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From Clearing to CFOO: How this Coventry University graduate proves success doesn't always follow a plan
Rather than seeing Clearing as a last resort, Alex saw it as an opportunity.
University news / Student news / Alumni news
Monday 10 August 2026
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If you find yourself going through Clearing, that's not the end of the story – it's simply a different beginning.
Alex Richardson
When Alex Richardson opened his A-level results, things hadn't gone to plan. The grades weren't what he'd hoped for and suddenly the future he'd imagined seemed much further away.
Disappointed but determined, rather than seeing Clearing as a last resort, Alex saw it as an opportunity.
Twenty-five years later, the Coventry University graduate is a chartered accountant and Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) at Excalibur Academies Trust, a multi-academy trust, managing 20 schools from Reading to Bristol.
Looking back, he says going through Clearing was one of the best things that could have happened to him. It was a decision that not only shaped his career, but also led to lifelong friendships, meeting his wife and opportunities he could never have predicted.
People can pigeonhole themselves because something hasn't gone to plan. If you find yourself going through Clearing, that's not the end of the story - it's simply a different beginning.
From Clearing to Coventry
For Alex, that different beginning started with a drive to Coventry. After speaking to a friend who was already planning to go to Coventry University, Alex learned about the Business School's growing reputation and visited campus shortly after receiving his results. He was offered a place to study Economics through Clearing and knew immediately it was the right choice.
I had offers from Coventry and Plymouth but after visiting Coventry I didn't look anywhere else," he said. "I had a really frank and honest conversation with the course leader and thought, 'yeah, this is the place for me'.
Alex graduated from Coventry University with a BA (Hons) in Economics in 2001, but his university experience gave him far more than a degree.
Learning beyond the lectures
Coventry University became the foundation for both Alex’s career and his personal life. It was where lifelong friendships were formed, where he met his future wife and where both began journeys that would lead to successful and unexpected careers.
Alex still meets up with his university housemates twice a year and is married to the girlfriend he met during his third year at Coventry University. Together they now have two daughters. His wife studied French and German and now leads marketing across the European and Asian markets for a global oil company. Their stories are a reminder that a university degree can be the beginning of opportunities far beyond the career path you originally imagine.
I really enjoyed my time at Coventry University. We've still got really strong friendships and bonds that we've kept going all these years later.
He believes university taught him invaluable life skills that have shaped both his career and outlook on life.
University wasn't just about preparing for a job - it gave Alex the confidence to embrace opportunities, build lasting relationships and develop the resilience that would prove invaluable throughout his working life.
Success isn't always a straight line
Like many students, Alex had his sights set on securing a place on a large graduate scheme at a major corporation. "That's what I thought success looked like," he said.
However, after graduating, he took agency work while applying for graduate opportunities before receiving some invaluable advice from a recruitment consultant, who encouraged him to gain practical experience in accountancy first.
From there, Alex joined a small accountancy practice where he qualified as a chartered accountant and, rather than staying for the six months he had initially planned, remained there for 17 years, becoming a director and helping to grow the business along the way.
Don't limit yourself to what you think your career should look like. Sometimes the opportunities around the edges can be even better.
It's advice he is particularly keen to share with today's students and recent graduates.
So many people pigeonhole themselves when they leave university because they think success only looks one way. Actually, looking at smaller employers or different opportunities can sometimes give you much broader experience than following the traditional route.
Take opportunities when they appear
Alex's move into the education sector was never part of his plan either. After nearly two decades in the accountancy practice, an opportunity to provide interim financial support to a multi-academy trust opened the door to an entirely new career path.
Today, as CFOO at Excalibur Academies Trust, his role focuses on strategic leadership across finance, operations, governance and risk management. While accountancy remains at the heart of what he does, leadership has become an increasingly important part of his work.
I'm helping steer policy and procedure, making strategic decisions and helping to manage risk across the organisation.
And while there are challenges that come with working in education, Alex is motivated by knowing that the work he does ultimately benefits children and young people.
The indirect rewards are knowing that the positive changes we make create additional efficiencies and allow more money to go back into education.
Looking back, Alex believes his Economics degree provided a strong foundation for the career he has built.
Economics is about macro and micro strategies," he said. "It gives you that added value perspective and it's a really good stepping stone into lots of different careers.
Making mistakes matters
The biggest lesson Alex learnt throughout his journey is that setbacks don't have to define you.
I'm a big believer that things happen for a reason. You learn lessons by making mistakes and if you don't make them, you don't learn from them.
Life is there to help you learn from those mistakes. It's how you react to them that makes the difference.
For students receiving their results this summer, his advice is simple – keep an open mind and don't be afraid if things don't go according to plan.
Make mistakes, we're all human. Don't limit yourself and don't become fixated on one route to success.
Twenty-eight years ago, a place through Clearing gave Alex an opportunity he never expected. Today, it has led him to a career, friendships and a life he could never have predicted, proving that sometimes the best journeys are the ones you never planned.
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