At Cornelius, we’re proud to deliver innovative, high-quality solutions across sectors, from Personal Care to Health and Nutrition, Performance Chemicals and Household, Industrial and Institution. But it’s our people who truly make the difference. Behind every strategic move, operational decision and customer success story is a dedicated team working hard to support the business.
In this edition of our “Meet the Team” series, we shine a spotlight on the Cornelius UK finance department. The team in the UK, as well as the finance team at Cornelius Polska are instrumental in maintaining financial stability, enabling strategic growth and ensuring our processes remain robust, accurate and efficient across the whole group.
Meet the team
Sarah Sams, Head of Finance
I lead the finance function at Cornelius, overseeing everything from financial reporting and compliance to budgeting, audit, and cash flow management. My focus is on providing clear financial direction, strengthening our internal controls, and empowering the team to deliver accurate, insightful data that supports strategic decision-making across the business.
Sarah Garner, Treasury Controller
I am responsible for Treasury at Cornelius, all money in and out of our UK businesses, also I look after the day to day running of our accounts receivable and payable ledgers with the support of our incredible small team. I have been involved in accounts roles for 31 years and enjoyed learning every aspect of accounts over the years.
Laura Rowe, Management Accountant
I work as the Management Accountant at Cornelius. I prepare management reports and monthly accounts, tracking performance against budgets/forecasts, ensuring accurate financial information is used across the business.
I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers and the visibility it gives me into the overall performance of the company. It’s a hands-on role that connects finance with the wider business.
Danielle Egan, Accounts Payable Clerk
In my role as an Accounts Payable Clerk at Cornelius UK, I am responsible for managing and processing supplier invoices, ensuring payments are accurate and made on time, and maintaining clear communication with suppliers and internal teams. A typical day involves verifying invoices against purchase orders, entering data into our accounting system, resolving any discrepancies, and preparing payments.
I was drawn to a career in finance because I enjoy working with numbers and contributing to the financial health of a business, and what I enjoy most about my role is the combination of detail-oriented work and the satisfaction of knowing I help keep the company running smoothly. Ultimately, my role plays a key part in sustaining Cornelius’s reputation for reliability and professionalism.
Finance as a Strategic Partner
At Cornelius UK, the finance team plays a central role in keeping the business running smoothly, supporting sustainable growth, and enabling confident, data-driven decision-making. From managing day-to-day transactions to tracking performance and guiding future investments, their work underpins every part of the organisation.
DE: My work supports the wider UK business by controlling cash flow, preventing costly errors, and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, which in turn helps ensure that operations are not disrupted and that customers receive products and services without delay.
The team’s financial oversight goes hand-in-hand with their cross-functional support—providing the insight other departments need to operate at their best.
SG: We support many departments with financial information to assist them to give the best service to our customers and suppliers. Every day is different, always many different things coming our way to deal with, it keeps the job varied.
Team and culture
Although small in number, the Cornelius UK finance team is built on collaboration, mutual support, and a shared commitment to excellence. Each team member brings their own strengths—and together, they form a dynamic, high-performing unit.
SS: We are a small team with different skillsets that complement one another. Every area of finance is covered; we are very clear between us who the expert is but support each other where we can.
LR: We’re a close-knit team who work very well together—something that’s especially valuable in a small team environment. Each of us brings strengths and expertise to the table, and we genuinely support one another to ensure everything runs smoothly. We also like to think we break the mould—we’re definitely not your stereotypical accountants!
Looking ahead
As Cornelius Group grows, so does the opportunity for the finance team to expand its remit, take on new challenges and contribute to even greater success.
SS: Cornelius Group is growing and I am really excited for the future. We have commercial projects coming through the pipeline as well as the EV Group investment which will bring change and challenge which we love in Finance!
LR: There’s a strong sense of optimism and direction coming from senior management. The positive ‘tone at the top’ is clearly felt throughout the organisation and creates an energising environment to work in. Cornelious has ambitious and exciting growth plans, and being part of the Finance team means we get to see the impact of those plans first-hand. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness how the new projects translate into real results.
The people behind the performance
At Cornelius, our finance team in the UK and at Cornelius Polska isn’t just about spreadsheets and systems—it’s about people. Their attention to detail, commercial acumen and commitment to improvement are what enable the rest of the business to thrive.
As we look to the future, we’re proud to have a team that embodies the Cornelius values of innovation, quality and collaboration—ensuring we continue to deliver the difference for our customers, suppliers and partners alike.
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