Experience

DEBRA UK

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

  • Aug 2017 - Present

  DEBRA UK is a national charity supporting 3,000+ members, which includes people living with EB, relatives, partners, or carers of someone with EB, healthcare professionals and researchers who work with EB. DEBRA UK employs over 350 staff and 1,000 volunteers who support us across a network of 100+ charity shops located throughout England and Scotland. My job title has changed from Retail Accountant to Financial Planning and Analysis Manager but my role and responsibilities has largely remained the same. The role reports into the Finance Director and also works closely with the Retail Director. • Production of monthly, quarterly and ad-hoc reporting and analysis for the Retail division. • Preparation of annual Retail budget and forecasts • Preparation of monthly payroll journal for 350+ staff including split cost centre allocations • Production of payroll and HR reporting/analysis to better understand variances and explore scenarios • Completing financial business cases for lease renewals and new shops • Budget uploads and reconciliation for the whole charity • Work on ad-hoc projects (including new coding structure and reporting as part of a new Finance system implementation in 2022) Show less



The AA

• United Kingdom
• Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Operations Manager, AA Hotel & Hospitality Services

  • Dec 2016 - Jul 2017

  AA Hotel Services is a business unit within the AA Media division with turnover of £3m and 30 staff. The AA has been inspecting hotels for over 100 years. The role reports into the Head of Hotel & Hospitality Services.• Tracking and management of the P&L including preparation of strategic plans, budgets and forecasts• Introducing new processes to maintain customer holdings and drive cost efficiencies • Managing customer services team and ensuring high standards of customer care• Introduction of insightful MI and automation of MI production process• Continuous review of processes, incentives, targets and manpower to drive efficiencies, increased revenues and control cost • Working with the Management team to identify new product opportunities and develop business cases to support investment• Managing Hotels marketing spend to ensure delivery within budget• Produced the financial and operational content for the successful VisitEngland contract tender and worked as part of the project team; on-boarding the contract in just 7 weeks Show less

• Financial Controller - AA Media

  • Dec 2013 - Nov 2016

  AA Media is a small division of the AA with turnover of £14m and 70 staff. AA Media consists of four distinct business units; a Hotel accreditation business, Publishing (UK and International), a FMCG business (B2B and B2C via a retail shop and online shop), and a Digital advertising business. The role was a promotion following my line manager leaving, reporting to the interim Finance Director as the finance lead for the AA Media business, including business partnering and financial control responsibility.• Ownership of the financial control environment including integrity of financial processes, balance sheet and cashflow management• Partnered the Membership Services Director and business heads to deliver strategic plans• Continued review of opportunities and risk environment, including providing options to mitigate risks and working with the business heads to implement• Led the management accounts, forecasting, budget and 3 year plan processes• Produced financial analysis, decision support models and implemented strategic review actions• Carried out commercial reviews of all business units• Contributed to new ideas, challenging business assumptions and post investment appraisals• Proactively identified and implemented process improvements• Created operational MI to provide insight• Stock management and reporting• Carried out financial due diligence of potential acquisitions Show less

• Financial Controller - AA Media & DriveTech

  • Dec 2011 - Nov 2013

  Financial Controller, AA Media and DriveTech 2011 - 2013Responsible for a small team, reporting to Head of Finance for the coordination of financial planning, reporting and control procedures across AA Media and DriveTech. • Maintained and improved the financial control environment including implementation of efficient and effective financial controls• Production of accurate monthly forecasts and review of the management accounts• Cost and budget control including challenge and review with the Media business managers• Coordination of strategic and operational planning including producing the 3 year plan• Provided decision support, analysis and recommendations to the business• Weekly trading updates and commentaries provided to the CEO and Marketing Director• Continuous process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy and insight Show less

• Financial Accountant, AA Media and Driving School

  • Dec 2009 - Nov 2011

  Responsible to Head of Finance for the financial control of AA Media and Driving School.• Ran the month end process and consolidated actuals, budget and forecast• Controlled all aspects of the interface with the Central forecasting and reporting team• Financial management and cost control of Driving School Call Centre• Production of monthly AA Media management pack, customer profitability and other MI• Provided decision support and analysis for new initiatives• Introduced monthly EBITDA analysis by sector to assist strategic review • Dealt directly with CEO and Sales and Marketing Managers on a daily basis• Overhauled, redesigned and implemented changes to month end and reporting processes Show less

• Financial Accountant, Newcastle and Cardiff Call Centres

  • Dec 2008 - Nov 2009

  Responsible to Finance Manager Call Centres for the financial control of Call Centre expenditure, including monthly reporting, budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning.• Ran the month end process and consolidated Call Centre actuals, budget and forecast• Provided accurate and timely analysis to Call Centre management for decision making• Improved Call Centre MI and developed robust forecasting/budget models• Produced monthly cost centre statements and reviewed with department heads• Controlled all aspects of the interface with the Central forecasting and reporting team• Dealt with Call Centre Director on a daily basis and attended senior management workshops Show less

• Finance Specialist, Group Planning

  • Jan 2007 - Nov 2008

  Responsible to Finance Manager Group Planning for co-ordinating and consolidating the AA's operational planning activities through to preparing Board submissions. • Consolidated business rolling forecasts to produce Group outlook ensuring integrity of submissions through challenge of assumptions, forecast methods and completeness, for review by the Finance Director • Prepared Group cashflow forecast from business submissions, reconciliation to Treasury forecast and identification and implementation of improvements to the process• Designed and set-up forecast and budget models for each business in Cognos to simplify and achieve a robust submission process and providing ongoing lead support to business users• Produced Group quarterly forecast and annual budget packs for Board submission and meeting ad-hoc requests for management/financial information from the CEO, FD, auditors and banks• Provided full accounting service to Procurement division including monthly management accounts, budget and forecast Show less

• Finance Specialist, Property

  • Jan 2005 - Dec 2006

  Responsible to Property Accountant for completion of the Property accounting process and provision of financial information to assist with decision-making. • Produced monthly Property management accounts including variance analysis and monitored achievement of savings targets• Prepared quarterly forecast and annual Property budget• Monitored project actuals against authorised budget and investigated material variances• Raised monthly journals for accruals, pre-payments, provisions etc. and reconciled all balance sheet accounts through to year-end audit• Recommended and implemented process improvements that achieved a 5 day (50%) reduction in month-end completion timescales Show less



Centrica

• Colombia
• Human Resources Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Group Payables Administrator, Control Section

  • Jan 2004 - Dec 2004

• Group Payables Administrator

  • Nov 2001 - Dec 2003



Co-op

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Shop Assistant/Cashier

  • Feb 2001 - Oct 2001

  Working part-time whilst studying at college. Working part-time whilst studying at college.



Premier Inn

• Hospitality
• 700 & Above Employee

• Cleaning Operative

  • May 1999 - Jan 2001

  Working part-time whilst studying at college. Working part-time whilst studying at college.