Experience

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  Debenhams

  • Taunton, United Kingdom

  • Finance Manager

    • Nov 2014 - Present
    • Taunton, United Kingdom

    Debenhams is leading international, multi-channel retailer giving its customers around the world a unique, differentiated and exclusive mix of own brands, international brands and concessions. Currently covering a fixed maternity contract until Dec 15 as Finance Manager responsible for managing 3 qualified reportees and 1 graduate trainee looking after• Maintenance, reporting and review of the Group’s fixed asset register, ensuring capital transactions are reflected correctly in both the subsidiary and the financial statements of the Group• Monitoring capital project spend, working with relevant budget holders to ensure timeliness of cut offs & communication of spend against authorised CAPEX• Provide support to the accountant responsible for the gift card/voucher and ensure reconciliations are completed to timescales & preparation methods developed• Provide management support and encouragement with the introduction of a new automated reconciliation tool for the gift card reconciliations - AutoRek• Provide advice, support and review monthly management, forecast and budget information with and for the site accountant at Debenhams offsite print manufacturing facility• Training, development and support for all direct reports

• 

  Self Employed

  • Home

  • Recuperation

    • Jan 2014 - Oct 2014
    • Home

    Successful double knee replacement surgery - January 14 – October 14Whilst recuperating from successful knee replacement surgery I completed and passed the following courses• Learn Direct Sage 50 Accounts Course plus Sage Accounting Level 1 and 2• Chartered Institute for IT Level 1 and 2 ECDL• City and Guilds Level 3 Customer Service Course

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  Avenue Tennis Club

  • Avenue Tennis Club Head Coach

    • Apr 2008 - Dec 2013

    Self Employed Tennis Coach responsible for managing, directing and controlling all aspects of an Academy and general tennis coaching programme for adults and children of all standards. Liaising and connecting with all local schools to promote tennis and the Avenue Tennis Club.

• 

  Flint Group

  • Ruabon

  • Financial Controller

    • Oct 2007 - Mar 2008
    • Ruabon

    Financial control, reporting and management accounting support to operational and non financial managers

• 

  Amcor Flexibles

  • Switzerland
  • Packaging and Containers Manufacturing
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Financial Controller

    • Jul 2004 - Jul 2007

    Produce and provide financial results, costing and business management guidance to operational and non financial managers.I joined the Site Management Team, as Financial Controller with a budgeted turnover of £38m, a direct staff of 2 and indirect access to the centralized Finance function based on site.Major Achievements:- With the new General Manager produced and presented a variety of major investment papers aimed at restructuring our direct workforce, purchasing more cost efficient machinery, selling the current machinery and making cost savings in other areas (warehousing, purchasing, indirect staff) to re-position Colodense as the most cost effective and profitable unit within the European Confectionery Packaging Sector whilst aiming to fit within Amcor’s Global Packaging Plans.- Produced, prepared, managed all financial reporting relating to the successful business/asset transfer and shut down of Colodense Printing Business within reporting deadlines despite the difficult circumstances- Responsible for meeting all normal weekly, monthly and annual Group Reporting deadlines, producing, reporting and interpreting financial data against budget, providing financial and non financial data support to the rest of the Management Team and operational staff.I believe that the knowledge and experience gained during this project has improved and enhanced my overall appreciation of business processes and will be a valuable asset and source of reference in the future.

  • Financial Controller

    • Aug 1998 - Jun 2004

    I joined the Management Team as Financial Controller responsible for Finance, Purchasing and IT with a turnover of £9m and staff of 1. As part of the Management team I was heavily involved in all aspects of the commercial and manufacturing decision making.Major Achievements - Managed the introduction of SAP FI/CO/MM systems and became first site to implement SAP Integrated Purchasing and Materials Management- Enhanced the Financial Reporting Systems introducing Full Year Forecasting Model, taking into account, detailed product and pricing mix variances against budget- Improved and developed price quoting system to provide more accurate and up to date relevant data- Developed the Budgeting System to produce agreed production standards and efficiencies- Improving Cost Recording Systems to assist in pricing and increase understanding of product profitability- Produced 5 Budgets, 3 Strategic Planning Models and completed 5 Year Ends in first 3 years at Baricol following 1 merger and purchase by Amcor Flexibles

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  Racal Thorn EMI Electronics

  • Wells, Somerset

  • Management Accountant

    • Mar 1998 - Jul 1998
    • Wells, Somerset

    Returned to Racal to cover Maternity Leave and assist with Year End Reporting and Budgeting Process whilst looking for a new and more challenging position. Major achievement was assisting new Group Manager to introduce Management Information System running within the rest of the business thereby improving Business Reporting.

• 

  GKN Westlands

  • Weston Super Mare

  • Financial Controller

    • Feb 1998 - Mar 1998
    • Weston Super Mare

    I joined GKN to provide Financial and Management Accounting back up to Finance Director during staff holidays and long-term sickness. Major achievement was the introduction of a spreadsheet model producing Profit & Loss, Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Forecast information to assist in planning and decision-making

• 

  Ferguson Casley Rudland Ltd

  • Bristol, United Kingdom

  • Group Management Accountant

    • May 1997 - Feb 1998
    • Bristol, United Kingdom

    Group of Ltd Companies mainly operating within the Construction Industry focused on General Site and Electrical Engineering Management, with offices in Bristol, London and Johannesburg with a Turnover of £5M. Major achievement was the installation of Pegasus Opera Integrated Accounting System and therefore considerable improvement in Financial Information available, in particular cash, where day to day management was critical.

• 

  Racal Thorn EMI Electronics

  • Wells, Somerset

  • Senior Management Accountant

    • Mar 1989 - May 1997
    • Wells, Somerset

    Based in Wells, the Company had a Turnover in 97, greater than £40M. The site was split into 3 Business Units, each focused on specific Electronic and Computer Engineering disciplines, which split further, into smaller Internal Groups, normally large project specific. With significant cost recording and accounting requirements for both Internal Management and External Ministry of Defence Audit Teams the Accounting Systems and Controls were relied on heavily.Major Achievements:- Promoted to Senior Management Accountant with direct responsibility for the largest Business Unit and indirect management of the Management Accountant responsible for several Internal Groups.- Managed the installation of Integrated Purchase Ledger and Purchasing System and participated on team responsible for Site Installation of Cost Recording Systems providing advice on Financial requirements- Member of team responsible for the introducing a new Management Information System which reported actual and forecast data from a detailed MRP and Man Hours planning bottom up Project Costing System- Controlled and co-ordinated consistent reporting formats for Site, Business and Internal Groups- Organised the introduction of Intrastat VAT reporting utilising the accounting systems reporting software

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  Royal Air Force

  • Hereford, Halton, Tongeren, Locking and Cosford

  • Accountant

    • Feb 1980 - Feb 1989
    • Hereford, Halton, Tongeren, Locking and Cosford

    9 Years Exemplary Service finishing up as a Accountant, with over two years based in Belgium as Personal Assistant to Station Commander where I also acted as the International Support Unit Sporting and Social Events Assistant; left holding rank of Corporal.