Energy Trader

• Jan 2022 - Present

Financial Controller

• Mar 2021 - Sep 2021

Financial controller for the UK and European operations of Thermal Energy International. Financial controller for the UK and European operations of Thermal Energy International.

Group Financial Controller

• Mar 2001 - Jul 2019

Knight Piesold Southern Africa forms part of the Global Knight Piesold Group, with head office in Denver, USA and offices worldwide, Knight Piesold Southern Africa consisting of 7 operating companies in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, eSwatini, Zambia, Mauritius and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They’re all run from Johannesburg.• Consolidated turnover approximately R 300 million (Euro 20 million)Management Activities:• Managed the finance department comprising 8 staff members.• Reported to the Managing Director- Southern Africa, and the Group Chairman (Denver)Notable Achievements at Knight Piesold:• Eliminated a significant bank overdraft. (2001 to 2002)• When Richard commenced his role as Financial Controller with Knight Piesold the company had a large bank overdraft, secured by the company’s assets and senior managers’ houses. The company made a loss in 2000 which breached the debt covenant and as a result the bank called in the overdraft, giving 24 hours’ notice. Avoided disaster by:• Stakeholder Management - Successfully negotiated new terms with the bank• Actions taken internally - Cost cutting, staff retrenchments, revision of the invoicing system and focused debt collection to improve the working capital cycle and make the company profitable.• Involvement in the bidding process for new work, especially the larger projects, to ensure that they were won on profitable terms.Additionally:• Drove Profit - Knight Piesold has been in business for 99 years. The last 20 years has been by far the most profitable period in its history. • Record Profits - The group went from a loss-making position in 2001 to a record profit of ZAR 73 million in 2013 and managed to remain very profitable for the period 2014 to 2018 despite the economic downturn in the region which caused a lot of its competitors to retrench staff.• Optimised Accounting Systems & Processes - Implemented a modern ERP accounting system.

Project Accountant

• Jun 1995 - Mar 2001

The Lesotho Highlands Tunnel Partnership (Mohale) was a joint venture formed to complete a major consulting engineering project in Lesotho. The joint venture obtained specific design inputs from approximately 200 professional engineering consultants and had an annual turnover of approximately ZAR 30 million. The joint venture members were Lahmeyer, Mott Macdonald, Knight Piesold and 4 other South African companies.Explanation of role: • Project Accountant - responsible for all aspects of accounting for the joint venture.• Managing a team of 3 accounting staff. Project Management Activities:• Set up and ran the accounting records.• Set the accounting system up using SAGE software and maintained it for six years.• Sorted out the withholding tax issues.• Made and managed the withholding tax payments, ensured that the tax credits could be claimable by the joint venture partners.• Provided monthly reports.• Prepared the monthly invoices to the client• Set up and administered the payroll and leave records• Administered the financial clauses of the joint venture agreement, ensuring that the members received the correct profit share• Set up and administered the timesheet system• Mentored accounting staff • Acted as liaison between the joint venture members and the lesotho tax authorities to ensure that their Lesotho tax affairs were in order.

Assistant Audit Manager

• Jan 1987 - Jun 1995

Served articles with Pim Goldby, which merged with Deloittes. Experience with large , listed companies. Moved to " Owner managed " audit division which led me to being on the Knight Piesold audit- which led to them hiring me as Project Accountant on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Served articles with Pim Goldby, which merged with Deloittes. Experience with large , listed companies. Moved to " Owner managed " audit division which led me to being on the Knight Piesold audit- which led to them hiring me as Project Accountant on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.