Ben Knight Email & Phone Number

Fareham, England, United Kingdom

Fareham, United Kingdom

Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom

* Managed team of up to 5 Analysts supporting EMEA Commercial and Marketing teams, based in UK and Dubai* Commercial Lead for COGNOS 11.0, driving implementation into Europe. Responsible for scoping Commercial Reporting, writing Test Scripts, Co-ordinating UAT, facilitating training, led cut-over planning and co-ordination, leading report rationalisation and ongoing training. * Commercial Lead for Cognos Sales Dashboards produced in SalesForce.com utilised by c.300 sales reps across Europe to turn data into actionable insight to assist with performance on sales calls to drive up revenue.* Responsible for Revenue Budgeting and Forecasting for EMEA with c. $800m of Revenue.* Instigated and Introduced Forecast Improvement Projects in Europe then ACE delivering market improvement in accuracy and efficiency with extremely high engagement levels across multiple departments and all markets throughout EMEA.* Accountable for Long Range Sales Plan – detailing 6-year sales plan across Europe and ACE at Base Product Level with Market Share projections* Drove implementation of Sales Force Effectiveness dashboards to highlight performance differences across territories in each market, allowing focus on areas of best practice and areas in need of development.* Delivered enhanced customer reporting with monthly reports constantly evolving to provide greater detail, insight and analysis into customer current and predicted future performance.* Managed Sales Reallocation and Repatriation process, monitoring and controlling cross border trading to ensure the relevant sales teams received the reward for their customer purchases – ensuring good business practices are adhered to.* Introduced and maintained structure and processes to all areas of the team to allow easy sharing of knowledge and best practice ensuring the team worked in an effective and efficient way.

Whiteley, Hampshire

• Launched Finance Business Partnering to Recruitment Company.• Provide support, insight and challenge to all Divisional Heads• Analysis, Insight and challenge on all areas of performance• Set budgets with Divisional Heads – challenge and negotiate to agree targets.• Control monthly reforecast process• Work with IT to develop BI and MI systems – challenging to provide accurate data• Manage Assistant Business Partner • Work with Bids team to model and stress test bids for major contracts.• Analysis on strategic objectives of company

Southampton, United Kingdom

Provide support and challenge for 3 Divisional Directors, 14 Regional Managers and 179 stores for three Divisions with combined annual turnover in excess of £1.9bn. Break back annual budget and subsequent forecasts in excess of £4bn back across c.360 stores then communicate targets and rationale to all stakeholders. Provide Weekly/Monthly and Ad-hoc support to Divisional Sales teams to analyse performance variability to identify strengths and opportunities with weekly Review with key personnel. Involvement in month end close and production of challenging and forward looking month end performance pack with aim to turning insight into action. Presentation and challenge at periodic Divisional and Regional meetings to review all aspects of performance – creatively bringing numbers to life to non- finance audience. Link Commercial plan to Retail targets to highlight upcoming opportunities and challenges. Provide information, support and challenge to stores to improve controllable contribution.

Southampton, United Kingdom

Controled c.£100m advertising budget. Managed 40+ customers in 9 teams within 5 departments, to ensure goal congruence and all deadlines hit. Prepared annual Budgets & periodic Forecasts and maintained Risks & Opportunities tracker to ensure Budget Compliance. Month End Accounting and Reporting on Spending. Balance Sheet Recs for Accruals and Prepayments in Marketing Accounts. Introduction of insightful month end pack for budget holders to improve accountability and awareness to control spending and understand impact on company profit. Introduced standardised PO Tracker system to improve integrity of accounts, tracking of spends and speed of month end process. Implemented Supplier Funded Marketing process to ensure activity fully funded. Supported and challenged projects including B&Q TV, and You Can Do It Centres. Model proposed promotions to identify favoured options. Tracked effectiveness of adverts at product, sub group, buying group and category level. Conducted and co-ordinated Post Implementation Reviews on Marketing Campaigns. Managed and trained Finance Graduate (2 – 1 year each).

Chichester, West Sussex

Controlled the Direct Accounts and prepared Budgets and Forecasts for the Direct and International areas of the direct selling business. Managed a team of two, responsible for reporting Sales on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, analysing performance against target. Oversaw the monthly commission run to ensure all eligible consultants were paid correctly in relation to various levels of incentive. Covered the Direct Financial Controller position as maternity cover for eight months. Forecast and tracked Direct promotions and modelled scenarios for proposed changes to the commission plan and set sales targets per region. I had regular contact with senior members of the Board and Sales Teams with various queries and requests for information.

Chichester, West Sussex

Responsible for preparing and reconciling the monthly stock accounts, producing Stock Pack, with reports including Stock Valuation, Forecast Stock Levels, Purchase Order Reports, PPV Analysis, Shrinkage and Stock KPIs. Monitored Slow Moving & Obsolete Stock.

Brighton, United Kingdom

Responsible for the Monthly Management Accounts Pack. I monitored Capital Expenditure, Inter Company Invoices and Stock Transfers, maintained the Fixed Asset Register and calculated Depreciation. Heavily involved in process and systems development working on introduction of a web-based KPI benchmarking system.

Brighton, United Kingdom

I produced monthly reports including: Stock Valuation, Stock Analysis, WIP Valuation, MUV Valuation and Analysis, Reject Stock Analysis, Stock Adjustments, Packaging and Special Materials, Scrap Analysis, Stock Provisions. I reported on Subcontracted Work, Destruction Note Tracking, Product Cost Changes, Forward Sales and Stock Takes/Cycle Counting. Responsible for training new Stock Accountant.

Southampton, United Kingdom

Rotated around the HR, Export Administration, Marketing, Key Accounts, Purchasing and IT departments, gaining commercial awareness and insight into all aspects of the then highly successful gift retail company.

Ba Hons, International Business Studies

Activities and Societies: 2:1 Subjects Studied Include: Accounting, Business Information Systems, Consumer Behaviour, European Business.

2:1, International Business Studies

Activities and Societies: Subjects studied include: International Economics, Services Marketing Management, International Accounting.