Andrew grew up in Aberystwyth and then attended Swansea University in the mid-90s. Upon graduating with a 2:1 BSc he moved to London and spent around 20 years working for BT. Throughout that period, Andrew worked in the finance function, progressing from junior management accountant to CFO of BT Expedite and head of finance for BT Global Customer Service Operations. As a senior finance professional in this organisation he was responsible for +£500m budgets with +5,000 people on the direct payroll. Andrew left in 2016 to join Colt Technologies, a privately owned communications provider, where he spent 3 years working in a similar customer service head of finance role.

It was whilst working in the customer services role at BT that Andrew began to plan towards starting his own business as it became clear that his business motivation was people and not process oriented. Working with individual and SME clients felt more natural and satisfactory than working with large corporate entities. This led to Andrew committing to a period of change, working through the the St. James’s Place Academy and, ultimately, the creation of Andrew Varley Financial Planning, an Associate Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management in 2019.

Andrew’s customer service operations background plays through into his business. Clients are at the very core of what AVFP provides, with the aim of providing clients with financial peace of mind.

Andrew has a life outside of business as well, of course. He lives in the Cyncoed/Roath Park area of Cardiff with his wife and three daughters. When time allows he likes to play, coach and watch sport, particularly football and cricket. These days he is more likely to be found in the stands of the Principality Stadium, on the golf course, following the fortunes of Aberystwyth Town FC in the League of Wales, coaching his daughters junior football team or watching their netball matches.