From History Degree to Finance Manager

Today we had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Devon about all things King. From what a day looks like in the Finance Team to dying your hair pink — we cover it all!

We know it’s important for employees to feel like they can be themselves at work. Read on to hear Devon’s take on it after three years in the Kingdom.

Hey Devon, can you please tell us a little bit about your role?

I’m a Finance Manager in the Business Operations FP&A team, based in London. This means I’m a business partner for some of our key corporate cost areas, including HR & the President's Office.

My key responsibilities include end-to-end financial planning and business partnering all areas of HR & President’s Office, as well as supporting on ad-hoc projects. Some of the projects I’ve worked on recently are the infamous ‘KingfoMarket’ & the return to office plan following COVID lockdowns.

How long have you been with King? What has been your career journey so far, before you joined us, and within the Kingdom?

I've been at King for three years and love it. I thrive off variety, and I've been lucky enough to experience plenty!

Before I joined the Kingdom, I worked in Audit in a “Big Four” accounting firm where I focused on internationally listed TMT clients. This is probably quite a surprising career choice, when you consider I read History at university!

When I joined King, I started as a Senior Accountant working in Technical and Compensation Accounting; within a few months I expanded my role and also worked in Group Reporting. I then took a lateral move to the Business Operations team, starting my business partnering and FP&A journey as a Senior Financial Analyst. Nine months later I was promoted! It was hard work and a learning curve, but worth it.

I've also spent some time supporting Group FP&A, to broaden my knowledge of the consolidated financials, which was a great learning experience!

What does a day look like working in the King Finance team?

My role is primarily business partnering & financial planning for the HR and President’s Office organisation, which involves a huge amount of variety. Finance business partnering means I spend much of my time working closely with my partners, to ensure they’re supported to make informed business decisions. This involves doing financial analysis and supporting business cases, showcasing the financial & strategic impact of investment in these areas. Recent examples of this include KingfoMarket, a company-wide conference and celebration in Barcelona, and the expansion into Dublin as a hiring location. No two days are the same!

From a financial planning perspective, we work in quarterly cycles. This means I work closely with the teams to understand our planned and actual spend, so we can forecast accordingly and flag any risks or opportunities.


What initially attracted you to King?

King is a fast-paced tech and entertainment company and, as someone who bores easily, being in a dynamic environment is a must.

We also make incredible games. I wanted to work somewhere that had social relevance and a name that people have heard of. It’s nice to work somewhere that people of all generations can relate to.

How would you describe the culture in your team and/or within King?

I’d describe the culture as inclusive and the team as approachable — I can be myself here. Working in Finance there are some very corporate roles and environments, however that just isn’t me. Sometimes I want to dress wacky or experiment and tint my hair pink, without anyone batting an eyelid.

Also, as a gaming company, we exist to make the world playful and that translates to the workplace.

What advice would you give someone joining the Kingdom?

Be yourself! As previously mentioned, King is inclusive and approachable and encourages people to bring their full selves to work. Also, be curious and ask questions. People are passionate about their roles and the games, so are always happy to talk about it.

Do you have any favourite King games?

I’m personally not a huge gamer, but I’ve always got time for five mins of Candy Crush Saga. (Don’t we all, Devon!)

Pick one of our values and tell us what it means to you.

Fun & friendly is my favourite value.

We’re a friendly bunch and encourage people to be themselves, which I find so important. It enables a supportive workplace and also makes coming to work every day a lot more fun!