Interim Group Financial Controller

• Sep 2022 - Present

Group Financial Controller

• Aug 2020 - Present

Group Financial Controller

• Dec 2018 - Aug 2020

Specialist Leisure Group Ltd comprises brands such as Shearings Holidays, National Holidays and 44 hotels across the UK. It is the largest escorted tour company in UK with turnover in excess of £210m. > Restructure of finance team resulting in the formation of shared service team delivering process efficiencies and headcount savings > Introduction and implementation of PO processing system delivering an estimated saving of £250k per annum Responsibilities • Preparation of monthly/quarterly reporting to PE owners including the consolidation of group management accounts and commentary on business performance • Cashflow and working capital management, including the monitoring of daily cash and covenant compliance • Management of the shared service team comprising 15 staff • Treasury management – diesel and euro hedges • Consumer protection – management of ATOL, ABTA and BCH licence renewals and monthly returns • Statutory accounts, tax, legal and insurance Show less

Finance Director

• Nov 2018 - Dec 2018

Forrest was a construction and services business with turnover of £140m. The company unfortunately went into administration in December 2018, less than 2 months after joining the business. I supported the CFO in liaising with banks and investors to try to secure new funding and then subsequently with an AMA process. • Prepared a 3-year re-forecast across the 4 main business divisions which was used by banks and investors to review the future viability of the business • Daily cash management and liaison with subcontractors • Review of the consolidated statutory accounts prepared in accordance with IFRS Show less

Group Financial Controller

• Feb 2012 - Oct 2018

> Part of the senior finance team that delivered the successful exit on behalf of Goldman Sachs / TPG of Ainscough within a three year period taking EBITDA from £24m to £40m. > Achieved £9m in working capital benefit through a variety of initiatives including the introduction of smartphone technology in cranes to replace manual paper processing which also delivered improved controls over weekly wages and reduced overheads. > Completed the due diligence and legal documentation for the acquisition of 2 businesses that were subsequently hived up into the group > Monthly review of management accounts and board reporting with full ownership and accountability for the group balance sheet, cashflow, overheads and capex reporting including consolidation > Preparation of group forecasts, budget and 5 year plan for the above areas of responsibility > Working capital management including daily cashflow forecasting and covenant compliance > Management of a team of 25 covering Qualified Accountants, Payroll, Sales Invoicing, Credit Control and Purchase Ledger Show less

Financial Controller

• Jul 2010 - Mar 2011

PE backed technology company with a subsidiary in Portland, Oregon, USA and manufacturing operations in Taiwan. Responsibilities: • Monthly review of consolidated management accounts and presentation of results to the Board. • Preparation of 3 year Plan of Record (POR) with monthly variance analysis of actual spending on both operational expenses and overhead compared to POR. Review and update of Forecasts as required by the board. • Tight working capital management to ensure adequate funds available for the operational requirements of the business. • Responsibility for all administration and financial aspects of the group. • Ensure compliance with local tax and statutory requirements in both the UK and US. • Production of IFRS consolidated statutory accounts and co-ordination of annual audit. • Responsible for the effective operation of the employee share option scheme. • Involved in the review of all contracts from manufacturing through to sales and distribution contracts. Achievements • Redesigned the company’s excel forecast model and reviewed all cost and revenue projections to identify the cash requirements to see the company through to break even. • Coordinated the raising of US$9m from 3 venture capital investors in 3 tranches. • Assisted with the restructure of a US$2m venture debt facility • Negotiated financial sections of MSA with large US contract manufacturer (CM), however consensus could not be achieved and switched to Taiwanese CM for which I also worked on the Term Sheet. • Produced 2 years of IFRS compliant statutory accounts, including the company’s first accounts under IFRS. • Coordinated the 2010/2011 insurance renewal and brought all policies under a single underwriter for both UK and US policies achieving US$30k cost saving. Show less

Travel and Charity work

• May 2009 - May 2010

Based between Lima, Cusco and Sacred Valley I worked with the Living Heart Foundation which strives to help develop self-sustainable initiatives in the high-altitude communities above Peru's Sacred Valley Based between Lima, Cusco and Sacred Valley I worked with the Living Heart Foundation which strives to help develop self-sustainable initiatives in the high-altitude communities above Peru's Sacred Valley

Chief Financial Officer

• Oct 2007 - May 2009

Responsibility • Monthly review of consolidated management accounts and presentation of results to the Board. • Preparation of the annual budget with monthly variance analysis of actual spending on both operational expenses and overhead compared to budget. • Working capital management for the group companies. • Ensure compliance with local tax and statutory requirements in all 8 Asian countries and management of the group statutory audit processes in Singapore. • Development and training of local staff to build knowledge and confidence. I had 10 direct reports and 15+ indirect staff in the finance team across 8 locations in Asia, including China and Kyrgyzstan. • Preparation of prospectus and co-ordination of due diligence process in respect of IPO and take over. Achievements in my role as CFO • When I commenced in my role with DrillCorp, there was no monthly management reporting in place and no consistent accounting policies across the group. Further, the group had never been consolidated as it initially consisted of stand-alone legal entities. I put in place a month end closing schedule, implemented the group consolidation process and harmonized accounting policy to allow for the collation of timely and accurate consolidated management accounts. • On appointment I also completed an in-depth review of all internal controls and implemented a robust control environment through the documentation of all internal controls and education of staff members. This involved the addition of many new controls. • I assisted with a capital raising exercise of S$8.5million to fund the acquisition of plant and equipment and allow the company to pursue the planned IPO. • I managed the group restructure which saw the 7 separate legal entities (and their subsidiaries) come under common control of the Singapore parent. • I produced the first IFRS group statutory accounts under this structure. Show less

Senior Financial Accountant

• Nov 2004 - Oct 2007

Initially employed as Revenue Accountant before being promoted to the position of Senior Financial Accountant with responsibility for all financial and accounting aspects of the 23 legal entities in the ABU, including the Darwin Pipeline Joint Venture and Darwin LNG Pty Ltd (an incorporated JV), for which I designed all accounting and finance procedures and controls including the month end close and statutory reporting processes. I was also responsible for the ABU consolidation and statutory audit process. • Management of the month end process including review of accounts and variance analysis against prior periods and forecasts in SAP • Monthly consolidation of all 23 legal entities in the ABU, including minority interest. • Responsibility for the statutory audit process and liaison with auditors. • Ensure all accounting entries were made on a timely basis and were compliant with both USGAAP and A-IFRS. • Preparation of accounting policy position papers on contentious accounting issues eg. Employee share plan, embedded derivatives, revenue recognition etc. • Ensuring compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. • Supervision of a small team of 4 accountants. Show less

Auditor

• Oct 1999 - Oct 2004

I commenced my 3 year training contract in Manchester before moving to their Dublin office and then finally transferred to the Perth, Western Australia office on completion of my ACA qualification. My main duties at PKF included: • Responsibility for the audit of listed and unlisted companies, predominantly in mining and exploration sector while in Perth. • Secondment to HP/Compaq during their merger. I was responsible for the AP function at their European shared service centre in Dublin. This was an 8 month placement. • Responsibility for preparation of independent accountant reports for companies looking to list on ASX and AIM • I was also responsible for a number of non-audit engagements to review the existence and effectiveness of accounting policies, procedures and internal controls and the extent to which they represented best practice. I performed these engagements for a number of owner managed entities that had undergone rapid growth and were concerned whether they had retained appropriate control over their business. • Responsible for the co-ordination of all audit training within the corporate services department. Show less