With a passion for numbers that started in childhood and a determination to keep growing, Danny Young has steadily built his career at Esseco UK. Today, as Financial Controller, he plays a key role in reporting, analysis, and strategic support across departments. In this interview, Danny shares his journey—from starting with Esseco UK to joining the leadership team
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Danny, and I am the Financial Controller at Esseco UK.
What does your role involve?
My job primarily involves financial reporting, which contributes to the preparation of the annual financial statements. These are then submitted to our auditors and published online. I also focus on adding value across different departments by providing financial insight and support.
Have you always been passionate about numbers and finance?
Yes—both numbers and analysis. Growing up, my mum worked in finance for my dad’s company, and I often helped her out. That early exposure definitely sparked my interest. At school, maths was always my strongest subject, and I also studied business and economics at A-Level. I’ve always been interested in how businesses operate, especially the financial side.
What was your educational path?
After completing my GCSEs and A-Levels, I began pursuing accounting qualifications while working. Thanks to employer support, I’ve since completed my CIMA qualification.
How did you come to join Esseco UK? Was it by chance or by choice?
A bit of both! I was looking for a new opportunity and had previously worked with James, our Finance Director. He reached out to me about the role, and it turned out to be a great fit.
Has anyone at Esseco UK played a mentoring role in your journey?
Yes, definitely. James has supported me from the start, gradually giving me more responsibility and encouraging my development. One of the key reasons I joined Esseco UK was the willingness to support my higher education and qualifications.
How has your role evolved since you joined the company?
I started by managing the purchase ledger side—processing invoices, managing supplier payments, and resolving queries. I then took on responsibilities related to the cash book, such as posting bank transactions and handling credit control. Over time, I became more involved with month-end preparing accounts and reporting financial results.
More recently, my role has expanded to include value-added activities, developing tools to support other departments in data driven decision-making.
Are you already part of the leadership team?
Yes, that’s a new chapter. I officially became part of the leadership team in January. It’s an exciting step, and I’m looking forward to leading new projects and mentoring my team.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I find it especially rewarding to develop tools that support other teams—such as dashboards or forecasts—and to see them put to good use. For example, I recently helped the sales team create a new forecasting model, allowing them to analyse future trends as well as historical product volumes. Receiving positive feedback on something you’ve invested time in is always motivating and encourages continued improvement.
What do you find most challenging?
Balancing priorities. The world of finance is very process-driven and scheduled, but as responsibilities grow, so do ad hoc requests. It can be challenging to maintain structure while staying responsive to additional demands.
Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of?
One that stands out is a sales dashboard I created for Ruggero. With just one click, he can access real-time volumes and sales figures. It’s simple but powerful—and very effective.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Determined, organised, and social.
How do those traits show up in your work?
Being determined means I never give up especially when developing tools or spreadsheets. I’ll always find a way to make it work. Being social helps me communicate effectively with different teams and build strong relationships across the company.
What’s something personal that colleagues might not expect about you?
Music has always been a big part of my life. I taught myself to play guitar, drums, and how to DJ—mostly by ear and a bit of YouTube.
How would you describe the Esseco UK team in three words?
Friendly, helpful, and hardworking. Everyone here is willing to lend a hand and gives their best effort every day.
How would you describe internal communication at Esseco UK?
We have a good mix of face-to-face meetings and other forms of communication, we are constantly working to ensure that information flows between teams across the business.
Danny’s story is a clear example of how technical expertise, curiosity and a proactive mindset can drive professional growth. More than numbers and reports, his work reflects a genuine commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement—both for himself and for the team around him. As he steps into a leadership role, he brings with him not only experience, but also the ability to connect, support and inspire.
Thanks for your time, Danny!
