Meet Simon Harrison, Founder of Select Distinct Limited
Simon Harrison is the founder and director of Select Distinct Limited
A Chartered Management Accountant with a passion for data analytics.
Simon brings a wealth of real business experience in FTSE 100 organisations and is skilled in all aspects of turning business data into actionable insights.
From Management Accounting to Business Analytics
Simon’s expertise lies at the intersection of finance and technology. With a track record of managing data for some of the UK’s largest retailers, including Morrisons and Sports Direct, he specializes in digging deeper into business data to find the ‘why’ behind the numbers. This rare blend of ACMA/CGMA qualifications and advanced technical skill allows Simon to build data solutions that are as commercially focused as they are technically robust
About Simon Harrison
Simon founded Select Distinct in 2021 to bridge the gap between technical data engineering and commercial finance. By integrating Chartered Management Accounting with advanced analytics, he provides a rare “all-in-one” perspective that transforms raw data into strategic business assets.
Beyond the boardroom, Simon is a dedicated grassroots football coach. He has managed his son’s team for many years, joined the coaching staff for his daughter’s U14 girls’ team. And then decided to take on a new Under 7s team two weeks before the start of the season
Whether he’s mentoring analysts or coaching on the pitch, Simon’s focus is on growth and performance—though he still finds time to head to Hillsborough to support Sheffield Wednesday with his children.
Learn from Simon’s Technical Insights Simon regularly shares “finance-first” technical guides designed to save time for analysts. From mastering Power BI and SQL to advanced Excel workflows, you can explore his latest thinking here:
A coaching mindset for data
Technical expertise is only half the battle; the real value lies in the handover.
Simon brings the same dedication to his consultancy that he does to the football pitch—focusing on performance, clarity, and sustainable growth.
Just as he has with coaching junior football teams to find their competitive edge, he works with business teams to demystify complex data landscapes.
At Select Distinct, we don’t believe in leaving you with a “black box” solution. Instead, Simon uses a coaching-led approach to upskill your internal team, ensuring they have the confidence to own their Power BI and SQL environments long after the initial project is complete
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Chartered Management Accountant help with Power BI?
Unlike a standard IT developer, Simon understands the commercial logic behind the numbers. He ensures that your Power BI dashboards align with financial best practices, providing a "single version of the truth" that the boardroom can trust
Can Simon help migrate our data to Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?
Yes. Simon specializes in architecting data solutions using Google BigQuery and Python. He helps businesses move away from limited spreadsheets into scalable, automated cloud environments on GCP.
Does Simon provide hands-on training for internal teams?
Absolutely. Drawing on his experience as a football coach, Simon uses a mentoring-led approach to upskill your staff in SQL, Power BI, and Excel, ensuring your team is self-sufficient long after the project is delivered
Get in Touch Today
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