Every working day is different for General Manager Anna Buddo from Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services. She says, “In any given day I may be called to calm a client with challenging behaviours and then be sitting in the Board meeting being answerable for the Board of Directors.” Anna notes the importance of having adaptable and versatile skills, working for a not-for-profit. She says that you “wear lots of hats” and “need to have knowledge and skills in finance, governance, human resources and operational management.” To further her skills in finance, she undertook the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s Small Business Finance Course, for which she was provided a scholarship. For her, the course demonstrated that financial management is not just the budget, but all aspects of finance, including knowing your vision, having a grasp of personal circumstances and incorporating general business knowledge. She learned that it’s best to regularly review all business strategies in order to maximise cash flow. The impact of her learning on Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services has been significant.
She states, “when I started as General Manager the organisation was facing a budget deficit, and I concentrated on expense control and increasing outcome.” After participating in the Small Business Finance Course, she has transitioned from operational to strategic thinking, grasping firmly an understanding of broader financial management.
Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services provides 13 different services that she believes “enable our diverse community to realise its potential and independence.” These services include Meals on Wheels, Respite, day centres for the frail aged and emergency relief for the financially disadvantaged. A significant 72% of their clients are frail aged and 28% have disabilities. Anna started working as a Food Service Assistant in a local not-for-profit after relocating to Australia from New Zealand. She enjoys the industry’s ability to provide work of a rewarding nature. The Small Business Finance Course scholarship was awarded to Anna Buddo on behalf of Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services as part of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s Partnership with the Australian Scholarships Foundation (ASF). For details of upcoming scholarships programs, visit the ASF website.
