Alumni

Spyros Yiassemides

Career Path: Chief Financial Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
Location: Nicosia, Cyprus

After completing my Bachelor in Accountancy at Northumbria, I moved to London where I undertook a Master's of Science at Computer Science at UCL, then I returned to Cyprus and joined Deloitte where I did my ACA traineeship and, three years down the road, I became a full member of the ICAEW. I served the private sector for 15 years, then I took the decision to join the public sector, so I was appointed in the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus as a Chartered Accountant, and after 5 years of serving at the Treasury's Headquarters, the Accountant General appointed me as CFO of the Cyprus' MFA. In between all these, I managed to complete my doctoral studies in cinema, with my PhD thesis centering on cinematic realism and how it can enhance the emotional engagement of the viewer when used strategically in films based on true traumatic events. I am currently balancing my days between numbers, movies, film festivals, and family.

What are you doing now?

I am currently serving as the CFO of the Cyprus' MFA, heading the Financial Management Directorate of the Ministry, and dealing with all things found at the intersection of diplomacy and public financial management!

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

The city itself is very appealing to students, as it has a vibrant nightlife, plenty of opportunities to mingle with fellow students, and a romanticism that is hard to come across. Oh, and Scotland is a short drive from the city, which is a huge plus!

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

One of the best experiences of my life. All our professors were very eager to help with all tasks at hand, but the pick of the bunch was, hands down, our then Programme Director, Donald Halliday, who was particularly fond of international students, and was there for us every time we needed him, without fail. I vividly remember his tradition of taking all the students in our course on a pub crawl at the end of each exam period, to celebrate our "freedom" from the books :)

What was the best thing about your course?

Its structure, the attention we received from our professors, the breadth and depth of the curriculum, the synthesis of our classroom, the quality of teaching, and the positive vibes exuded by all!

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/ give your career an edge?

Apart from equipping me with a prestigious degree, it served as the springboard for my future career, in that it laid the foundation for pursuing the ACA professional qualification and eventually becoming a Chartered Accountant, which, in itself, is a professional passport that creates a myriad of opportunities and opens as many doors.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now throughout your career?

Time management, accounting/financial theory, coping under stress, and peak performance due to the competitive nature of the degree (it's worth mentioning that I was awarded the prize for the best student in the first and second year (highest average mark) by the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants respectively, as well as the prize for the highest mark in the subject of Taxation in the third year by the Chartered Institute of Taxation).

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

The feeling of being part of a community, the friendly campus atmosphere, the university facilities (especially the Sports Centre), the parties at the Student Union, the daily life of being a student in a city that lives and breathes academia.

What advice would you give somebody who is considering studying at Northumbria?

Don't walk - run! Both the city of Newcastle and the University of Northumbria offer an unparalleled student experience - from the university's infrastructure, its facilities, the quality of teaching, the variety of societies to join, the vibrant student community, to everything that the city has to offer in terms of nightlife, restaurants, museums, excursions, etc., all of which help to make the student experience a memorable one.