Ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday 8 March, we profile a selection of staff who work across the Club. Today, it's Linzi Marsh and Louise Price…

Linzi Marsh, Financial Controller (main picture, left)

Linzi Marsh began her career in the travel and tourism industry – but after a change of direction began the journey to her ideal job at Everton.

Recently promoted to Financial Controller, Linzi spent nine years as a management accountant with the Club.

She manages a team of 10, including purchase ledger and banking and settlement specialists and five management accountants, each of whom has responsibility for a different area of the Club’s accounts – ranging from first team and Everton Women, to ticketing, the Academy, and operating costs for Goodison Park.

“Traditionally, people wouldn’t describe an accounting role as 'exciting' – but I’m proud to say that here at Everton, I can!" said Linzi.

Linzi reviews the accounts for each area, and she has oversight of the Club’s sales ledger, credit control, purchase ledger, banking and transactions, and supports the Head of Finance on key projects and reporting.

Linzi’s team also provides analysis to inform forecasting, financial decisions and pricing across the Club.

“Thousands of transactions can take place every day across our Club, and my team plays a vital role in ensuring that all these processes work, and that departments get the best advice on budgeting to help our Club achieve its overall vision.”

Linzi joined Everton from a hire company, and before that worked in radio, where she began as an office manager and progressed to accountant after studying and working at the same time.

“I gained a lot from combining working in accountancy with studying for professional AAT qualifications. It gave me a really good overview, while also being able to apply what I had learned.”

Linzi’s first job was a customer-facing role in travel and tourism, which she took after completing her A-Levels in subjects including English and Maths.

“While I loved my job in tourism, I knew I wanted to try something else. My advice would be, don’t feel like you have to stick with something that isn’t for you. Don’t be afraid to try something else.”

Little did Linzi know that her role as an accountant could see her contributing to a major cultural and tourist development for the city – the Club’s plans for a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock:

“The whole finance team is really excited for the build to commence – no doubt it will bring additional reporting dimensions and challenges to the department, which we are looking forward to," she says.

“We have supported in the planning stage, and I’m proud that we have been able to contribute to what will be a transformative development for the city. It also links in with my own interest in travel and tourism, as a new stadium has so much potential to attract visitors.”

“The beauty of accountancy is that you don’t have to limit yourself to working in one industry.

"Because of that, it’s always been important to me to work for companies and organisations that I am passionate about.

"I really like Everton as a business and everything that it stands for. I can’t imagine working anywhere else.”

Louise Price, Management Accountant (main picture, right)

Having played football for over 15 years, management accountant Louise Price realised her long-term dream in 2018 of combining finance and football when she joined Everton Football Club.

Louise previously worked in finance for a recycling and waste disposal company while enjoying a successful career playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers Women and Stoke City Women – experiences that made her realise she wanted to prolong her career in football by fusing a passion for the sport with a keen eye for numbers.

“I started playing football in the lower leagues for a team called Willenhall Town Ladies, which is based in the Midlands.

"We won a few leagues and established ourselves as a strong team.

"At 22-years-old, I decided to test myself at a higher level with Stoke City Women before moving on to Wolverhampton Wanderers Women where I played for four years, an experience I absolutely loved and that gave me the taste to want to work in the football industry once my playing days were over.

“I worked for a recycling and waste disposal company in various financial roles for 11 years before joining Everton. Throughout my time at my previous company I was playing football – training twice a week and playing every Sunday.

"Working within football was paramount for me really. It didn’t happen straight away, but I managed to join Everton two years ago and am loving every minute of it.”

Louise manages and advises on the finances for Everton Women, Everton Academy and the Club’s utilities - combined with a busy after-work schedule.

“At the moment I have a lot on: working, studying, playing football and coaching.

"I currently coach an Under-8s boys team in Lichfield, which involves taking training once a week as an assistant coach alongside the manager and getting involved with the game on a Sunday – as soon as the game is finished I head off to play in my match in the afternoon for Sporting Khalsa Women.

"It’s hard balancing my time, but it is another passion of mine to give back to the younger generation.

“I always enjoyed numbers and maths and obviously love football but never imagined I’d end up working with them in my career. I managed to marry up football and finance by trying to combine what I loved with what I was good at.

“Having a passion and interest in football has made me a better management accountant – I’m always reading the football news to stay up to date with the industry, attending both games here at Everton or elsewhere which helps me understand my job better. I’m always looking into the figures at where we can make savings to ensure we are achieving the maximum value on our operations.”

Last summer Louise’s wish to experience a day-in-the-life of an Everton Women player was granted by Everton as part of the Club’s staff reward scheme ‘Make a Wish’.

Louise was given the opportunity to join Willie Kirk’s squad for a full day of training and she says this remains a highlight of her time at Everton.

Louise’s advice for anyone looking to follow her route into football or finance is to remain determined in pursuit of your chosen career. “Don’t restrict yourself, if there is something you think you want to get into, keep on trying and never give up.”