Meet the team | Adrian Sterling

Tell us about your role at VM Finance

My role at VM Finance has two main areas of responsibility. The first is the finance side of the business, which includes overseeing accounting and reporting to various stakeholders, both internally and externally. That means making sure we have a clear view of where we are financially and ensuring that information is communicated accurately across the business.

The second part of my role focuses on strategic investments. This ties into VM’s long-term plans for growth, particularly around identifying opportunities for inorganic growth and strengthening the company’s overall financial position. A lot of my work involves analysing our capital base, understanding how our funding lines are structured, and thinking about how we position the business for the future.

Day to day, that tends to be quite office based. Much of my time is spent analysing data, reviewing funding structures and considering how the different funding lines we have available can support the deals the team is working on.

What qualities do you think are most important in your role?

Attention to detail is absolutely critical. When you’re working with financial structures and funding lines, you need to be able to understand the fine print and make sure nothing is overlooked. It’s about having a clear view of what’s being offered and how that aligns with the needs of the business at any given time.

Flexibility is also very important. Deals can evolve as they progress and the needs of a client can change. When that happens, the team might need to rethink how a deal is structured. Part of my role is to support that process by helping identify which funding lines could be used and how we can adapt our approach to meet the client’s needs while still making sense for the business.

Tell us a bit about your journey in the industry

My background is in banking and finance. I completed my undergraduate degree in that field and then spent just over six years at PwC. That experience was extremely valuable because it gave me exposure to a wide range of industries and different types of deals.

Working at PwC allowed me to see various businesses operate and helped me understand which areas of finance I was most interested in. Over time, I realised that I wanted to move into industry and focus on financial services.

After PwC, I joined VM Financial Group, where I’ve continued building on that experience. Alongside my professional experience, I’ve also pursued further formal learning, including completing a master’s degree, the ACCA programme and a CFA which I’m currently pursuing.

What is it that makes VM stand out from the crowd?

One of the things that stands out to me about VM is the focus on long-term relationships and helping clients grow.

A core part of VM’s philosophy is supporting clients as they build wealth through real estate. That journey doesn’t happen overnight, and it requires strong partnerships along the way. VM positions itself as one of those partners, working alongside clients as they grow their businesses.

What’s rewarding is that as our clients grow, we grow as a company too. It becomes a shared journey where you see not only the success of the client’s business but also the development of the organisation and the people within it.

Outside of work, what’s important to you? What are your hobbies and passions?

Outside of work I’m a big football fan. I’m a passionate Manchester United supporter and I watch a lot of football in general, especially at the weekends.

I haven’t had the chance to attend many matches recently, but I did visit Old Trafford a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the experience. It’s definitely something I’ll be doing more of now that I'm settled in the UK.

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