4th September 2025 

Guest Writer: Sarah-Jayne Dunn, Citizens Advice Scotland

I never intended to become a Money Adviser.  Similarly to most of my colleagues in this field, this was a job I fell into rather than aspired to be. In fact, I was set to become a lawyer. It was a dream of mine from a very young age and everything I worked towards was with this in mind.

Then the 2008 crash happened and overnight my world completely changed. At the time I had just got my coveted law degree and started at the Glasgow Graduate School of Law. However, with the crash came many redundancies and law firms couldn’t afford to take on as many trainees as they had planned. With a toss of a coin, my fate was sealed as I was told I could have a traineeship if I was willing to be unpaid.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford that. I had bills and I had even taken on debt to put myself through my degree and diploma. I was counting on being paid. I needed to be paid. Luckily, during my Diploma, I had started volunteering at Falkirk Citizens Advice Bureau and they offered me the chance to train as a money adviser which I snapped up.

And I have never looked back since. Throughout my career as a money adviser, I met people from all walks of life, from all financial backgrounds and all facing unique challenges when it came to their money, but all had one aim – to be debt free and financially healthy. I helped people save their homes, their families and even in very extreme cases, their lives. Clients would come feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders, unable to eat, sleep or even try to function because of the worry and stress of debt. Being a money adviser was so fulfilling because I got to help take that weight off, even if it was bit by painful bit.

I have a saying for Money Advisers – that we always find a way. No matter the situation, the problem or the person sitting in front of us, we will always find a way to help. This has been a mantra I continue to hold even as I moved off the frontlines and into the world of policy and impact, where instead of trying to change one person's whole world, I am now trying to change the whole world.  And this has had many successes, for example, it has led to the introduction of the Mental Health Moratorium. This will support people who are struggling with severe mental ill-health and money worries to get much-needed respite to focus on their mental health recovery before dealing with their debts.  I am also the chair of Money Advice Liaison Group Scotland. Through my work, I am getting to shape the future of money advice.

My career in money advice has given me a wonderful life, a fortunate life and whilst I never intended to be a money adviser, I am damn happy I became one.