Giles has been Group Financial Controller at Burgess for over 20 years, running the company finances and supervising all financial aspects of its managed yachts. He joined the company in 1994 as one of seven employees in the London office and has witnessed the company grow to more than 250 people globally, including a team of eight in the financial department. He is a Fellow of the Certified Chartered Accountants (FCCA) and made Partner in 2019.

Originally responsible for all financial matters, Giles’ role has expanded alongside the company’s burgeoning portfolio of services and departments. Today, as the Group Financial Controller, he manages all fiscal requirements across all the group companies, navigating evolving regulations regarding compliance and auditing, as well as producing the company’s statutory accounts and the group cash flow.
 
'I'm involved in every aspect of the company and really enjoy the complete overarching aspect of my role,' he says. 'I’ve always found the people that I work with to be the most enjoyable aspect of my job, bolstered by the fact Burgess is a global company that acknowledges the fact its staff are its biggest asset.'
 
Managing the finances for one of the biggest global brokerages in the world demands a robust understanding of rules and differing jurisdiction, from both a domestic and international perspective. Giles works across myriad time zones, currencies and cultures liaising with multiple departments and teams on every charter, sale and deal.
 
'In the three decades I have worked at Burgess, it has organically grown into a multi-million company, without any acquisitions or debt,' he says. 'I believe that stands testament to the way it’s been managed throughout the years, and from a finance aspect that’s what I’m most proud of.'