Experience

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  Salisbury & Co Accountants

  • United Kingdom
  • Accounting
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Executive Manager (Maternity Cover)

    • Oct 2023 - Apr 2024

    A firm of Chartered Accountants I reported to the director during a period of maternity leave and the January tax return season. Responsible for managing the recently established Menai Bridge office resulting from the acquisition of 3 rural practices. Overseeing a large diverse and geographically spread portfolio, quickly forming strong client relationships and providing a personal service to clients in all aspects of bookkeeping, accounting, VAT and tax. Responsible for all client interface and billing against office targets. Achievements:- managed the day to day office and staff- lead a professional organised fast paced office environment - efficiently planned and allocated office workflows- quickly established knowledge of client base- developed strong relationships with clients and staff alike- responded to client accounts and tax queries/emails same day- achieved all filing compliance deadlines including January tax returns- achieved office billing targets- managed work in progress and supported debt collection- managed client software packages and integrity there in; Xero, Sage, Quickbooks- supported the training of ACA/ACCA/AAT students - promoted the firm’s brand and client relations during the ongoing transition of the newly acquired practices

  • Executive Manager (Temporary)

    • May 2023 - Oct 2023

    A firm of Chartered Accountants with offices across North Wales, I reported to the director and worked on a wide and complex portfolio of clients on accounts, tax and audits during an exceptionally busy and rapid growth period for the firm. Achievements:- reviewed/finalised back log of accounts and tax jobs- dealt with complex client accounts including large groups and charities- managed a number of statutory audits - all filing and compliance deadlines met- responded to clients in a timely manner - quickly developed strong client and staff relationships - onboarded and engaged well with new clients- worked well with fellow managers to achieve deadlines

• 

  Williams Denton

  • Llandudno, North Wales

  • Associate Director

    • Nov 2021 - Feb 2023
    • Llandudno, North Wales

    A firm of Accountants and Tax Advisors, I was predominantly based in the Llandudno office and reported to the six Directors across two offices. Achievements:- shadowing the retiring directors- managed the studies of 12 trainees (ACCA/AAT)- lead staff bi-weekly workflow/planning meetings - reviewed and finalised VATs, accounts, tax jobs- prepared and reviewed client self-assessment tax returns - prepared trust tax returns - developed strong client relationships - all filing compliance deadlines achieved - managed the multi site IRIS merger project- developed and produced ISQM risk based audit documents - implemented staff training plan e.g. Xero, My Work Papers, CPD- managed client software accounts packages e.g. Xero, Sage, Quickbooks- successfully developed client debt collection process- coordinated client tax investigation insurance- managed office HR compliance, contracts, holidays, sick leave and return to work interviews

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  The Management Centre

  • Bangor, North Wales

  • Financial Controller

    • Jul 2017 - Nov 2021
    • Bangor, North Wales

    A University owned hotel and conference centre, I was invited to be part of the leadership team and reported to the Managing Director, together managing ~70 staff, assets of £11m and turnover of £3.5m, I was responsible for leading on all financial aspects of the company including; - managing the finance team- overseeing transaction processing and ledger integrity- preparing the statutory accounts- directly dealing with the auditors- maintaining the company's risk management database and reporting to the University board- monthly management accounts and business partnering - preparing quarterly and ad hoc board reports- cash forecasting analysis - financial planning, modelling, budgeting and forecasting (FP&A)- liaising with the bank and calculating bank covenant calculations - preparing data analysis and modelling to senior management - HR support, furlough claims, fraud investigations and disciplinary hearings- systems experience; Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Unit4/Agresso

• 

  Bangor University

  • Bangor, North Wales

  • Project Accountant

    • Feb 2011 - Jun 2017
    • Bangor, North Wales

    Working closely with the University’s Estates & Facilities Directorate, I was the Accountant on the following capital construction projects partly grant funded by the Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales;- Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre opened in 2015 costing ~£50m- Menai Science Park (Phase 1) opened in 2018 costing ~£20mAchievements:- preparing all cost monitoring analysis in line with contract spend- preparing all capital expenditure reporting to senior management- liaising with estates teams to control expenditure- assisting with grant funding claims- involved with WEFO grant auditsI was also the Accountant for the University’s commercial trading subsidiaries and responsible for all management accounts, budgets, planning, forecasting, FP&A, cash flow analysis, statutory accounts and dealing with external auditors, VAT returns and board reports:- Undeb Trading Cyf - student bar and nightclub - Menai Science Park Ltd - science park- North West Wales Management Development Centre Ltd - hotel and executive training centre Achievements:- responsible for accounting for all subsidiaries - direct interface with auditors on all three subsidiaries - dealt with HMRC on specific VAT registration issues - developed strong relationships with operational mangers

• 

  Davies Business Consultancy

  • Colwyn Bay, Wales

  • Business Consultant

    • Jan 2011 - Mar 2017
    • Colwyn Bay, Wales

• 

  BNFL

  • Commercial Accountant & Tax Manager

    • May 2007 - Apr 2009

    As a result of the decision to dissolve British Nuclear Group Ltd, I was offered a transfer to the subsidiary Sellafield Ltd during the transfer of the UK nuclear sites to the NDA and the dissolving of BNFL. Reporting to the Chief Accountant, I successfully led on the Group Indirect Tax transfer and liaised with HMRC’s Large Business Sector ensuring tax support continued to the Westlakes Shared Service Centre. Whilst managing the Tax Assistant and overseeing the VAT, PSA and CIS returns. Achievements:- managing the Tax Assistant- organising workflows/compliance/scheduling deadlines- reviewing VAT and CIS returns- direct contact with HMRC’s large business sector - preparation of SOX/Internal audit impact paper- ad hoc support to the Chief Accountant- Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) for Sellafield manufacturing plant

  • Group Financial Accountant

    • Feb 2004 - May 2007

    Having applied for a new finance role, I was offered a promotion and relocation to Warrington to work for the newly formed subsidiary British Nuclear Group Ltd at the time of the 2005 Energy Act, formation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and major transformation programme and restructuring of the UK’s nuclear industry. Reporting to the Financial Controller, part of a new finance team tasked with reporting on the group’s M&O contracts associated with the UK’s 14 nuclear Sellafield and Magnox sites and NDA asset transfer project. Achievements:- responsible for all group financial accounting, control accounts and reconciliations- calculating Joint Venture accounting- liaising with head office and site finance teams- part of NDA asset transfer project team- drafting accounting policies for the group- working knowledge of SAP

  • Financial Accountant (FP&A Analyst)

    • Apr 2000 - Feb 2004

    Based on the Sellafield site and reporting to the Chief Accountant, I was involved with high profile business cases, financial modelling, economic appraisal and NPV analysis for a nuclear manufacturing (MOX) plant under construction and costing ~£380m. I was a member of the Economic Justification team. Working with senior management, HMG Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in providing financial analysis to the Judicial Review and direct interface with Internal/External auditors. I was also the Commercial Accountant reporting to the Commercial teams who liaised with the large European and Japanese nuclear power companies e.g. Toshiba, Hitachi, EDF. Achievements:- attended commercial meetings in Rome, with commercial teams and nuclear companies - attended several meetings with Department of Trade and Industry auditors in London - developed strong relationships with BNFL commercial teams- member of Economic Justification team - responsible for maintaining all MOX plant financial modelling (FP&A) analysis and reporting - provided up to date analysis to the Risk Management team- ad hoc support to the Chief Accountant - working knowledge of SAP

• 

  Dodd & Co Chartered Accountants

  • Carlisle, Cumbria

  • Trainee Accountant

    • Sep 1998 - Apr 2000
    • Carlisle, Cumbria

    A firm of Chartered Accountants - Accountancy training contract (ICAEW):- preparing accounts of sole traders/partnerships- preparing VAT returns for regular clients - tax training - auditing a range of companies - auditing solicitors in accordance with Law Society - auditing pension schemes - auditing travel agents in accordance with ABTA- responsible for period of Company Secretarial compliance

• 

  Saint & Co

  • Carlisle, Cumbria

  • Trainee Accountant

    • Sep 1996 - Sep 1998
    • Carlisle, Cumbria

    A firm of Chartered Accountants - Accountancy training contract (ICAEW):- preparing accounts of sole traders- junior on a variety of audits