After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Susan worked for four years with Oxfam, regularly visiting overseas offices to provide training, ensuring compliance with organisational policies & procedures and scaling up the financial management capacity of the organisation to respond effectively to catastrophes such as the genocide in Rwanda.

In 1995 she took on the role of Finance Director at YWCA England & Wales, transforming its operations from that of a traditional housing association to an organisation focused on the needs of socially excluded young women in a community context. In addition she was directly responsible for an investment portfolio of over £20m.

Susan joined The Ethical Property Company as Finance Director in 2007 and was appointed Managing Director in January 2011, taking over from the company's founder Jamie Hartzell.