Julie Roxburgh, a Senior Finance Officer who was recognised for her long service, reflects on four decades at Sefton – though she had expected her time at the Council to be a fair bit shorter than that...
Congratulations on 40 years at Sefton Council, Julie. Could you tell us a bit about your history with the Council?
Considering I was only going to stay in Sefton for two years (I had heard that’s how long you should stay in a role)...
I haven’t had many roles at all – just three in total. I started as a Trainee Accountant in 1985, qualifying as an accountant in 1988. I stayed as an accountant in the Finance Department (Balliol House), having worked in Audit and Housing accounts until 1993 when I ‘defected’ to what was then Adult & Children's Social Care in Burlington House, Waterloo as the Principal Finance Officer.
This was at a time of great change when the responsibility for funding social care, including care homes, shifted from the Department of Social Security (DSS) to local authorities.
I really enjoyed working with the management team there as they were very friendly and used to pay for the office Christmas party! (Charlie Barker was the Director & Bob McConnel, Asst Finance Director-Support Services).
At some point we all moved to Merton House in Bootle, I think this was around 2002/3. We stayed there until we merged back into the Finance Department around 2018/19, when my post was redesignated Senior Finance Officer and eventually moved into Magdalen House.
I have been working from home since covid and enjoying it - in particular, I am not missing the daily commute through the Wallasey tunnel to Bootle!
We can all appreciate that! Going back to the Eighties, what were some of the aspects of office like in those times?
First of all, having a tea lady who made us a hot drink twice a day!
There was also being able to get lunch from the canteen at Bootle Town Hall.
I remember entering, by hand, financial information into big ledgers. Financial information like expenditure and income was printed out by mainframe computers overnight, on reams of paper.
Thank goodness for the internet, then! What other progress has taken your eye since then?
No smoking in office buildings, for one!
Also, there’s more choice and control for Adult Social Care users now. The investment in technology for staff too – there were no computers when I first started in Finance. Now, everyone has their own laptop and can work from home.
Other highlights would include: Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and Southport Eco Centre being built, greater investment in training for staff, a less hierarchical management that’s more approachable, and improved top-down communication with things like Teams Hour.
(Also), I have seen the Community Care budget increase from £29m to £110m!
And now we’ve celebrated your 40-year career at the Star awards. How does that feel? There must be plenty of people who have helped you along the way!
It felt good to be recognised, it’s nice to be appreciated and seen as a valued member of the workforce.
(And on people to thank) All my managers have been inspirational in some way!