Portfolio Finance Director and Chief Finance Officer

• Jul 2018 - Present

I'm a Portfolio Finance Director for the FD & CFO Centre, the world's number 1 provider of senior, high calibre part-time FD's.Ambitious companies looking to grow quickly need to build a quality finance function led by a senior Finance Director with ‘big business’ experience, but that person does not necessarily need to be full-time.Our business model means that growing businesses can take on a top quality Finance Director in a cost effective way that is best matched with their current stage of development and our goal is to help busy CEOs and MDs free up time to grow their businesses while we take on the management of the finance function.By way of an overview, we can help businesses:• Manage cashflow• Improve profit• Tighten up internal controls• Create reporting infrastructure to improve visibility• Plan for an exit• Manage risk• (Re)design the business plan and create an implementation timetable• Find investment/funding• Become compliant• Maximise tax efficiency• Advise on outsourcing• Manage the relationship with the bank

UK CFO, CFO AsiaPacific and UK Finance Director

• Oct 2007 - Feb 2018

► Reporting directly to CEO of EMEA/APAC and global CFO, accountable for leading transition of UK from loss making to industry-leading profit margins and revenue growth in excess of 400%.► Developed and implemented process improvements to forecasting and resource allocation functions.► Enhanced profile of finance/HR team to work as full business partner to the senior leadership team.► Managed critical client fee negotiations and contract review activities across all regions; ► Oversaw all internal and external reporting including SOX - achieving green rating for nine years► Evaluated potential acquisitions and corporate transactions; successfully integrated System Analytic; collaborated with management of System Analytic to grow profit by 150% ensuring the company reached earn out target. ► After creation of WPP Health & Wellness, led restructuring of three finance and support functions into one cohesive UK-based unit; migrated business to new finance and HR systems on budget and ahead of schedule. ► Represented Sudler at the European Association Health Communication Agencies and collaborated with European Agency Heads on pitches, procurement, promoting, and creative planning functions.► Acted as trusted adviser to local management and finance team within the APAC region; managed successful projects including the setup of a JV in Dubai, new business streams in China, strategic review of Australia operations, and evaluating potential acquisitions in India.► Introduced enhanced monthly forecasting and KPI reporting to aid more agile management decision taking based on reliable information ► Improved quality of reporting to ensure a no surprises culture and simultaneously reduced monthly reporting down from an historical two weeks post month end to just two days.► Managed two significant office moves with accountability for identifying suitable premises, overseeing fit out and design programmes, and delivering on time and within budget.

Group CFO

• 2003 - 2007

► Board member reporting directly to CEO and Chairman.► Acted as head of alliance partnerships with accountability for identifying requirements and initiating searches for potential partners.► Developed and integrated improved rolling forecasts and financial reporting process to enhance decision-making on a global basis, introducing a comprehensive global reporting package► Managed client fee negotiations and contract reviews.► Played key role in identifying potential acquirers and managed due diligence and negotiation of the Sale & Purchase agreement through to successful completion of £18M acquisition ► Oversaw successful negotiation for £1M buy out of agreement with Equitant; obtained £1.5M external financing in the UK and $2M in the US.► Partnered with CEO and Chairman to lead strategic review of all business functions and initiated changes across the Group.► Conducted strategic tax review and introduced transfer pricing agreements to reduce effective tax rate by over 30%.► Successfully integrated administrative functions after acquisition by Answerthink, including roll out of Oracle Financials and implementation of Sox controls► Led efforts to regain control of the Employee Benefit Trust involving 50+ senior employees.► Designed and implemented remuneration programmes including comprehensive bonus and commission schemes resulting in significantly enhanced performance across the business.► Managed a significant UK office move, identifying suitable premises, overseeing fit out and design programmes, and delivering on time and within budget.► Introduced consolidated global monthly reporting to the board, presented by no later than seven working days after the month end, where there had been none previously► Acted as trusted advisor to the local management and finance teams in Europe, APAC and the US.► Partnered with the Chairman to evaluate, fund, and set up a new revenue stream which was subsequently successfully disposed.

Head Of Corporate Finance

• 2002 - 2003

► Implementation of significant change management programme to align the finance function with the commercial operation of the business including a review of all financial systems and the subsequent implementation of a new payroll system► Ensured delivery of key financial reporting targets including US SEC and Luxembourg filings and completion of the financial integration of the Hagler Bailly acquisition, bringing the new business’ processes into line with the rest of the Group ► Implementation of significant change management programme to align the finance function with the commercial operation of the business including a review of all financial systems and the subsequent implementation of a new payroll system► Ensured delivery of key financial reporting targets including US SEC and Luxembourg filings and completion of the financial integration of the Hagler Bailly acquisition, bringing the new business’ processes into line with the rest of the Group

Financial Controller

• 2001 - 2002

► Re-engineered all reporting and forecasting facilitating a detailed review of operations including the initiation of measuring client profitability and introducing tight working capital controls to maximize cash performance.► Played a key role in the significant financial development of the “Village” companies including the founding of a new PR business and turned round the performance of another subsidiary facing imminent closure. ► Re-engineered all reporting and forecasting facilitating a detailed review of operations including the initiation of measuring client profitability and introducing tight working capital controls to maximize cash performance.► Played a key role in the significant financial development of the “Village” companies including the founding of a new PR business and turned round the performance of another subsidiary facing imminent closure.

Group Financial Controller

• 1996 - 2001

► Designed, developed and implemented the creation of a cohesive shared services function incorporating Finance, HR, IT and Facilities. The change was successfully driven through and yielded savings in excess of 20% whilst providing a significantly improved and more relevant service.► Led a full review of the financial systems and implemented a number of initiatives to improve the provision of timely and accurate information. ► Drove through regular Group wide reviews of results and forecasts/budgets enabling trends in client profitability and cost control to be identified and appropriate action plans formulated.

Senior Financial Accountant

• 1993 - 1996

► Responsible for the management and reporting of the Mercury Communications cost base of £500m across the UK - highlighting key issues and recommending and tracking corrective action. ► As part of a company wde reorganisation, played a key role in the creation of a Corporate business unit and a Customer Services division - introducing KPIs into the Customer Services division and Corporate units enabling significant advances in performance and significant annual cost reductions► Lead end user role in the implementation of SAP/R3 and Hyperion Essbase including user acceptance testing and the roll out to business users across the UK. Led an initiative to significantly streamline and reduce reporting deadlines across the Group

Financial Controller

• 1990 - 1993

► Undertook a strategic review of operations covering pricing, products, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing and all overhead functions (subsequently implemented). ► Implemented Activity Based Costing across the business giving a better insight into product profitability and operational efficiencies and allowing the business to take a more aggressive stance in the market place.► Introduced a number of tight financial controls including detailed daily, monthly and long-range cash flow forecasts

Audit Manager

• 1983 - 1990