Following my PhD in Pure Mathematics at Southampton, I realised that whilst a career in research was not for me there were many skills that I had developed throughout which would be applicable elsewhere. I also particularly enjoyed the buzz from being around cutting edge research, so wanted to pursue a role within that environment. I discovered that my eye for detail and analytical approach were a good match for a role in the research councils, and took a job at EPSRC [Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council]. I found that I was the sole mathematician in a company which was (at the time) predominantly staffed by chemistry doctorates, a good and unique position to be in. Of course it meant that anything involving data was passed my way, but I grew to accept that and develop my skills accordingly. I was a portfolio manager within Physics at EPSRC, but the breadth of areas covered by an undergraduate degree in maths, and a pure maths PhD meant that I was as comfortable with the more abstract theoretical physics as I was with the more directly applicable experimental physics. After nearly four years at EPSRC I decided that I wanted to return to a university environment and moved back to Southampton to take up a role in Research Support, helping academics apply to funders for research funding (notably from EPSRC). In my current role I support three scientific and engineering focused Faculties in applying for multi-million pound funding. My approach from a maths background and familiarity of being a researcher and then a working within a funder equips me in supporting academics to navigate the system and (hopefully) maximise their chance of success. I continue to work with Mathematical Sciences and whilst the research is now beyond me (9 years since PhD) the context, environment and colleagues are a pleasure to work with, and there is a clear line between my time studying maths and where I am now.