Julie Rowlands was born and brought up in the North East of England. She graduated with a degree in Contemporary European Studies from the Polytechnic of North London. Julie started work for ICI in 1988 as a head office accounts assistant, and within just short of four years had become head office accounting managing a team of six and responsible for ICI internal and external reporting. For part of this time Julie became a systems analyst developing and implementing improved reporting and controls within the financial and statistical reporting of ICI.

At the time of the demerger (1992) Julie became a Group Accountant for Zeneca, concentrating on working capital and management accounting issues within the newly demerged but highly complex and diffuse group. Within two years Julie became responsible for Zeneca balance sheet as lead Group Accountant. By 1996 Julie was promoted to UK Financial and Management reporting manager, leading a team of seven responsible for both management accounting and statutory and regulatory reporting. During her time with Zeneca, Julie was responsible for several high-profile systems development and implementation projects, most noticeably the Hyperion project aimed at improving global reporting, and also she led the Global Millennium project.

After a career break, Julie became Finance Director and Company Secretary for Zenith Hygiene Systems in 2000. The firm had grown from nothing to £6m turnover, but lacked the controls essential to move the company forward. Julie designed and implemented those controls as the company grew to £24m turnover. When she left in 2003, she had a staff of 25, and controlled all administrative and accounting, including IT and HR.

After a career break, Julie is now resuming her career, capitalising on the extensive systems, administrative and accounting experience acquired within both a major corporation, and a fast growing AIM-listed PLC.