Lisa Gray
A Day in the Life
15 April 2025
Financial Controller
Hometown: Morecambe
Professional Journey: I began my career in accountancy practice but soon moved into industry, gaining hands-on experience across sectors including hospitality, manufacturing, financial services, student accommodation, and now energy.
Hobbies and Interests: Outside of work, I love to travel, catch live music and festivals, walk daily with my Staffordshire bull terrier, support Preston North End, and play the occasional round of fair-weather golf.
Fun Fact: A large part of my family lives in Calgary, Canada, and I visit them as often as possible.
Introduction
I’m Lisa Gray, Financial Controller at Evolve Energy. I officially joined the team in December 2023—though my first introduction was actually at the Christmas party on a Friday night, with my first day in the office the following Monday!
I report to the Finance Director and lead both the Finance and Credit Control teams. Together, we’re responsible for delivering accurate and timely financial information to support strategic decision-making, ensuring invoices are paid on time, and keeping payroll running smoothly so the team is paid for their hard work.
A Typical Day
My day starts by checking in with the team—seeing how everyone is doing and what’s on their plan. I’m a natural problem solver, so I like to help the team and make sure they are ok before getting stuck into my own tasks. Our finance team manages everything from supplier payments and customer receipts to payroll, reconciliations, and management reporting. We provide the information that helps drive informed decisions across the business. I’m ACCA qualified, but I also draw heavily on the varied industry experience I’ve gained over the years, which makes me adaptable to different finance systems and ways of working.
I’m also part of the Senior Management Team, keeping communication flowing across departments during this fast-paced period of growth.
Impacts & Achievements
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping others grow—I really enjoy sharing what I’ve learned over the years and seeing team members progress in their careers. Moving into the energy sector came with a steep learning curve, but I’ve been fortunate to have brilliant colleagues who’ve helped me get up to speed quickly. A proud moment for me was being asked to join Evolve by a Finance Director I’d previously worked with—it’s always a compliment when someone values your contribution enough to want to collaborate again. It’s great to be part of a team where our strengths really complement each other.
Since I joined Evolve the management of Credit Control has moved from Operations to Finance. This has grown my team significantly and enabled me to use my experience to enhance processes.
Looking Ahead
I’m always looking for ways to improve efficiency—getting accurate management information out quickly helps the business make faster, smarter decisions. I take pride in building a knowledgeable, engaged, and
happy team, and I’ll always push both myself and my team to be the best we can be. Joining Evolve at such a pivotal point in its growth journey has been incredibly exciting, and I’m looking forward to contributing through strong forecasting and financial insight to help support and shape that growth.
Closing Thoughts
When I joined Evolve, I had no experience in the energy sector and quickly discovered just how many acronyms and complexities there are—but thankfully, I was met with a welcoming team always willing to share their knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
My personal motto is: If you can, join in! You never know what opportunities are waiting for you, so experience new things, meet new people, travel to new places and accept all the invitations!
Ways To Get In Contact With Evolve Energy
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