Experience

Loganair Limited

• United Kingdom
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Head of Financial Reporting

  • Apr 2018 - Present

  Following a period of intense competition with a rival and a restructure within the department, appointed Head of Financial Reporting with main responsibilities being the delivery of accurate, on time financial reporting and managing the transactional finance activities within the company and the team of up to 11 employees including 4 direct reports. Also a 6 month period of acting Director of Finance as maternity cover at the beginning of 2020.Key accomplishments to date include:• Successfully concluded negotiations to secure funding for the company as part of long term strategic objectives• Preparation and successful completion of the parent company statutory accounts following the complex administration of one of the group companies• Migration to a new accounts system during the year, which has improved reporting, efficiency of transactional inputting, and enhanced controls through improved co-ordination• Put in place new hedging instruments helping save the company $400k of additional cost as well as allowing us to negotiate an extension of terms on a $2m balance due• Successfully challenged an HMRC VAT assessment to avoid a formal hearing, and just before a first-tier tribunal, on the VAT treatment of one of our supplies. Whilst only a cashflow timing benefit to the company, this has significant implications on a key customer who were only partially exempt. Show less

• Senior Financial Accountant

  • Jun 2017 - Mar 2018

  Manager of the Financial Accounting & Payroll team of 9 employees with 3 direct reports. Responsible for the month end financial accounting and complete oversight of the Company’s Balance Sheet and working capital management, along with preparation of the year end statutory accounts and overseeing the companies external audit.Key accomplishments to date include:• Put in place a weekly rolling cash flow forecast to greatly improve treasury management and reporting/relationship with bank facility providers• Implemented new invoice process to become paperless at no additional cost by utilising existing system, also driving significant efficiency savings• Helped changed month end reporting timetable to remove 7 working days from previous timescales with a view to remove further still• Established new Revenue accounting function following exit from franchise, creating new sales reporting for corporate board reporting, month end accounting and the reconciliation of bookings to receipts• Effected new Objectives for the Finance department to improve performance and staff development Show less



Chubb

• Insurance
• 700 & Above Employee

• Financial Accounting Manager

  • Oct 2015 - May 2017

  Manager of the Financial Accounting team with 6 direct reports, the key responsibilities of which include: • Ensuring processes are carried out during the month end such that production, expense numbers and other postings are made in time for key deadlines • Liaise with the Finance teams around the EMEA region to handle queries arising during the month end and support their month end commentary • Manage out of balance amounts in production between regions across the entire group, including LATAM and ASIAPAC • Handle the reconciliation and submission of IPT and VAT returns for 24 countries across the EMEA region • Review and provide commentary on balance sheet accounts for tax • Support the ongoing integration project following the $29bn takeover of Chubb Limited by ACE Limited • Review and maintenance of key Sox controls across the EMEA region • Management of staff including regular one to ones and performance evaluations • Provide support during external and internal audit Most recently I have been heavily involved in the integration project, including being in the US at the Warren, NJ office to bring work back to the Glasgow office to be managed by the Financial Accounting team. Furthermore I have worked closely on a handover of key financial reporting tasks and all the legacy Chubb Limited tax return submissions previously handled in London that are now moving to my team. Another key achievement was producing the accounts for the European service company’s statutory accounts, which this year included the first time adoption of reporting under FRS 102. As a result of this I was present at the final board meeting to sign the accounts and deal with the queries that arose, such as the restatement of the defined benefit pension scheme surplus and parent company share scheme reporting changes. Show less



Kwik Fit Insurance Services

• Finance Business Partner

  • Jan 2015 - Oct 2015

  Following a centralisation of the Finance function at head office, retained within the company with key responsibilities being:• Key support for the Head of Finance• Support key areas of the business in decision support and analysis (Ops, Marketing & E-commerce)• Liaison with retail shared services to ensure both accurate and timely monthly accounting and reporting• Enable cost management and to have a detailed understanding of costs drivers across the business • Support the delivery of 5 year plan financials, annual budget and quarterly/monthly forecast.• Financial business case production and supportInvolved in project to deliver c£7m savings to the cost base as well as implementing key cost centre reports to improve cost control and budgeting processes. Show less

• Financial Accounting Manager

  • Dec 2012 - Dec 2014

  Building upon the responsibilities below, appointed as manager for 5 members of the finance team covering management accounting, purchase ledger and banking functions. Report directly to Finance Director and, where required, Parent company representatives.Greater involvement in strategic decisions and forecasting as part of the company’s Senior Management team. Finance representative at Group strategy events and required to communicate company strategy to Finance team.Overall responsibility for monthly reporting and weekly forecasting for all companies within the group. Also responsible for quarterly FCA submissions via online GABRIEL reporting. Show less

• Senior Management Accountant

  • Aug 2009 - Dec 2012

  One of the UK’s leading personal lines insurance brokers selling car, home, van and bike insurance. Due to expansion of the reporting requirements and an acquisition, I was brought into this role to ensure financial reporting standards of acquired company were in line with existing levels. Reporting to the Finance Manager, responsible for the financial accounting requirements for the largest 2 companies within the group, including full balance sheet reconciliations for each company as part of month end reporting.Completed a Parent Company sponsored Future Managers Programme, which includes an Institute of Leadership and Management course, and received an ILM5 certification after passing required course work.Key responsibilities/achievements:• Management of Trainee Management Accountant, and also remotely managed another individual for a 6 month period.• Improvement in month end reporting process to reduce from 6 working days to 2• Preparation of Statutory accounts for all 3 companies as well as providing information to auditors for year end audits when required• Improved key reports such as monthly Board Report and Group Finance pack• Liaised with restaurant supplier to deliver £0.4m per annum savings from improved efficiency and amended service offering• Provide information to bank facility lender as well as liaising with auditors on a quarterly basis• Complete VAT returns on a quarterly basis for submission to parent company as part of Group VAT return submission Show less



City Site Estates plc

• Group Management Accountant

  • Apr 2008 - Aug 2009

  Glasgow based Property firm with over £350m portfolio including properties across Scotland and in London. Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, responsible for financial accounting requirements of 8 companies within the Group. On a Group basis, provide support on managing the loan portfolio, Group cash flow analysis, Group forecasting, Group management accounting, preparation of IFRS/GAAP consolidated statutory accounts and Group tax accounting. Individual company tasks include: • Preparation of monthly/quarterly management accounts • Preparation of statutory accounts and liaising with company auditors • VAT accounting and management • Property service charge accounting • Quarterly reporting to lenders • Cash flow management • Development project appraisal Show less



Bank of Scotland

• United Kingdom
• Banking
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Accountant (Fixed Term)

  • Sep 2007 - Apr 2008

  Financial support and investigation in high profile company initiative involving complete restructure of print activities across UK operations. Project spanned entire organisation and involved cost base in excess of £180m. My position was based in Central Group Functions, though I was also responsible for providing to support to other Divisions, such as Retail and Corporate Finance, throughout the project. Key responsibilities: • Determining financial baseline for in scope activities of project • Evaluation of funding for project costs, both application for and monitoring against budget • Co-ordination of activities across key Divisions • Reporting to line manager and core programme team on daily/weekly basis as to Finance workstream progress • Meeting extremely tight deadlines as set by Programme team for information • Review of Commercial proposals both 'As-is' and potential solutions Also required to aid in ad hoc queries for other financial aspects of the Business Area to which I was allocated, such as balance sheet account reconciliations and preparation of month end journals. Show less



PKF (UK) LLP

• Glasgow, United Kingdom

• Audit Associate

  • Jun 2005 - Sep 2007

  One of the UK's top tier accountancy professional firms, completed my ICAS training contract over a 2 year period. Continual development throughout contract, beginning with accounts preparation and audit assistance, to finally overall responsibility of carrying out and ensuring all fieldwork, planning and completion of requirement as part of audit engagement. Audit clients have included manufacturing firms, international technology providers, care homes, offshore/oil industry service providers together with the audit of one of the major government departments, with expenditure of approximately £4.5bn. During 3 month secondment to tax department involved in review of accounts for tax purposes and preparing corporate tax computations and resultant corporation tax returns. In addition to this provided personal tax advice to clients regarding payment of personal tax, tax codes and filing requirements. Show less



Deloitte

• Business Consulting and Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Audit & Assurance Associate

  • Aug 2004 - May 2005

  Experience in top tier accountancy firm on variety of audit engagements, both statutory audits as well as Sarbanes Oxley compliance work. Responsible, as part of an audit team, for specific areas of company accounts and reporting to senior audit team members. Involved in working in teams of 2 to 8 members. Client experience includes oil and gas providers, offshore surveyors, manufacturing industry companies, newspaper and magazine distributor and a top flight Scottish football club as part of statutory audits. Turnover of clients in these areas ranged from £1bn to £15m. Sarbanes Oxley work involved working with management to internally document systems and control, and also as external auditor of internally documented systems and controls. All clients involved in this area of work are international oils and gas industry companies with group turnovers’ in excess of £1bn each. Show less