Experience

Jenson Solutions Ltd

• Accounting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Consultant Finance & Commercial Director, NED

  • Sep 2011 - Present

  Specialists in supplying Financial Directors and other Financial Resources on a part-time, interim or consultant basis. From single resource through to a fully managed outsourced finance team. Providing capability at a reduced cost.Consultant CFO/FD:• Providing financial and strategic leadership• Implementing strategy• Budgeting, forecasting, business plans• Cashflow management• Fundraising: Equity & Debt• Improving systems and controls, identifying and executing efficiency within the organisation• Ability to work across multiple disciplines (Finance, Marketing, Operations, Customer Service)• Change Management• Due Diligence reviewsSectors: Retail (Bricks & Mortar, Luxury, FMCG, Ecommerce, Wholesale, Concession), Travel, SaaS, Tech, PublishingNon-Executive Director



Harrods

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Finance & Operations Director for Harrods Direct

  • Aug 2008 - Nov 2010

  Responsible for all aspects of financial and operational control within the e-commerce and mail order division. Key achievements included:– Provided financial and strategic leadership, delivering 30% improvement to the bottom line results for 2009;– Removed fixed costs in 2010 to deliver a further 60% improvement in results;– Improved product margins on key sellers for Direct and the wider business;– Provided effective leadership and change management for new developments;– Performed financial modelling and planning;

• Business Projects Controller

  • Oct 2006 - Jul 2008

  Responsible for the control and timely delivery of major/strategic business projects.Reporting to the COO/Group Finance Director.Controlling a portfolio of projectsProviding regular updates to the Board/Executive CommitteeResponsible for change management, inc documentation and trainingIntroduced a new staff discount schemeOperated as "Director of Finance" for Harrods Direct, Harrods internet and mail order business, putting together strategic plans and budgets with the DirectorLed the replacement of the sales staff incentive scheme

• Head of Customer Marketing

  • Apr 2004 - Sep 2006

  Responsible for all aspects of customer marketing including the promotion and development of the Harrods MasterCard and Store Card. Continued to hold responsiblity for Card and POS Operations.Reporting to the Director of Marketing & Communications and the COOProduced the customer marketing strategy and budgetsIntroduced an improved Harrods Rewards ProgrammeSegmented the customer database and introduced targeted campaign marketingIntroduced campaigns to encourage cross shopping between departments and sales channelsOrganised special customer events for Harrods and Amex CardholdersIntroduced the Amex Luxury Retailer programme for Centurion cardholders into HarrodsPerformed market researchIntroduced the Harrods Gift Card to replace paper gift vouchersManaged external supplier relationshipsIdentified the opportunity for and introduced till receipt advertisingManaged a team of up to 95 staff, with 4 direct reports

• Financial Operations Controller

  • Jun 2002 - Sep 2004

  Responsible for the Harrods Store Card, Cash Office and Supplier Payments Functions along with System Development and Data Integrity.Reporting to the COOManaged 70 staff via 3 direct reportsControlled the implementation of Chip & PinAssisted in the launch of the Harrods MasterCardLed the implementation, from a finance perspective, of SAP 4.6Spearheaded the data integrity taskforce within the CompanyStreamlined controls and procedures with the Harrods Cash OfficeImproved the supplier payment cycleControlled the implementation of the Merchant VAT Scheme

• Financial Controller - Harrods Limited & Subsidiaries

  • Jul 2000 - Jun 2002

  Reporting to the Finance DirectorThe co-ordination and production of financial information to the business within appropriate timescalesManagement of the finance department. This consisted of 65 staff and covered staff development, training and recruitmentThe review, development and implementation of new business processes and procedures, including:The purchase and payments cycleStock controlThe generation and collection of sundry incomeThe migration of the business areas from CODA onto the SAP financial system

• Financial Controller - Harrods International Ltd

  • Sep 1997 - Jun 2000

  Reporting to the Finance DirectorAll aspects of financial and management accounting for the Harrods International and non store businesses, including Airports, Wholesale, Home Shopping and Harrods EstatesAnalysis and timely production of management information, ranging from monthly management accounts and budgets to business plansDay to day control of 10 staff, including appraising performance and recruitmentProduction of the annual statutory accounts and liaison with the auditorsManagement of the conversion of the Wholesale division from CODA onto the SAP financial systemBuilding and maintaining relationships with the Operational and IT areas of the businessAd hoc projects, such as viability studies on new trading locations and the outsourcing of part of the businessWorked as Management Accountant for 3 months before being promoted to Financial Controller



Harrods (UK) Limited

• Group Financial Accountant

  • Nov 1995 - Aug 1997

  Reporting to the Deputy Finance Director.The preparation of monthly management accounts and annual statutory accounts for the GroupBudgeting and re-forecastingRefinancing of the Group in early 1997The production of returns for the banking syndicate and HMC&EAccounting for disposals and acquisitions of subsidiary companiesVarious analysis exercises including US GAAP analysisTraining and development of 3 staff Reporting to the Deputy Finance Director.The preparation of monthly management accounts and annual statutory accounts for the GroupBudgeting and re-forecastingRefinancing of the Group in early 1997The production of returns for the banking syndicate and HMC&EAccounting for disposals and acquisitions of subsidiary companiesVarious analysis exercises including US GAAP analysisTraining and development of 3 staff



Deloitte

• Business Consulting and Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Audit Supervisor

  • Jul 1992 - Oct 1995

  June 1994 – October 1995 - Audit Supervisor – LondonJuly 1992 – May 1994 & September 1989 – 1990 - Sandwich Year - LeicesterAttained the position of Audit Supervisor in London, which led to responsibility for planning and running jobs, overseeing junior staff and reporting to management. This included assessing staffing levels, budgeting costs and gathering information on Clients in order to devise and set audit tests. Gained exposure to a wide selection of clients ranging from small businesses to large PLC’s.Clients included: The Really Useful Group; Lumiere Pictures Ltd; Planet 24 Ltd; W H Smith plc; Reed Educational Publishing; Trafalgar House plc; Pacific Media plc; Ruddles Brewery/Grolsch UK