In celebration of International Women’s Day, Tina Sunderland is the last of three SRLV staff to share her experience as a woman working in the accountancy sector. Tina’s career story is testament to what can be achieved with the right support, flexibility and confidence. Here, she shares practical insights and advice for women navigating their career growth alongside family life.

What are the key moments that have shaped your career and where you are today?

I began my career at Deloitte and around a year into my training contract, an internal role was advertised to join a team working with media and entertainment clients. It immediately caught my attention, so I decided to go for it.

I was interviewed first by Janice Lloyd and then by Charles Bradbrook, two of the most well-respected business managers in the industry, and once I was in the role I never looked back. When Charles retired as a partner at Deloitte, he moved across to SRLV and was joined by Janice shortly afterwards. Once I had finished studying, I gave them a call and was encouraged to join too.

Although I moved from a Big Four firm to a boutique practice, it felt like I was stepping into a bigger version of the work I’d been doing at Deloitte, with a broader and more varied media and entertainment client base. When I joined, I didn’t have a portfolio or a team, but I had the opportunity to build both from scratch. Over time, I established my own client base and team, which ultimately led to conversations about my progression to partner.

One of my most defining career moments came when I went on maternity leave in 2022. Before I left, discussions about partnership were already underway. Having a baby didn’t change this and when I returned from maternity leave, I stepped straight into the role of partner. My promotion completely challenged any assumption that having a baby would slow my career down, and it was an incredibly positive, affirming experience.

When you became a mother, did your perspective on your career change at all?

I was nervous about coming back from maternity leave, particularly about how I would manage being a new mum while stepping into a partnership role, but these insecurities faded away quickly.

The support I received from my colleagues, fellow partners and clients was incredible. It genuinely felt like I was stepping straight back into my role, rather than having to re‑establish myself. SRLV is extremely supportive of staff with families, and this flexibility and understanding makes a huge difference.

Becoming a mother didn’t make me less ambitious, but I was more conscious of achieving the right work-life balance. Now, as a mother of two, there is naturally more to organise, however, the transition back into work for the second time has still been very positive. I feel very fortunate to be part of a firm that allows me the opportunity to be able to manage both my work and family without feeling that I’m choosing one over the other.

What flexible working practices have made the biggest difference to you personally?

Phasing my return to work has been important. I currently work part-time, which SRLV has been very supportive in facilitating, and will gradually build back up to full‑time hours. Having the flexibility to work at my own pace has allowed me to balance my work with being a mum, particularly while my second child is still very young.

There’s also flexibility around how and when I work. If I need to start later to drop off my children or leave earlier to attend a school event, that’s fine. If the work gets done and client service is unaffected, there’s a real understanding here that flexibility benefits everyone.

Having this balance has been vital for me. It allows me to stay connected and engaged at work, while still being present at home, which is also important for my own and my children’s wellbeing.

In what ways do you think motherhood has positively influenced your leadership or working style?

Motherhood has definitely taught me patience! It’s also given me more empathy and perspective.

It’s important to remember that there’s always a solution or a way forward. This mindset has really shaped how I approach challenges, both with my team and clients; I’m more focused on working collaboratively, supporting others and moving forward constructively.

What does work-life balance realistically look like for you at this stage of your life?

I love my work and can easily become very absorbed in it, but balance for me is about being present for my children at key moments. That means having breakfast with them in the mornings, being home for dinner or putting them to bed when I can, and being around when they need me.

At the same time, I really enjoy being in the office, seeing my team and clients, and attending events. Work‑life balance isn’t about doing less of one or the other; it’s about having the flexibility to do both in a way that feels manageable and fulfilling.

Are there any boundaries or habits you’ve put in place to help balance work and family life?

One of the biggest changes I’ve made is around my phone. Before and after work, I’ll leave my phone in another room so I can be fully present with my children.

Having these phone free windows has made a huge difference. It helps me mentally to separate work and home life, rather than constantly being pulled back into emails and notifications. It’s something I’ve also encouraged my husband to do, and it’s proved to be effective for both of us.

What message would you like to share with women who are navigating career growth alongside parenthood?

I can imagine from my own experiences, that imposter syndrome can sometimes creep in and we are often told “you can’t have it all”. Whilst it’s true that juggling work and family is really hard, I believe that it is possible to have fulfilling careers as well as being great parents.

For me, it comes down to confidence, setting boundaries and surrounding myself with the right support. Also, looking after yourself is just as important as looking after everyone else.

With the right environment and support, I think that women can absolutely continue to grow their careers alongside being parents, without feeling they must compromise who they are or what they want.

Parenthood at SRLV

Thirty percent of the workforce at SRLV have parental responsibilities. We recognise that flexibility is essential when expecting a child or caring for young children, so we offer pregnancy-related sick leave and time off to attend antenatal appointments, alongside generous maternity/paternity leave, and flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.

Read Tina’s full biography here.

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