Benjamin Harding Email & Phone Number

Sydney, Nsw, Au

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney, Australia

An integral role connecting the operations and commercial teams with finance to ensure planning and performance is in line with the Telstra strategy. Providing Senior Executive Leaders with robust long-term financial business plans.Development of the financial planning model and execution of the annual business plan and forecasting.Providing structured problem-solving support to the Executives to ensure the business achieves its targets.Return on investment analysis for capital funded projects delivering high value annual benefits. Working closely with the project owner to develop the benefits case to support the investment funding.Working with Finance to analyse, investigate and review monthly financial performance, including identifying roadblocks that impact the delivery of the Business Plan.Maintaining effective reporting mechanisms to support the business, including monthly and quarterly submissions, creating PowerBi dashboard reporting with relevant content.Detailed analysis and scenario modelling, using data to deliver insights into Company performance. Monitoring and taking appropriate action around any identified risk or opportunities to the financial plan.Presenting financial information to key stakeholders and the Senior Management team.

Singapore

Bomanbridge Media is a leading Singapore based distribution agency and production company and exclusively represent renowned programming from around the world. They are a dynamic and highly organised team and it was my responsibility to ensure they met their financial and non financial goals and also improve the company as a whole. When I returned from Singapore I worked remotely on a consultancy basis.My role at Bomanbridge can be summarised under 3 core pillars. 1 OperationalFrom an operational perspective my role consists of improving information and workflow processes across our service, from production through to client. This includes implementing and migrating to a new software system, assessing and revising the ways to streamline data capture internally and overseeing the improvement of the IT infrastructure. Over the past 11 months Bomanbridge has gone through a lot of change as we position ourselves for the next chapter and expansion.I'm responsible for managing the day to day HR including new hires, contract and job description reviews and forward planning / team planning. Running the weekly team meeting is another key part of the role to ensure relevant team members are across relevant information and outstanding tasks. This ensures we satisfy our contractual obligations for both the producers and the broadcasters.2 FinanceEssentially I'm performing a CFO role inclusive of investment appraisal, M&A analysis, cash flow / working capital management and monthly board reporting. In addition, completing annual budgets and regular forecasts.The broader aspects include vendor and customer contract reviews as well as overseeing the financial accounting and auditing functions performed by the team.3 StrategyWorking with the CEO and board including discussions on strategy and financial analysis where required. This covers new content, JV's, Partnerships , Program development and Program production.

Sydney, Australia

Working in the Business Strategy and Operations team for Mi9 [Nine Digital] part of the Nine Entertainment Corporation. Mi9 is one of Australia's leading digital media companies. This was a highly visible role within the business and required extensive business partnering with the executive leadership team and other stakeholders. Financial planning and constant reviewing to ensure the business met its financial objectives.Managing change within a fast paced dynamic environment was key to success due to acquisitions, new initiatives and joint ventures. There was a requirement for ad-hoc financial planning and data analysis including resource and headcount planning.The role included financial support for ongoing network [Nine News], site launch [Lifestyle] and video solution [SVOD, VOD, HbbTV, 9Now] projects as part of the investment spend and development of the business. I also worked closely to the TM1 developer for finance reporting requirements and was involved with the integration project as the business implemented Peoplesoft inline with NEC. The position required a close relationship with the finance controllership team as we improved processes and enhanced tracking, monitoring and reporting of costs and revenue against budget.Another core element of the role was annual budgeting planning and quarterly forecasting planning for sales and costs as well as identifying business drivers and risk. In addition I managed and reported the Outbrain content referral revenue.

Melbourne, Australia

Working within the Toll Intermodal Division as a National Reporting Accountant. Responsible for 3 branches accross Australia. The role involved weekly P&L reporting including detailed analysis of revenue, costs and Ebit margin including commentary for the variances to budget. Close business relationships were required with the commercial managers at each branch. Good communication skills and organisation skills were required to meet the tight weekly deadlines. The position involved managing 2 members of staff.

Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

Northgate Information Solutions is one of the leading global providers of specialist software, outsourcing and information technology services. Northgate operates with 11,500 staff in 35 countries across 5 continents.Direct line of reporting to the UK, Ireland and South Africa Financial Director.Working in a small SME finance team as the key financial contact for sales, operations and marketing. The role included preparation and analysis of key financial reporting and commercial data for high level strategic decisions. Producing and controlling monthly management accounts for 3 sub companies, variance analysis vs budget, B/S and commentary. Supporting the sales & marketing teams on pricing analysis, new business tenders and price book rate cards. Producing revenue and cost forecasting and annual budgets for 3 sub companies. Highlighting risk and opportunities within the business and influence Directors on their actions. Monitoring the R&D spend for new software development projects. Training, managing and mentoring of team members to ensure good knowledge share throughout the team. My main achievements whilst at Northgate were providing financial support for the launch of a new cloud based payroll solution which was a long term successful project. Creating and maintaining a key sales database to provide detailed daily key commercial data. Developing a new sales rate card to enable the sales team to cross sell through the business.

Northampton, United Kingdom

Whitworths Ltd is the UK’s leading supplier of healthy snacking, baking and cooking products. It was originally a family run business and has over 125 years of history.The position involved working within the Commercial Finance Team, reporting to both the Commercial Director & Financial Controller. The role included detailed sales & margin reporting / forecasting to assist with supply chain management. Managed and reported on marketing and discount promotions to understand how effective they had been. Production of a monthly board pack including analysis, insight & commentary. Fixed asset register and reporting on capital projects. Financial & costing support for new business sales tenders and price realignments for clients. Working with costings team to establish ways to drive prime costs down. Category & Brand performance Analysis using internal and external data. Order planning forecasting for a key client’s including Tesco’s. Created a raw material commodity price tracker based on market conditions to track costs and assist with price realignments and new business tenders as justification for selling prices.

Luton, United Kingdom

Primarily a cost accounting role in a FMCG. The position involved close internal business relationships with the commercial, development and procurement teams. I was involved in the launch of various new products which included the costing and analysis for a range of Heinz and M&S products as well as refinements to processes for existing product lines. During my time at Heinz I implemented a set of controls and objective tests as part of the Sarbanes Oxley initiative.I was responsible for managing 3 employees within the standard costing reporting team who were responsible for all product and prime costs. A high level of business partnering was required with commercial, procurement and production departments to establish the product costings from development trials and margin requirement for all new products launches. Annual budgeting and forecasting for all product costs and sales volumes.

Northampton, United Kingdom

Reporting weekly sales figures, KPI's and production reports. Assisting with financial accounting reporting [P&L, Balance Sheet, Tax, and Audit]. Working capital management. Supply chain management, stock control [JIT] and managing production requirements. This was my first role since leaving university. During my time with Kerry foods I successfully installed a new ERP system during a head office roll out.

Qualified, Finanicial Accounting

Qualified, Managament Accounting

Management Accounting, Business Strategy and Operations.

Bachelor Of Arts Honours (Ba), Accounting And Finance, 2.2

Activities and Societies: Sports TeamsBA Hons Degree in Business Accounting & Finance