Arik Bennett Mba Macc Email & Phone Number

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Hardware & General is one of Sydney's leading independent suppliers of hardware, building, and plumbing supplies. As Group Manager, I am responsible for leading a team of professionals in the day-to-day operations of our business. My primary focus is to drive financial profitability, contribute to company strategy and execution, and open new stores. I also manage supplier relationships and develop new ways to generate revenue, such as introducing exciting new products.

The Co-op is Australia's largest Member owned retailer, with 2 million members and over 60 stores. Co-op is the largest provider of educational, professional and learning resources. In 2016, Co-op acquired 64 Australian Geographic (now Curious Planet) stores with the intention of turning around a failing business. As Regional Manager I take responsibility for 22 stores in NSW and Queensland, a budget of $35m, and relationship management of third parties including course coordinators, department and faculty heads, Campus Managers and other University decision-makers.Achievements as Regional Manager:• Revitalised the Victorian region by hiring several new ‘can do’ managers to support the Co-op philosophy and strategy of One Team, Be There, and Choose your Attitude.• After my success in Victoria, moved to NSW where I recruited an entirely new management team for the Australian Geographic stores.• Opened four new stores, at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, a flagship store at Melbourne University, ACU North Sydney and the new flagship Australian Geographic in Penrith. • Actively optimized layouts of stores to exploit high performing areas, improve or reassign low performing areas and promote high margin sales to increase GMROI result on last year.• Reduced labour costs and achieved like-to-like growth on last year.• Rolled out self-created financial acumen program for managers to improve their commercial capabilities.

Sydney Area, Australia

CCH is a leading provider of books, information services and software for tax, accounting, HR, safety and legal professionals.Responsibilities:Supporting Executive Management team and senior management with commercial analysis, including annual budgeting and alignment of budget to strategic plans, identifying trends and opportunities for revenue growth, and cost reduction. Presentations to Executive on key projects.Achievements:• Business acquisition analysis for several key acquisitions allowing go-no go decisions by the Executive.• Built profitability Excel-based reporting system allowing management to determine such things as product profitability, cost allocation, retention vs. gross margin, number of customers by tier and sector. • Undertook vigorous analysis for cloud project• Benchmarking project.

Australia

Full time Masters student

Nsw

Ray’s Outdoors is a large Victorian-based outdoor leisure retailer with over 36 stores, trading under the name of Ray’s Outdoors and Boots Great Outdoors. It was bought by top 10 retailer Super Retail Group in 2010.Responsibilities:• Launch Ray’s Outdoors in NSW and build brand, including flagship store of 2000 sqm.• This role is similar to that of a Regional Manager and took responsibility for 10 stores and 3 area managers • Manage revenue of over $30 million, including budgeting, financial analysis, cost and wage control • Presentations to business owner, CEO and senior management on strategy and financials.Achievements:• Launched four new Ray’s Outdoors stores in NSW, increasing revenue by $12 million. • Integrated six new Boots Great Outdoors stores into Ray’s, including significant change management and refurbishment and increasing Ray’s revenue by 50%.• Built VIP loyalty program from scratch to over 150,000 customers. This program increased sales and generated loyalty to the brand. Oversaw events for VIP, NRMA and Nissan 4WD Clubs attended by loyalty members, increasing Ray’s NSW total revenue by 8% in one year.• Managed Ray’s presence at major Caravan and Camping trade show in Rosehill, increasing Ray’s brand recognition in the camping industry. • Launched and developed Ray’s Direct business in Sydney, a wholesaling business to companies needing uniforms and safety gear, adding 10% revenue per annum for Ray’s NSW.

• Managed the Environmental, Health and Safety requirements of Westfield Chatswood• Managed the security requirements for Westfield Chatswood

Go-Lo was a chain of stores owned by Miller Fashion, mostly selling low-priced fast moving consumer goods. Stores were approximately 600 – 1500 square metres.Responsibilities:• Regional Manager of 12 stores in metropolitan Sydney (with 12 direct reports).• Managed annual turnover in excess of $22 million. Achievements:• Established trainee manager program for succession planning to motivate staff and provide opportunities for growth. As a result three managers were promoted to area manager and four staff became store managers.• Refurbished three old stores with new equipment and merchandising to refresh and revitalize sales. As a result sales for these stores increased between 10-15% within a year.

Certificate

Masters Of Accountancy Macc

Mba