Professional Progression… Meet Bradley Crann!

In the latest chapter of our Professional Progression series, we are excited to introduce Bradley Crann, our Finance Business Partner. Bradley has been with Professional Security for 10 years and shares valuable insights into his journey and role.

• How did you begin your career with Professional Security, and what led you to work in this industry?

After unfortunately failing college, my career aspirations took a significant hit. I found myself at a crossroads, with the choice of either finding a job or starting over. A family friend, who had just become a manager at YH Training, helped me get back on track by arranging for me to attend an interview at professional. Fortunately, I was successful securing an apprenticeship at Professional Security as a Payroll Apprentice while pursuing an AAT qualification.
Initially, I didn’t fully appreciate the benefits of working for Professional, but over time, I realized what a supportive and welcoming environment it was, largely thanks to the kindness I experienced during my initial years.

• Can you provide an overview of your role and your day-to-day responsibilities?

As a Finance Business Partner, my role is quite dynamic. I lead a team called FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis), where we work on projects to support the operations team in driving profitability. A large part of what we do involves forecasting future profits and ensuring our reporting is accurate and productive. I also manage stakeholders and help guide projects with a commercial mindset.

• Were you aware of the career opportunities available in your department when you first started?

Even though I started as an apprentice, I had no clear idea of where my career would lead—not even after a year, let alone 10. For the first 2-5 years, I felt like I was just getting by, and my early advancements were not necessarily something I strived for. As the company grew and my role along with it, particularly with the leadership we have now, it became clear to me how far I could progress with the abundant opportunities in the business. I progressed from Payroll Apprentice to Finance Supervisor, Billing Manager, and ultimately Finance Business Partner. Now, more than ever, the opportunities for me and others continues to grow.

• What do you find most enjoyable about your role at Professional?

The greatest satisfaction for me comes from seeing the tangible results of my work. It’s incredibly rewarding to look back at the financial performance over the last few years and visibly see the transformation I’ve been a part of. The knowledge, exposure and experience I’ve gained in the process is invaluable.

• What’s the best career advice you’ve received?

Recently, I was advised to focus on becoming a specialist in my field, rather than spreading myself too thin by trying to do everything. The key takeaway was to “look at the big picture and focus on what’s most beneficial to the company, rather than just giving people what they want.”

• What advice would you give to someone starting a career in the security industry?

The hardest part is breaking out of the entry-level positions. Ultimately it comes down to value so think about how you can add more value than others for your line manager, your department and the company as a whole.

• Tell us one surprising fact about yourself.

I used to play multiple sports, including tennis, golf, table tennis, snooker, football, and rugby. Now I primarily focus on football. I’m versatile and can play any position, though I typically choose striker or midfield, but in 5-a-side games, I play in defence.