“After a telephone call with Jo, I was sold on the potential of how easy it would be to work with her, and her team and I wasn’t wrong. The set-up is very professional with a friendly, approachable feel.”
“Jo and her team at Bursary Assessment Associates have helped transform how we manage our Bursary process.”
Jo
Founder and Managing Director
Jo is responsible for the overall direction and leadership of the company. She collaborates closely with leaders to understand how BAA can best support them to achieve their goals.
Before founding BAA, Jo spent almost 30 years in board level finance and procurement roles and worked as Director of Finance and Operations at a leading day school. She is a Chartered Global Management Accountant and qualified in Advanced Programme Management.
Jo is fiercely proud of the work BAA does and having spent her early years in one of the most deprived areas in the country, she has a first-hand appreciation of how transformative a great educational opportunity can be, having gone on to achieve a successful international business career herself.
Jo lives in Cheshire with her husband, young daughter, and crazy rescue dog, Fluke. They are an active family and can often be found enjoying the outdoors and spending time in Anglesey.
Helen
Operations Manager
Helen’s priority is to ensure BAAs services are seamlessly delivered to families and schools, overseeing the overall capacity of the team and ensuring the highest level of quality.
Prior to joining us, Helen owned her own manufacturing business, a water-based paint company. She is a qualified Management Accountant and has recently completed and ILM in Coaching and Mentoring and a Level 7 Certificate in Sustainable Leadership.
Helen lives in North Wales with her active and sporty family. Outside work Helen loves walking Lexi, her Cockapoo, yoga and watching cricket. Helen has a passion for learning, particularly relating to coaching, mentoring and finance.
Wendy
Office Lead
Wendy is our mainstay in the office. Responsible for everything relating to the bursary application process, she is always happy to help both parents and schools, providing a seamless application process.
Having worked in banking and finance for over 30 years, her strength in building successful relationships and ensuring excellent customer service is at the heart of everything she does. Wendy is an expert at delivering practical solutions for every situation and making sure that every process is both accurate and efficient.
In her spare time she likes to travel and spend quality time with her grandchildren, having recently combined the two with an amazing family holiday to DisneyWorld, Florida. Wendy also enjoys reading and walking, enjoying the delights of the Cheshire countryside in all weathers!
Ceri
Office Assistant
Ceri is Wendy’s right-hand woman in the office, processing all the bursary application forms and making sure that the correct information is included. She will always pick up the phone to anyone who is struggling with the process and point them in the right direction.
Ceri comes to work to escape her crazy three children, husband and guinea pigs that await her at home. She has a background of supporting families in the Youth Justice System and comes to us from working in the public sector for the past 20 years. Ceri is well versed in the challenges that can affect people in life and therefore is well placed to support any struggling families through the process. She also keeps the cups of tea flowing!
In her free time Ceri tries to keep fit and enjoys bike rides with the family and holidays in the UK and further afield. She also likes walking, fresh air and can be regularly found reorganising and decorating her house!
Natalie
Senior Associate
Natalie loves the varied nature of her job, especially getting out and about and meeting the wonderful and interesting families we support. She is responsible for assessing applications, guiding families through the bursary process, and submitting a fair and factual report on their behalf. Prior to joining us at BAA, Natalie spent over a decade in finance and management roles.
Natalie lives in Oxfordshire and away from her busy work life, Natalie enjoys an even busier home life spending time with her three young children, their three cats and Winnie and Wanda the basset hounds!
Kate
Senior Associate
Kate absolutely loves her role of Senior Associate. She feels privileged to be part of each family’s bursary journey and always sets her sights on securing the best possible educational environment for each child.
Prior to joining BAA, Kate worked for a firm of Chartered Accountants. She holds a degree in Accounting and Finance and has a strong financial background with almost 20 years’ experience working in various financial settings, including credit control, internal audit, accounts, and payroll.
Kate and her family live in Cheshire and outside of work, Kate’s energetic young daughter likes to keep her busy with her numerous after school clubs and hectic social life!
Therese
Senior Associate
Therese has over 20 years of experience in accountancy, internal audit and grant management and has worked across a diverse range of sectors including private practice, non-profits and charities.
She loves meeting with families and helping them through the bursary process, knowing that for many, this opportunity will lead to a generational shift and feels honoured to be part of that journey.
Alongside her role at BAA, Therese runs mental wellbeing and resilience courses for young people who are care experienced or at risk, helping them to uncover their innate resilience to overcome the unique obstacles and challenges they face in life.
Therese lives near Glasgow and loves music, dance and theatre.
Claire
Associate
Claire has spent much of her career in accountancy practice, where latterly she was partner of a large practice advising clients in respect of their business and taxation affairs across a range of sectors. She has built a wealth of experience particularly in understanding and advising on clients’ personal finances.
Claire lives in Suffolk with her husband and three children who are at various stages of their university education, making her very familiar with completing student finance applications! Claire is also a huge animal lover particularly of dogs and horses. She has three crazy spaniels which she enjoys walking, in the countryside.
Bansi
Associate
Bansi’s background is in analytics and finance, having previously worked as a business analyst at a prominent global analytics company. She is a lifelong student and is now studying for a Masters in Business Analytics.
Bansi finds great joy in connecting with families as part of their bursary journey. Knowing that her support and guidance contributes to their educational aspirations is deeply fulfilling to her.
Residing in Manchester, Bansi exudes a cheerful and optimistic personality and she is committed to giving back to the community, evident through her volunteer work. In her spare time, she enjoys preparing authentic Indian cuisine, immersing herself in philosophical books and in addition, Bansi is an energetic Garba folk dancer!
Corinne
Associate
Corinne has many years of experience gained working within both the Private and Public sectors. For the last 15 years, Corinne has worked for the NHS in various management positions latterly as Practice Manager at a large GP surgery, a most varied, challenging and fulfilling role!
Having relocated from Essex in the early 1990’s, Corinne lives in the West Midlands and is Mum to three grown up children. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is kept on her toes as Granny to her adorable twin Grandsons.
Gemma
Associate
Gemma has 20 years of finance experience, including running her own high street practice. In 2018 she was awarded as a finalist Licensed Member of the Year and highly commended by her professional body for her personable approach. Gemma enjoys the variety involved in meeting all of our different families and hearing about their experiences.
In her spare time Gemma is a netball player, coach, and umpire. When she’s not netballing or reading she enjoys spending time with her children, step-children, and two labradors. Gemma is originally from the midlands but now lives in rural Devon amongst rolling countryside and close to our glorious beaches.
Chirag
Associate
Chirag is a Chartered Certified Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in finance and operational roles. He now finds great reward in helping families navigate the bursary process and supporting children to access opportunities they may not otherwise have had.
Chirag brings empathy, financial insight, and a strong sense of purpose to his role, helping ensure each family receives a fair and balanced assessment.
Based in North London, he is a lifelong Arsenal fan and enjoys watching matches with his son whenever possible. Outside of work, he volunteers at a local independent charity that raises funds to help individuals access high-quality mental health care — a cause he believes is vital in today’s world.
Ruth
Associate
Ruth is a seasoned accountant with over 30 years of experience in the finance industry. She holds a degree in Accountancy and Finance. Ruth has a diverse background, having worked in both public and private sectors. She originally qualified in Public Finance for large public sector organizations and later completed an AAT Level 4 Diploma to enhance her skills for smaller private businesses.
Ruth enjoys playing the piano and walking her rescue dog named Belle along the beach close to where they live. Ruth is married to Simon and has five adult children who are spread across the country.
Selena
Associate
Selena is an experienced accounting professional from Bristol with 18 years in the industry. AAT qualified, she has built a solid reputation for her reliability, attention to detail, and commitment to helping businesses manage their finances effectively.
Outside of work, Selena is a proud mum of two and enjoys spending her spare time indulging in creative hobbies—especially crochet, where she finds both relaxation and inspiration.
Testimonials
“Jo and her team at Bursary Assessment Associates have helped transform how we manage our Bursary process.”
Bursary Assessment Associates
Company Number 11078885
ICO Reference Number A8422092