie has supported me over these hurdles, and I appreciate him giving me the chance to get to where I am today.”
Sharon is very family oriented. She has a large family who she loves spending time with. She is, in her own words, ‘very social’ and loves seeing her friends for a glass of wine and a meal out. She is also passionate about a bit of retail therapy which she fits in around being an avid football fan. Manchester Utd is her main team, but she follows all leagues across the varying levels of the game, often supporting more local and youth teams.
