Behind this successful business you’ll find a talented team of people, each one playing an integral role in delivering for our customers and supporting our continued growth.
Through our Meet the Team series, we’re introducing the people who make Place UK what it is, sharing more about their roles, what motivates them and what makes our business a great place to work.
This month, we’re catching up with Kelly Jay, Head of Finance, who has been part of Place UK for more than eight years.
Kelly came back to the business in 2023 after spending time in another role within the finance sector, and took up her current title with us in April 2026, following the appointment of our new Co-Managing Directors, to strengthen the financial expertise within the senior team.
Read on to meet Place UK returnee, Kelly, including some top advice for tackling elephant-sized projects.
More than just the numbers
As Head of Finance, Kelly’s role goes far beyond reporting figures and reviewing performance. Her day typically begins with a Senior Management Team meeting to discuss the day-to-day running of the business, before turning her attention to leading the finance team and working with colleagues across different departments.
“Finance should be responsible for helping the business to make good decisions moving forward, as well as reporting performance,” she explains.
By working closely with our teams throughout Place UK, Kelly makes sure each department has the information it needs to understand our performance, identify opportunities and plan for the future.
Progress that makes a difference
For Kelly, one of the most rewarding parts of the job here is seeing improvements take shape.
“I see improvements within the finance department and the wider business all the time. It’s great to know I’ve played a part in that,” she says.
She’s particularly proud of the progress made in improving reporting and the quality of information shared with colleagues across Place UK. These developments have helped the wider business access better information to support its work and decisions.
A team worth coming back to
Kelly’s connection with Place UK stretches back several years. After working for the business for five years, she moved on to explore a different opportunity within finance before returning to us in 2023. We were delighted to welcome Kelly back into the team.
On returning, Kelly says a big part of the appeal was the chance to work with familiar colleagues again, in a business she finds genuinely interesting.
When asked to describe the culture at Place UK, Kelly says, “It’s really fun and friendly. Obviously, we work hard to achieve our objectives, but I never have that Sunday evening dread.”
One bite at a time
Kelly’s approach to tackling some of the bigger challenges is guided by a simple but useful piece of advice: “You eat an elephant one bite at a time.”
“It’s a reminder that bigger projects become more manageable when broken down into smaller steps – and it’s a principle that’s just as useful outside work as it is in the office.”
With Kelly’s help, Place UK keeps moving forward, one step at a time.
Thank you to Kelly for sharing a little about her role as Head of Finance and her career journey with Place UK so far.
Look out for more Meet the Team stories as we continue to introduce the people who bring their vast experience, expertise and fresh ideas to help our business thrive.
