Experience

Arrow Global Group

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Director of Group Financial Planning and Analysis

  • Nov 2020 - Present

• Chief Of Staff

  • Nov 2019 - Nov 2020

• Senior Finance Business Partner

  • Sep 2018 - Nov 2019

  Manchester, United Kingdom



Shop Direct

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Commercial Finance Manager, Financial Services

  • Jul 2016 - Sep 2018

  Finance Business Partner responsible for the Credit Risk Function and the entire FS cost base Main achievements •Subject matter expert and lead contact for all financial aspects of the debtor book, providing expertise and financial rigour to aid decision making and ensuring appropriate and effective financial control is in place. •Monitoring the strengths and weaknesses of the debtor portfolio, highlight risks and trends •Working with the credit risk team to create solutions to… Show more Finance Business Partner responsible for the Credit Risk Function and the entire FS cost base Main achievements •Subject matter expert and lead contact for all financial aspects of the debtor book, providing expertise and financial rigour to aid decision making and ensuring appropriate and effective financial control is in place. •Monitoring the strengths and weaknesses of the debtor portfolio, highlight risks and trends •Working with the credit risk team to create solutions to emerging issues and to drive a culture of continuous improvements and ambition, driving value through commercial insight and analysis •Compilation of business cases to support commercial decision making, including outsourcing of operational areas, investment in a new credit system, strategy changes for Credit Risk - Artificial Intelligence, scorecard enhancements and changes to credit limits •Ensuring accurate, robust and stretching budgets are agreed for bad debt, admin fees and the FS cost base by challenging Senior Leaders within the business •Leading the project for IFRS 9 conversion, ensuring a smooth transition to IFRS 9 reporting. •Control of £70m cost base – Delivery of £6.7m cost savings in FY16-17 whilst managing and mitigating risks and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.

• Secondment to Investor Relations

  • Sep 2017 - Oct 2017

  During the secondment I worked within Group Finance as part of a project team with the aim of refinancing the business Main achievements •The team was successful in issuing a Corporate Bond to raise capital for the business •Reviewing and redrafting of the Offering Memorandum (OM), Due Diligence questions, and presentation materials for the roadshow campaign. Ensuring information accuracy and consistency, including liaison with lawyers, investment bank and key business… Show more During the secondment I worked within Group Finance as part of a project team with the aim of refinancing the business Main achievements •The team was successful in issuing a Corporate Bond to raise capital for the business •Reviewing and redrafting of the Offering Memorandum (OM), Due Diligence questions, and presentation materials for the roadshow campaign. Ensuring information accuracy and consistency, including liaison with lawyers, investment bank and key business stakeholders.



Shop Direct

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Commercial Finance Manager, Financial Services

  • Jul 2014 - Jul 2016

  Responsible for managing the Financial Services (FS) P&L, producing key reporting and analysis to aid informed decision making and maintaining a robust control environment. •Responsible for the preparation of high profile monthly reports including FS Group Profitability Report, Exec Board, Shareholder and portfolio packs, tailoring content to suit particular audiences and to highlight key commercial issues •Deputising for Head of FS Reporting & Control during long-term assignment to… Show more Responsible for managing the Financial Services (FS) P&L, producing key reporting and analysis to aid informed decision making and maintaining a robust control environment. •Responsible for the preparation of high profile monthly reports including FS Group Profitability Report, Exec Board, Shareholder and portfolio packs, tailoring content to suit particular audiences and to highlight key commercial issues •Deputising for Head of FS Reporting & Control during long-term assignment to key project work •Understanding the FS financial performance inside out including brands, products and trading performance and articulating results to a wide range of stakeholders (FS, Retail and Group) at all levels •Ownership for the month end process, ensuring consistency, accuracy and appropriate technical treatment of financials •Oversight of Budget and Forecasting process for costs and challenging Senior Leaders within the business to ensure the output is accurate, robust and stretching •Managing the External Regulatory audit, enabling the Business to fulfil its regulatory reporting requirements •Ensuring visibility over commercial changes to the business that have an impact upon the control and process environment, identifying issues and implementing required action

• Finance Manager

  • Dec 2012 - Jul 2014

  Oversight and overall responsibility for the Financial Services accounting functions including management of 2 direct reports •Lead the year end audit and completion of the statutory accounts for the FS business •Identification, management and removal of control and process weaknesses •Understanding commercial drivers behind balance sheet values and movements -identification of risks and sensitivity to internal and external factors and ensuring all stakeholders are made… Show more Oversight and overall responsibility for the Financial Services accounting functions including management of 2 direct reports •Lead the year end audit and completion of the statutory accounts for the FS business •Identification, management and removal of control and process weaknesses •Understanding commercial drivers behind balance sheet values and movements -identification of risks and sensitivity to internal and external factors and ensuring all stakeholders are made aware •On-time submission of key accounting outputs including Monthly Balance Sheet reporting, VAT Return, Regulatory Return and Bank Reporting •Implemented process improvements, notably around month end and the Regulatory Return •Built relationships with key internal and external stakeholders •Trained and developed staff to improve expertise within the existing team



KPMG US

• United States
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• PQT Advisor

  • Jun 2011 - Dec 2012

  Manchester Secondment working within the national Professional Qualification Training team to manage both the ACA and ICAS qualifications, enabling KPMG to become the training provider of choice for trainees. Main achievements:  Ongoing implementation of policies and guidelines across the national Audit and Advisory practices.  Provided support and guidance to the trainee population, developing communication and coaching skills  Risk management - anticipating and preventing future… Show more Secondment working within the national Professional Qualification Training team to manage both the ACA and ICAS qualifications, enabling KPMG to become the training provider of choice for trainees. Main achievements:  Ongoing implementation of policies and guidelines across the national Audit and Advisory practices.  Provided support and guidance to the trainee population, developing communication and coaching skills  Risk management - anticipating and preventing future problems based on decisions taken in the short term with the ultimate aim of maximising first time pass rates and minimising disruption to the business.  Worked closely with trainees, tuition providers and regional managers/training managers to minimise conflicts of interest between all parties.  Prepared budgets, re-forecasts and other financial data for various training programmes run by KPMG

• Career Break

  • Sep 2010 - May 2011

  Sabbatical from KPMG to travel round the world

• Audit Assistant

  • Sep 2007 - Sep 2010

  Manchester, United Kingdom Client based work within the Audit function whilst completing ACA training contract. Wealth of experience gained during this time working on a varied portfolio of companies. Main achievements:  In-charged engagements. Responsible for all stages of the audit process including planning, fieldwork and completion  Continual assessment of the level of risk and thus the appropriate audit strategy to be adopted  Led teams of several assistants whilst on site and took complete… Show more Client based work within the Audit function whilst completing ACA training contract. Wealth of experience gained during this time working on a varied portfolio of companies. Main achievements:  In-charged engagements. Responsible for all stages of the audit process including planning, fieldwork and completion  Continual assessment of the level of risk and thus the appropriate audit strategy to be adopted  Led teams of several assistants whilst on site and took complete responsibility for the quality of work produced  Liaised with clients, senior managers, partners and assistants  Prepared work papers and took responsibility for reviewing documentation provided by the team before submitting to manager/partner  Prepared presentations and reports to be delivered to Audit Committees and Group Audit Teams within tight timescales and high pressured working environments  Development of team members through on-the-job coaching and mentoring  Acted as mentor for more junior members of staff to help with integration into KPMG  Member of the Social Committee. Organised social events both within the department and with other departments. Received Award in recognition of hard work and positive feedback on performance  Represented KPMG at Graduate Recruitment Careers Fair meeting prospective new trainees



Barclays

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Collection Accounts Assitant

  • Jul 2005 - Jul 2006

  Paris Area, France Sales assistant within the International Corporate Team in the Paris Headquarters. Main achievements:  Acted as the main point of contact for new corporate referrals from colleagues in the UK and was responsible for the account opening process  Managed new account openings and liaised with clients and colleagues on a regular basis, both in France and in the UK, ensuring compliance with Money Laundering Regulations and Barclays “Know Your Customer” processes.  Assisted the… Show more Sales assistant within the International Corporate Team in the Paris Headquarters. Main achievements:  Acted as the main point of contact for new corporate referrals from colleagues in the UK and was responsible for the account opening process  Managed new account openings and liaised with clients and colleagues on a regular basis, both in France and in the UK, ensuring compliance with Money Laundering Regulations and Barclays “Know Your Customer” processes.  Assisted the Corporate Account Managers with the day-to-day management and development of their corporate relationships, dealing with clients’ queries and internal organisational issues  Team administration duties – took minutes in meetings, booked travel for members of the team, prepared mailings and managed term deposit accounts for all clients Show less