Harvey Berkley, FCMA, CGMA chief financial officer of HMV Canada.
| Author | Holmes, Lawrie |
| Position | Q&A - Interview |
How did you get started in your career?
After graduating, I began my career at the UK headquarters of cosmetics group Avon, where I first worked as a reporting financial analyst. During that time, I became interested in a career in management accountancy after completing a course in business studies at Manchester Polytechnic. I specialised in accounting, which then led to the desire to pursue a career in accountancy.
I had decided already against becoming a chartered accountant, feeling I was more suited to a focus in industry and commerce. As a result, I found the CIMA qualification suited the path I wanted my career to follow. It gave me an overview of business operations as a whole, and how to be influential within that business.
How did you find your way to North America?
After leaving Avon, I moved into a role as a management accountant at Sony manufacturing and distribution. During this time, I decided I needed additional experience in other firms. I moved to Thorn EMI Security, just as it had transformed into a larger conglomerate, where I worked as a divisional accountant.
While at Thorn, I saw an advert for a management accountant role at HMV UK. Once hired, I had the opportunity to work in three different countries, something I had always wanted to do. First, at the age of 29, I moved to New Zealand following my appointment as finance director of HMV's operations in that country. I was there for two years, returning to HMV's corporate office to take up a role in business development, which entailed supporting the development of the overseas businesses. This led to a position in business development in the US, where I was vice-president, finance, based in Stamford, Connecticut.
You were heavily involved in HMV's US rollout. What happened?
We established the US business based on several preconceptions. We felt we could roll out a US franchise in the same way that we had successfully developed the model in the UK. The US market for "physical" music was still in growth mode at that time, with significant specialist competition. We felt we could deliver a better offering than the competition that existed in the market.
We looked at many opportunities to acquire new physical locations from 1993-98, but our arrival was during the peak of real estate prices in the country. We were aware of the market opportunity, but unfortunately less aware of the overall marketplace. We had opened new locations in many of the most competitive US...
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