Southend’s Adventure Island is the UK’s most popular free admission fun park, with dozens of rides... and the woman behind the scenes making sure it is financially sound is Maxine Bean.

And as the finance director for the entire Stockvale group, she also looks after Southend’s Sealife Adventure, plus Sands by the Sea, Feelgoods, Clarence Yard, Pavilion Fish and Chips, Three Shells Beach Cafe, plus a growing property portfolio.

Halstead Gazette:

But it was her dad who set her on this career path, when he said she should go into banking rather than being a beautician when she finished school.

“Believe it or not I wanted to be a beautician,” she smiles. “My father didn’t like that idea and said I should work in a bank….and there it began!

“I worked in a bank for 11 years before having my daughter. Personal circumstances meant I had to earn a living on my own and decided to take up accountancy. While at home looking after my daughter, I studied be an accountant while doing part-time accounts jobs, which eventually lead to me becoming a finance director.

“When I decided to take accountancy exams I had a very good mentor who helped me put theory into practice. I believe that when studying for any exam you must be able to relate the text to practice and I always encourage this in my team when they are studying.”

So what does her working day look like today?

“My primary role is clearly looking after the finances of all the businesses, obviously with the help of a good strong team who support me,” she says

“My day usually starts when I get up around 6.30am when I quickly check emails before I get into the office.

“My first job of the day when I get in is always checking cashflow. Cash is king. Dependent on timings of various meetings that may be arranged I then head off to the radio station to check what is happening there.

I have even voiced an ad for one of our other businesses which is currently on air on Radio Essex. I’ll do whatever it needs to keep things moving. I leave the office at differing times depending on workload. Typically its about 6.30pm. But I never switch off, I check emails when I get home.”

Maxine loves seeing the growth of the businesses. “It’s very rewarding when we all put in the hard work to see it flourish and grow,” she says.

But there must be some tough bits?

“I suppose occasionally when there is a need to let an employee go for whatever reason, this can be difficult. Nobody really enjoys firing people but you have to do what’s best for the health of the business.”

And when it comes to a businessman or woman who she most admires, Maxine doesn’t have to look far.

“Philip Miller, chief executive of our group,” she affirms. “He bought Adventure Island from the hands of the receivers and through sheer determination and hard work built Adventure Island into the success it is now.”