SHE has a head for heights and now a former flight officer with the Royal Air Force is all set to prove she has one for numbers too.

After spending nearly 18 years in the RAF, Hannah Griffiths, who lives in Badbury Park, embarked on a new career path as a financial planner.

She said: “I had reached the end of my engagement with the Royal Air Force and was looking for a second career that was going to offer similar variety and challenge and still involved working with people, but with the ability to remain in the local area.

“I loved my time in the RAF. The job provided a great variety of roles, introduced me to some very talented and professional people and allowed me to travel to some interesting places.

“I had a brilliant time but was ready for a new challenge.”

The former officer, 40, left the forces in September 2017 and recently obtained a level 4 diploma for financial advisers with the London Institute of Banking and Finance after completing a study programme with Quilter Financial Adviser School.

Hannah joined financial planners and mortgage advisers Private and Commercial Financial Services Ltd (PCFS) in Hungerford in October 2018.

She was sponsored by the firm through the course and passed exams in financial services ethics and regulation and investment, pensions and protection advice.

And as well as of receiving her qualification, she received an award for being the top student in her cohort.

She added: “I enjoyed the challenge of completely changing industry and achieving a qualification in a new field.

“I have found that a number of the attributes I needed in the RAF have been relevant to my new career, for example: people skills, leadership, self-motivation, attention to detail and acting with integrity.

“I’m really excited to begin my new role as a professional financial adviser.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me with a successful local financial planning business and I’m really grateful to PCFS for helping me gain my diploma.”

The company, which was founded in 1991, supports clients in the region, building financial plans to help them reach their goals.

PCFS owner and director Ian White said: “With an ever-increasing number of clients and their assets under our advice, we have taken the opportunity to grow our team by bringing Hannah on board.

“We are really proud of Hannah, who has passed her financial planning qualification and is looking forward to embarking on her new career.

“In her time working with PCFS and studying for the Diploma in Financial Advice, Hannah has shown she has an abundance of talent and commitment.

“Combining those qualities with her new qualifications, we know Hannah will play a crucial role in helping PCFS support even more clients in the region to build and maintain their own personal financial plan.”