An Anguillian young woman, who has highly educated herself to contribute to national development and is a patriotic example to other local youth, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Health Authority of Anguilla. Ms. Patriese Richards, 28, took up her appointment on Monday, November 19. She is the first Anguillian to be permanently employed in that post.
Ms. Richards spoke in an interview with The Anguillian newspaper. “I am an Anguillian-born and was raised in East End,” she stated. “I attended the Morris Vanterpool Primary School and the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
“I went to Pennsylvania State University. There I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and my Master’s Degree also in Accounting, and my Minor in Management Information Systems.
“Before going to school, I worked at the Department of Social Development for two years. After returning to Anguilla, I worked at the Financial Intelligence Unit at the Police Station for about six months. Then I worked at CuisinArt as the Food & Beverage Cost Controller for three years. I then came to the Health Authority as CFO.”
Ms. Richards, whose studies were privately financed, obtained her CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Licence in January 2017. It is a US-based certification, the equivalent of the UK version of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).
She has had a student leadership role while at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, as well as in the community, which assisted in her all-round personal development and outlook. “I was involved in the Debating Society, Rotaract/Interact Clubs there at the school; Treasurer of the Anguilla Youth Association for a year, and I also served in various other youth organizations in Anguilla,” she related.
Asked about her liking for financial matters, she replied: “It has always been a passion for me,” she replied. “From a young child I always liked doing my budgeting and other different things. I think it runs in the family because two of my aunts (one of whom is Mrs. Patricia McDonna, Accountant General at the Anguilla Treasury) are also accountants as well as my uncle. The other two family members reside and work in St. Kitts.”
Commenting on her high-profile appointment, Ms. Richards said: “I am excited actually because usually young people do not get these kinds of opportunities. At lot of times you have to bring in persons for these positions, so I am excited to show Anguilla what young people can do. There are a lot of Anguillians coming back to the island with their qualifications, but it is very difficult for us to get opportunities like this because they are told they don’t have any experience.
“To me, this position is about helping the Health Authority get where it needs to be; and proving to young people that there can be a future for them in Anguilla if they come back, and that they can succeed in their own island. They don’t have to leave.”
The parents of the newly-appointed CFO of the Health Authority of Anguilla are Carl Richards and Iona Proctor.
