FCHO appoints Tracy Woods as Chief Finance Officer, creating a permanent executive team

Tracy Woods has joined First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) as its new Chief Finance Officer, meaning the housing association now has a permanent executive team to lead them forward.

Tracy has been working as the Director of Business Services at Manchester-based Northwards Housing up until her appointment with FCHO.

She is a qualified accountant by trade and has worked at various housing associations over the last 12 years, specialising in culture change and transition.

She has headed up major change projects throughout her career including the merging of two housing trusts, Wythenshawe-based Parkway Green and Willow Park, which she managed to deliver in just 18 months with a significant cost saving.

Donna Cezair, Chief Executive at FCHO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Tracy into our executive team.

"She has a wealth of experience from a career spanning both not-for-profit and commercial sectors, and an impressive track record for delivering positive transition projects.

“We have experienced a lot of change at FCHO over the last 12 months and Tracy’s appointment has created our final pillar of leadership so we can continue creating the best possible outcomes for both our customers and colleagues.

“Tracy’s appointment means we have a diverse team of Executives and Directors to lead FCHO on the next stage of its progression.

"I am passionate about creating a culture at FCHO where everyone is equal, heard and included so we are delighted to make this step forward, with the right people in place.”

Before joining the housing industry, Tracy spent ten years in the private sector working her way up from accounts assistant roles to finance director level at well-known brands such as Matalan.

When Tracy made the leap to housing, she said she wanted to give back by working in an industry that really made a difference to people’s lives.

Tracy said: “I gain fulfilment working for organisations that have a commercial focus and a social purpose.

"I am over-the-moon to be joining such a forward-thinking organisation that has customers’ needs at the heart of its operations and has demonstrated so many instances where they have helped to turn local people’s lives around.

“Through my background in finance, I am passionate about progressing this work at FCHO and making sure money is invested wisely to support our customers to live their best lives.

"We are already delivering a high level of service so I am excited to get cracking to ensure this continues and develops.”

Tracy will hold responsibility for FCHO’s finance, income collection, business intelligence, IT and development teams and will play a crucial in helping the social landlord deliver its ambitious plans to build 850 new homes by 2026.

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