The Finance Game in Sport

Meet Fran Russen (Head of FP&A), Mary Protheroe (Group Finance Director), and Seun Ajayi (Head of Accounting & Compliance) — three senior women at Two Circles who all share a passion for numbers and sport in equal measure. Their unique blend of skills has made them influential in the business, with years of experience across a variety of industries.

We sat down with them to discuss their journeys, what advice they would give to others, and why Two Circles is a place of opportunity for a finance career.

How has your journey in finance evolved?

Fran: I started in finance with a focus on becoming an accountant, choosing audit because it offers a broad spectrum of experience across various companies and sectors. It’s hard work, but you learn so much. After qualifying, I started thinking about where to specialise. For me, combining our love for sport with finance just made sense, and that’s how I ended up here.

Seun: I wanted to help shape the future of the business, focusing on where the company is heading and implementing strategies to drive progress, rather than just reviewing numbers and looking for fraud. Audit can feel backward-looking, while working in the industry offers a forward-focused and exciting perspective.

What have you experienced in finance that you didn’t expect?

Seun: My initial perception of finance was all about crunching numbers and closing the books, getting particularly busy during month-end preparing reports. But there is so much more to it than that. The real value add comes from understanding the numbers—figuring out what they’re telling us, identifying red flags, and spotting the positives, meaning that I’m constantly learning.

What would you say are the most important skills to do well in the industry, aside from the numbers?

Mary: To be able to succeed in finance requires accuracy, a keen attention to detail, and a genuine desire for those numbers to add up correctly. You need an analytical mind.

Fran: Being inquisitive is key. I love being nosy. It’s all about understanding the business. Sports accounting is some of the most complex I’ve encountered, but it’s what makes it so fascinating.

Who is someone in the world of finance that you look up to? And what qualities do you see in them that you would want to emulate?

Mary: When I worked on the London 2012 Olympics, I was a finance analyst responsible for the technology budget, reporting to the head of FP&A. It’s only now that I appreciate the scope of what she had to cover. At the time, the £500 million budget I was managing was everything. But she had to manage those budgets 12 times over for different department. The poise and ability she had to serve each division equally was just brilliant. I’ve really come to admire how she managed to maintain the right level of detail.

You have to trust that your team knows what they’re doing and give them the right tools to succeed.

How do you maintain a sense of connection to the sports industry, even when your work doesn’t directly involve client projects?

Fran: Even though we’re not always directly working on client projects, I still feel very connected to the sports industry. Working at Two Circles allows us to contribute to the industry in meaningful ways, even if it’s not on the front lines of the client projects.

Mary: Every business needs enabling capabilities, and Two Circles wouldn’t run without our finance team; we help the business run faster. Everywhere you look around Two Circles, you can tell we’re part of a sports company.

What is your favourite part of working in finance at Two Circles?

Fran: In the three years I’ve been here, we’ve gone from 200 employees to around 650. The pace is ridiculous. The subject matter is fascinating; working on the Juventus deal as a football fan was exciting. I absolutely love it! When we step back from sports, we’re still a consultancy business, and entering into profit-share agreements and long-form contracts often involves some really quirky nuances. These agreements are designed to lock in long-term growth, and the accounting behind them can be incredibly complex.

What advice would you give to people looking for a job at Two Circles?

Fran: Be curious. Ask lots of questions in interviews. It shows a willingness to learn and a genuine interest in the role and the company. The job will evolve, and you need to evolve with it.

Mary: Autonomy is key. We’ll train and support you, but we won’t hold your hand every step of the way. You need to be ready to take on work and manage it independently. We’re looking for people who can thrive in that environment.

Seun: I look for a sense of identity – someone who’s more than just another accountant. It’s important to know your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. It’s about more than just doing the job well; it’s about building relationships and contributing to our positive culture.

Finally, what excites you most about the evolving landscape of finance in the sports industry?

Mary: Sport is growing and changing. The way people consume sport now is very different from how it used to be. As fans evolve, so do we as a business, and that includes our approach to finance. In finance, we can’t stand still because sport itself doesn’t stand still. We continue to grow and adapt, and finance is very much a part of that growth trajectory.

Our finance team is at the heart of our business, driving innovation and supporting our growth in a rapidly evolving industry. If you’re passionate about finance and intrigued by the dynamic world of sports, Two Circles offers an exciting opportunity to blend these interests. Visit our careers page and join us to be part of a team that’s not just about numbers, but about creating a better future for the sports industry. https://twocircles.com/gb-en/vacancies/