Donna Elliott

Observer
DISC Type : ic

Finance Director at D E Excel Designs

Greater Derby Area, United Kingdom

Overview

Donna is a CIMA-qualified Finance Director with over 20 years of experience in senior finance roles, including CFO. She has deep expertise in financial planning, analysis, forecasting, and business reporting. Colleagues have described her as having a "sharp commercial intellect" and a strong determination to drive positive change.

She recently paused her successful career to focus on her family and her role as a parent to a child with special educational needs (SEND). Outside of her professional and family life, she demonstrates significant personal resilience and a commitment to fitness, including running even while recovering from an injury.

After building a career as a “trailblazer” in a male-dominated industry for two decades, she has pressed pause to reshape her priorities around her family.

Personality Overview

Example Seeker

Curious

Assertive

They can sound friendly and charming but can quickly change gears to become inquisitive and probing.  They are likely to ask many questions and look heavily for supporting information. They are generally strong communicators and are not easy to convince.

Topics They Care About

Financial Planning & Analysis
Her experience includes owning the forecasting, budgeting, and 3-year planning processes in previous senior finance roles.
SEND Parenthood
A recent and significant life event she shared publicly, stating that life as a SEND parent has reshaped her priorities and future plans.
Career & Family Balance
She has directly addressed the decision to pause a successful 20+ year career to prioritize her family's needs.

Media Appearances

Donna has no verified media appearances

Work History

8-2025
Finance Director at D E Excel Designs
3-2024 - 5-2025
Finance Director at Hallmark Engineering Group
9-2020 - 3-2024
Chief Financial Officer at The CFO Centre UK
7-2019 - 4-2020
Interim FP&A Finance Manager at Boots Opticians
6-2019 - 3-2024
Director at D L Elliott Ltd

Education

CIMA from FTC Kaplan
AAT from FTC Kaplan

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 20 Location : Greater Derby Area, United Kingdom Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Finance Director at D E Excel Designs
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Insights For Selling To Donna

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Use phrases like ‘clear proof that’, ‘data shows’ etc.
  • Build rapport, it will come handy to handle hard questions later
  • Share testimonials from known people and give multiple examples of product value

DONT's

  • Don’t be too objective but make sure to pad your storytelling with data points
  • Don’t rely excessively on your relationship with them to win the deal
  • Don’t try to rush them into a decision, provide all necessary information first

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Donna is

  • Proven value, strong testimonials are important to them, relationships will have some weightage.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Donna

  • They are practical yet friendly, don’t expect a clear no very often.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Donna move?

  • They like to analyze well and can take their time to reach any decisions.
  • Can Donna take some risk or not?

  • They evaluate their decisions systematically and are less likely to take risks.

You And Donna

Personality Compatibility


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