Welcome back to ‘Meet JA!’. This week we managed to steal some time from Peter, our Software Tester and Website Wizard. You will find – in this episode of ‘Meet JA’ more than ever! – that at JA we employ the most amazing variety of people.
Not only Pete splits his time between software testing and putting up with Fran in order to : first build the brand new JA website, and then keep it always up-to-date, but, outside of JA (although some of us will never lose hope to make him perform for us some day), he cultivates a rather special hobby, fire breathing. How incredibly awesome is this? But over to him…
Name: Peter Rowlands
Position: Software Testing/Website Developer
What do you do/look after at JustAccounts? I am currently involved with the testing team, assisting in quality assessment of new features and fixes which are added each sprint for the software. I also have taken on a role in configuration of JA instances, which requires me to set up new instances for new customers as well as updating and customising Settings, Dashboards and Uploading Custom Reports and Themes when they are requested. I also make sure our website is shipshape, working with Fran to keep it always up-to-date.
What interesting/relevant prior experience do you have in this area/field? I was previously studying Accountancy whilst in the St.Helens chamber, which led me into taking my apprenticeship with JA. But I have never had any past experience in either Testing or Website Design
What interesting or relevant studies have you undertaken in this area/field? Level 2 AAT in Accountancy from the Chamber.
What is your favourite colour? Red
What is your favourite drink? Any form of herbal tea
What is your favourite food or sweets? Too tough of a choice!
What is your zodiac sign? Pisces
Describe yourself in 5 words? Positive, Passive, Jokey, Sporadic, Friendly
You have been asked to choose a country to spend six months in. If you didn’t have to worry about cost where would that be? Very difficult choice! Somewhere with lots of areas with ancient ruins or scenery to explore.
Do you watch or do any sports? Not particularly, unless you can count circusy stuff, then yes!
Please tell me a bit more about what makes you you? Very positive, always trying to find the good side to any situation as well as a big people person, I like meeting new people where I can! I love watching Films & TV shows too, especially sitcoms and some dramas. Friends, Scrubs, HIMYM, Fresh Prince, Greys Anatomy, Dr Who and Marvel…anything Marvel, to name a few. Fire is another one of my main interests, I have always loved playing with fire even young! This has managed to develop into performing with different types of fire props for a Liverpool based group called Bring The Fire Project. My forte is with Poi and Fire Breathing, but recently I have started using a Staff and Sword to add to my repertoire of fire skills!
How did you get into it? How long has it been? Have you got a favourite moment / time doing this thing that you would like to share? What do you enjoy most about it? Have you won any awards at this? As mentioned, I have loved fire from a young age. But about 4 ish years ago I started learning a circus skill called poi from a friend, and really started to enjoy it. A couple of months into this I discovered not only that a few other people I knew shared the same interest but you could do it whilst it was on fire!! From this point on I was hooked. This then developed into learning about the fire performing community which exists in Liverpool (Bring The Fire Project) and I started making my way to weekly sessions to pick up new skills, meet new people and share ideas. I then went on to take part in several shows and performances namely, ‘Liverpool Light Night’ in 2014/15! From this a friend of mine had the idea to start a circus/fire skills group, in which we would start to perform and teach these skills professionally, which has recently taken me to a festival, in which, I did all of the above!
Is there anything else you would like to share? If you ever need a group of performers to illuminate an event, you know where I am!
Thanks Pete 🙂
