Experience

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  The Ardonagh Group

  • Leeds, England, United Kingdom

  • Finance Business Partner

    • Jul 2023 - Mar 2024
    • Leeds, England, United Kingdom

    Partnering 3 business heads across 5 business units; with insurance Commercial specialty in Networks, property, marine, sports, leisure, and construction. Covering all key financial processes for monthly results, forecasts, budgets and balance sheet reviews; and managing business change and financial impacts of a changing business environment.

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  People's Partnership

  • FINANCE LEAD, CONTROLLER AND COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTANT,

    • Dec 2020 - Mar 2023

    (FORMERLY B&CE)• Finance Lead on 3-year strategic Retain and Grow programme, governance with Executive team• All aspects of financial processes around programme (Budget, Reforecasts, Monthly Reporting)• Commercial Accountant working with Financial Planning and Analysis team• Supporting CFO and Finance team on ad-hoc activities (Project Funding, HMRC Compliance)• Finance representative on RFP to engage third party to support propositional objectives• Business Case Consultant to assess strategic options on product & propositional development

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  Legal & General

  • United Kingdom
  • Financial Services
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Business Development, Finance and Project Manager

    • Apr 2019 - Nov 2020

  • Finance Manager

    • Apr 2019 - Nov 2020

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  Lloyds Banking Group

  • Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

  • Accountant

    • Jan 2018 - Dec 2018
    • Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Operational ("Business as Usual")• 2017 Year End Statutory and Regulatory ReturnsProjects• One Ledger Programme, Group TransformationDuties• Supporting delivery of IFRS Statutory Accounts for Life Companies in Scottish Widows Group• Management of Related Party (Inter Company) disclosures for Statutory and Solvency II Reporting• Remediation of End User Computing models to operate in a new General Ledger system• Supporting business in testing of models in new Oracle (Fusion) system environment• Supporting Users in transition to new General Ledger system (as a Super User)• Supporting build, and test of complex business critical EUC (transitioned from Excel to SQL)• Representing Life, Non Life and Regulatory Reporting in insurance transformation

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  BGL Group

  • Peterborough, United Kingdom

  • Finance Project Manager

    • Jun 2017 - Nov 2017
    • Peterborough, United Kingdom

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  BGL Group

  • Peterborough, United Kingdom

  • Finance Process Manager

    • Jul 2016 - Mar 2017
    • Peterborough, United Kingdom

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  Lloyds Banking Group

  • Interim Finance Manager

    • Jul 2015 - Apr 2016

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  Lloyds Banking Group

  • Bristol, United Kingdom

  • Financial Reporting Accountant

    • Nov 2014 - Mar 2015
    • Bristol, United Kingdom

    • Working in the Insurance Finance function (Reporting Service Centre)• Supporting Business as Usual reporting team in financial deliverables (month end / year-end)• Supporting delivery of Statutory Accounts for Life Company• Production of regulatory returns for Life Company (PRA)• Resolution of Actuarial / Group financial queries

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  BrightHouse

  • Watford, United Kingdom

  • Project Accountant

    • Aug 2014 - Sep 2014
    • Watford, United Kingdom

    Exploring strategic options with Private Equity and Management owners

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  Travelex

  • Peterborough, United Kingdom

  • MI Consultant

    • May 2014 - Jun 2014
    • Peterborough, United Kingdom

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  Willis

  • Ipswich, United Kingdom

  • Project Manager / Service Manager

    • Jul 2013 - Mar 2014
    • Ipswich, United Kingdom

    Reporting into Chief Operating Officer and Finance Transformation Programme• Implementation of a service management framework in a recently established finance shared services• Management of service management team (based in UK, US and India)• Documentation of services (catalogues) and Operational manuals• Development of Global Finance website (intranet / share point)• Development of service measurement across a number of finance operational functionso Accounting Operations (Accounts Payable & Receivable, Asset Management, Cash Management)o Accounting Services (Management Reporting, Revenue, Salaries & Benefits, Expenses) Achievements• Service Management framework implemented in finance shared service environment

• 

  esure

  • Reigate, Surrey

  • Finance Project Accountant

    • Dec 2012 - Apr 2013
    • Reigate, Surrey

    Supporting the Group in progressing to market flotation (Initial Public Offering)- Verification of key documentation in the lead up to flotation: Analysts Presentation, Intention to Float, Prospectus- Primarily responsible for Financials review / verification, supporting other business areas- Acting as link point for Finance stakeholders (Auditors, Lawyers, and Banks as required)- Supporting delivery of documentation to enable Finance input to verification process- Supporting Group FC in Business as Usual / Project deliverables- Initially supporting Corporate Planning area in design of Planning models and Actualisation of models• Company successfully floated on London Stock Exchange 27th March 2013

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  Lloyds Banking Group

  • Bristol, United Kingdom

  • Group Finance, Finance Transformation Enabler

    • Nov 2011 - Aug 2012
    • Bristol, United Kingdom

    • Project Accountant on major finance transformation programmeo Working on the Data Work stream of Group Divisional Reporting Solution projecto Transforming Finance and MI through enabling SAP reporting processeso Responsible for identifying and resolving differences between Statutory and Management reportingo Supporting Regulatory Reporting and Finance business stakeholders through transformation processo Supporting delivery of data conversion and data reconciliations for Statutory, management and regulatoryo Investigation and resolution of system errors identified in system and user acceptance testing

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  Equitable Life Assurance Society

  • Aylesbury

  • Financial Projects and Reporting Manager

    • Jan 2010 - Jun 2011
    • Aylesbury

    Supporting Finance delivery in a number of strategic projectso IFRS adoption: Conversion from UK GAAP / ABI SORP to IFRSo Solvency II: Reporting and Finance Work stream (Accounting representative)o Hosting Implementation: In sourcing of Policy Administration services o Tax and Tax Year End Support for major Operational activitieso Year End Report and Accounts: Timetabling, Review and Productiono Business Partnering and Governance with Outsourced administrators (subsequently in sourced)

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  Exact Mortgage Experts

  • Finance Manager - Client Services

    • Apr 2009 - Oct 2009

    Implementation of Mortgage Service Platform (through Phoebus Software solution). Finance representative for business and project delivery.

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  Santander

  • Senior Business Consultant

    • Nov 2007 - Feb 2009

    • Reported to Card Operations / Director Governance and Control / Santander Card Limited• Initial focus on procedural documentation to meet Sarbanes Oxley / External Audit requirements• Moving on to develop Control model and MI for Santander UK Credit Card business• Finance & Operational Process Re-Engineering and resolution of Balance Sheet reconciliation issues• Review of Procurement practices and pricing around credit card materialsAchievements• Re-Engineered Credit Card processes to facilitate join up of Operations and Finance• Worked with Santander Cards (Madrid) & UK business to design and implement Control Model• Significant reduction in instances of reconciliation items on Card Balance Sheet• Identified cost savings and further opportunities across credit card materials portfolio

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  GE Money

  • Project Manager

    • May 2006 - Sep 2007

    • Reporting to Chief Financial Officer (Now Chief Executive)• Recruited to support resolution of Board audit issue on un-reconciled accounts• Scope encompassed full balance sheet audit and impact on profit and loss account• Initial focus on un-reconciled accounts expanded to cover Legal Entity Simplification / Equity Project• Delivery of solutions to address reconciliatory issues and complex structure• Support in addressing Intra/Intercompany and Equity accounting issues• Communication to Stakeholders (Irish CFO, European HQ, Global & Local Controllership & Tax)• Management of Project Simplify team – 7 Accountants (2 Part Qualified) and 2 Management TraineesAchievements• Significantly reduced number of un-reconciled accounts - original scope of 533 account failures identified by Corporate Audit team at Q1.06 down to 18 historical failures at Q2.07.• Supported establishment of forum / procedure to assign ownership and tracking to outstanding and new account reconciliation issues.• Full resolution of Board Audit issues• 2006 P&L positive contribution of $25m across HQ and Irish business

  • Interim Financial Controller

    • May 2005 - May 2006

    • Reported to Finance Director and Group Financial Controller• Originally recruited to resolve major issue on FSA return submission process• Requested to take on Financial Controller role following resignation of FC• Managed delivery of Quarterly US Reporting for UK Subsidiaries• Implementation of improvements around Financial and Operational processes• Supported change of Investments accounting system (CAMRA to ICON)• Management of GE Life Finance Team & delivery of UK Year end activityAchievements:• Significant improvement of US reconciliation’s framework - award from the UK senior management team• Successful delivery of US reporting requirements against challenging timeframes• Supporting UK Closure – maintaining on track delivery against plan

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  Alliance & Leicester

  • IFRS Project Manager

    • 2004 - 2005

    • Reporting to Director, Retail Bank and Head of Reporting• Responsible for managing delivery of International Financial Reporting requirements for Retail Bank in line with Alliance & Leicester, IASB and European Commission timeframes.• Ensuring IFRS compliant solutions for Mortgages, Unsecured loans, Credit Cards achieved for Retail Bank.• Project Reporting to A&L IFRS Steering Group and key A&L stakeholders (including external auditors).• Facilitation of integrating IFRS solutions into Retail Finance processes and procedures.• Management of Retail IFRS project team

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  Barclays

  • Financial Reporting Manager

    • 2003 - 2004

    • Reporting to Head of Reporting, with links to Retail Bank Director• Recruited to manage the year-end process for UK Life Companies within the Barclays Group.• Responsibility for managing the production and delivery of Statutory Accounts encompassing liaison with external auditors, third party actuaries, out-sourced service functions, and internal business / finance teams.• Exposure to assessing IAS implications and system mapping for Financial Services (Life) sector; including preparation for IFRS Reporting and Sarbanes Oxley compliance.

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  Powergen

  • Integration Manager

    • 2003 - 2003

    • Reporting to Integration Project Manager• Recruited to support integration of TXU Energy (following acquisition by EON) into Powergen. • Remit encompassed financial, commercial and settlements systems, and transfer of processes and people.• Implementation of project support structure for Financial and Commercial Control work stream• Managed issues, risks and milestones associated with business and IT deliverables • Provided financial control and reporting of Retail Integration Project progress

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  AMP

  • Finance Manager

    • 2000 - 2002

    BUSINESS SUPPORT SENIOR CONSULTANT / FINANCE MANAGER (October 2000 – December 2002) • Appointed to managerial position during transformation of finance functions to shared service environment. Supported finance executive team through development of an integrated UK business unit, reporting delivery of finance targets.• Took on additional responsibility of managing IT relationship with finance. Complementing management & budgetary reporting, valuable effort was spent on building up understanding of IT function and delivery of cost management initiatives Achievements:• Partnering IT/external consultants to plan initiatives amounting to cost saves of 20% (on a £84m budget)• Representing finance on implementation of outsourcing IT support. Due diligence and contract negotiations work led to reduction of £6m on original price. Annual benefit between £3m and £4m, and improved IT service standards• Supporting the successful integration of finance functions into one-shared service function. UK TRANSFORMATION – PROJECT ACCOUNTANT (January 2000 – September 2000) • Provided finance expertise to support transformation and rationalisation of UK Customer Service operations. Supported Customer Services Director in the development of operational reporting and realisation of project benefits. Responsibilities included introducing financial reporting controls, project governance, investment appraisal and project monitoring. Achievements: • Successful implementation of transformation project that resulted in the merging of 2 customer service functions, realisation of over £10m cost savings and significant productivity improvements.

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  NPI

  • Accountant

    • 1990 - 2000

    YEAR 2000 PROJECT ACCOUNTANT (October 1998 – December 1999) • Managed financial aspects of Year 2000 project, and management of project office team. The role involved delivery of compliance projects, through liaison with senior business management and Chief Executive. Achievements: • Developed and implemented a companywide progress reporting mechanism, ensuring effective utilisation of senior management time and successful delivery of project objectives.• Set up of project financial and risk management control processes ensuring tight governance over project expenditure (almost £50m across the business over period of project).TEAM LEADER, PRODUCT ACCOUNTING (October 1997 – September 1998)• Following the successful implementation of new system promoted to manage the operational team. Responsibilities included the delivery of management accounts & statutory returns, and controlling reconciliation processes. Achievements:DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTANT (January 1995 – September 1997) • Finance representative on implementation of new policy administration system. Responsibilities included defining and co-ordination of business requirements, technical support, user acceptance testing, product launches and reporting. Achievements: • Delivery of new Capsil system resulting in significant productivity improvement and increased revenue generation (Award received from Senior Executive Team) SYSTEMS AND CONTROL ACCOUNTANT (October 1993 – December 1994)• Promoted following ACCA qualification. Responsibilities included Bank security officer, Accounts preparation, and financial design of new products. Achievements: • Driving through improved standards of accounting and controls TRAINEE ACCOUNTANT (August 1990 – September 1993)• Rotations in Internal Audit, Systems Development, Statutory Reporting, Finance Operations and Management Accounts.