Alex Cowell Email & Phone Number

Sydney

For-purpose organisations do an enormous amount of good work, and they are under constant demand to do ever more. At Purpose Accounting we love having a hand in social impact, and we do it by strengthening the organisation's financial management. Working with the Sector:- Project services such as government evaluations of non-profit initiatives, development of strategy for new servicesWorking solely with organisations:- Connecting financial management with the organisation’s broader strategy, projects and culture- Developing financial or business development strategy that facilitates the maximising of an organisation’s plans and social impact - Standing alongside CEOs to support budget management, strategy and best-practice systems - Improving the financial governance of Boards- Building the capacity of in-house finance and administration staff- Managing audits and financial reporting- Ensuring accuracy and compliance - Partnering on an ongoing basis to perform a contract CFO/Financial Controller role

Sydney, Australia

- As Manager, led the team of 18 accounting professionals, including 5 Partner CFOs (direct reports to me), 5 Accountants and 8 Assistant Accountants- Responsible for business performance, including financial performance and risk management- Responsible for managing operations, including resourcing, communication, recruitment and HR compliance- Responsible for client service outcomes including accurate and timely advice and reports - Achieved strong outcomes against KPIs, including high levels of business growth (25% year on year) and high levels of client retention- Developed and grew new service offerings including cloud-based solutions- Delivered Understanding Financial Reports training to CEOs and Board members- Successfully maintained my ongoing, long term Partner CFO positions with 12 non-profit organisations, on top of the management of the overall business as detailed above. See below for details of the Partner CFO role

Sydney, Australia

- Oversee the accounting and administration functions of each organisation as their trusted advisor- Manage 6 direct report staff, being the client service team- Monthly financial reporting to non-profit Boards, CEOs and Senior Program Managers. Prepare commentary to reports and present to the Board. Lead strategic conversations that link programs and organisation vision with the finances - Budgeting for organisations, built by program to meet reporting requirements- Preparation of annual statutory accounts and acquittals- Management of the audit process- Advisory on all facets of financial management and accounting for non-profits- Conduct system change projects to ensure good controls, efficient operations and relevant information outputs, working with a wide variety of accounting programs, CRMs and reporting systems - Communication across all stakeholders to ensure a quality service is delivered. Adapt advisory communication for persons and groups of varied financial literacy- Business development, through soft selling, relationship building and word of mouth referral- Maintained an ongoing portfolio of around 16 small to medium non-profit organisations as their Partner CFO. - Performed short term consulting projects for medium to large non-profits and for government agenciesExample ongoing clients as Partner CFO:- Association of Childrens’ Welfare Associations, Sydney (2007 – 2014), turnover $6.5m, acwa.asn.au- Domestic Violence NSW and Domestic Violence NSW Service Management, Sydney (2012 – 2014), turnover $7.5m, dvnsw.org.au- NAISDA Dance College, Central Coast (2010 – 2014), turnover $2.5m, naisda.com.au- BushMob Inc, Alice Springs (2010 – 2013), services delivered remotely from Sydney, with twice annual trips to Alice Springs, turnover $1.6m, bushmob.com.au- One Laptop per Child Australia, Sydney (2009 – 2014), turnover $6m, laptop.org.au

Broome, Western Australia

This was an internal 9 month secondment to the Financial Management Resource Support Unit fmrsu.com.au, a project funded by the federal government (FaHCSIA). - Establishing the Matrix on Board office in Broome- Working with Aboriginal corporations across the Kimberley- Building capacity in these organisation’s Money Management services, which provided financial literacy services to Indigenous people and communities- Key financial literacy content included basic budgeting techniques and consumer law- Delivering train the trainer training to Money Management Workers of these local Aboriginal Corporations- Coordinating and supporting the delivery of accredited training in financial literacy- Developing tools to support financial literacy education - Clients included Kununurra Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation in Kununurra, Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation in Derby, and similar organisations in Broome, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek

Sydney, Australia

Guatemalan Traders is a small coffee and chocolate business, branded as Mayan Coffee- Manage the operation of the business, liaising with customers, suppliers, distributors and franchisees - Manage staff (2 f/time and 7 casual) for scheduling, paying wages and ensuring OH&S - Manage business cash flow and process accounts using MYOB- Promote the ethical side of the business, the Social Justice Program

Quiche, Guatemala

Ajb’atz’ Enlace Quiche is a computer and Internet training centre located in the western highlands of Guatemala. It is a non-profit organisation. The indigenous Mayan people make up 85% of the population. Their demographics are disadvantaged.- Designed a Corporate Partnerships program, aimed at generating sponsorships from Guatemala’s corporate sector. Developed presentations and delivered to corporations in Guatemala City. Achieved a number of sponsorships and fee for service contracts- Worked cross culturally and bilingually with the predominantly Mayan workforce - Fundraised for the organisation in Australia after returning from Guatemala, in February 2007, by putting on a photographic exhibition, raising $10,000

Sydney, Australia

- Responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with 60 small to medium sized business clients, covering a broad range of industries - Writing business credit proposals to support client’s applications for finance- Performing financial analysis to assess financial risk - Preparation of legal documentation and contracts- Developing networks of contacts to source new businesses for ANZ- Relieving Relationship Managers leave periods- Organised customer and community functions to build ANZ’s profile in the community. Awarded the Managing Directors Award for leadership of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Fundraising Function in March 2004, raising over $100,000

Cpa, Accounting

Bachelor Of Business, Finance, General

Cert Iv Training And Development (Taa)