Our People

Sarah Pook, Executive Director – Finance, Planning & Analytics

Sarah joined the University as Director of Finance in September 2011 from Hampshire County Council. She is responsible for the financial systems we use at the University, as well as stewardship of the University’s finances, budgeting and preparation of the financial statements and maintaining a sound system of internal control. Most importantly, Sarah is responsible for the Finance department’s vision to enable its customers to expand their possibilities through information led financial support and commercial enquiry. Sarah is a CIPFA qualified accountant and also a chartered member of CIPD, which makes for an interesting mix in a Finance director.

Julie Fielder, Director of Finance – Business Support

Julie joined Finance at Southampton University in January 2014, as Assistant Director of Finance: Business Support. She is responsible for the Faculty Finance Teams, overseeing business partner support and leading on the Business Planning process, including the University’s Treasury Management Strategy. She also oversees the EU Office, who are a specialist team, focusing on EU research. Previously, Julie worked for the Cabinet Office where she was Head of Performance and Planning. Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending time with her family and going to the theatre.

Julie Shaw, Personal Assistant

Julie joined the Finance department in January 1980, for 5 years when she worked in the then Salaries and Wages department, a job which included folding thousands of payslips by hand every month! Julie then rejoined the Finance department in May 1989, when she worked in Pensions until 1991 and then in Payroll until 1994, when she took up her current position as Personal Assistant to the Directorate Team. Alongside this role, her responsibilities include overseeing health and safety in the department as well as managing HR-facing paperwork. Outside of work, Julie is an avid supporter and season ticket holder for Southampton football club and enjoys running and sports.

Chris Tollerfield, Faculty of Social Sciences

Chris started working at the University in March 2008, when he joined as a Senior Management accountant for what was then Medicine, Health and Life Sciences based at Southampton General Hospital. Since 2019 he has been able to move to Highfield as Head of Faculty Finance for Social Sciences. Previously, Chris has worked as a management accountant for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, as well as some work in the car industry. Outside of work, Chris’ life is equally as busy with time spent cycling, playing and coaching cricket, looking after an allotment and being a governor for a local school.

Simon Mason, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Simon joined the University of Southampton Finance department in 2000, where he was a Fixed Assets Accountant and Company Accountant in Financial Accounts. Simon has had many positions in Finance, including School Accountant within the old FESM Faculty, Costing and Pricing Accountant and HoFF within Natural & Environmental Sciences. Simon also spent some time seconded to iSolutions, helping to implement our Finance System, Agresso, and previous research management and costing systems. In his current role as Head of Faculty Finance, Simon is responsible for all financial aspects of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, as well as advising the Dean and Faculty Management Team. Previous jobs for Simon include working for NERC (Natural Environment Research Council), in Surrey and then later at the Southampton docks. In his spare time, Simon enjoys camping and walking and the treasurer for a local youth football team and a school governor.

Lorna Leverett, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Lorna joined the University of Southampton in 1996, and has worked in several different roles during that time, including School Administrator for the School of Ocean and Earth Science, School Accountant for ORC & ISVR and as the DHOFF in the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment. Her appointment in 2019 as the Head of Faculty Finance for Art and Humanities encompasses supporting the Dean’s and Faculty Executive Groups, and being responsible for all aspects of finance within the two areas. The Finance teams are split across campus offices, so Lorna shares her time between locations, including Avenue Campus and Winchester School of Art. Leisure activities include photography, textiles and baking.

Anna Kerhoas, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences

Anna is an ACCA qualified accountant who joined the University in 2006 as an accountant in Estates & Facilities. She has enjoyed a number of roles in Finance, including school accountant for Civil Engineering, Maths and Engineering Sciences, and Deputy Head of Faculty Finance for the Faculty of Medicine, before moving to the Faculty of Health Sciences and then into Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences with the new Faculty structure in August 2018. Anna was promoted to Head of Faculty Finance in September 2019 and currently manages a Finance team based on Highfield Campus as well as a presence at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS). Before joining the University Anna lived and worked in Cornwall, where she was an Accountant with Cornwall County Council. In her spare time she enjoys regular visits back to Cornwall, cycling around the New Forest and generally trying to keep fit with spin classes and gym sessions.