Bob Ness Email & Phone Number

Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire

Independent consultancy whose goal is to provide cost effective added value to businesses. Our aim is not simply to consult but to design and implement the solutions and ensure that the agreed business goals are achieved.We have particular specialism in publishing, distribution, hospitality and facilities management although we will consider most sectors as we find deep down many businesses face similar challenges and solutions can cross industry sectors.

Hitchin

Provision of support and advice across the business, especially in finance, systems and strategy. Primary liaison with company bankers.

Letchworth Garden City

Operational and financial support to an expanding family run pub/restaurant business.

London, United Kingdom

Part time project manager enabling the roll out of a new global schedule of authority and standard financial policies across the organisation.

Consultancy support on global systems and process improvement initiatives.

Interim role via my consultancy business focused on improving the management, systems, controls and processes around their recently implemented royalty system in order to improve the timeliness and quality of all deliverables.Improved accuracy and timeliness of royalty statement runs Re-built staff confidence following a difficult transition period to the new system Delivered a series of reporting, process and systems improvements designed to enhance controls and accuracy of dataUsed previous business knowledge and experience to re-build relationships between Shared Services and Operating Companies which had become severely strained due to poor quality of royalty statements

Managed Finance, Production, Inventory Management, IT, HR, Facilities and key relationship with our distribution services supplier.Negotiated improved distribution services agreement leading to substantial 6 figure cost savingsRe-negotiated printing contract achieving cost reductions into 6 figures and securing a turnover rebate schemeCompany cost control champion - overheads contained to 1% increase over 5 years whilst sales rose by 25% an effective saving of £2m Drove sales forecasting process, challenging sales department on numbers and advising MD on strengths and weaknesses of figuresProvided financial advice and guidance to colleagues on a range of matters including acquisition and retention of publishing rights and negotiation of customer termsCompleted business segment analyses to identify which sectors of the business were succeeding and which struggling to inform future strategy

Engaged to assist and advise the management team in building a business plan to grow the business and attract external finance

Managed Finance, IT, Facilities and Company Administration. Identified on-going cash flow difficulties and communicated the need for further funding to CEO and BoardDaily management of cash, communication with overdue creditors, factoring company and advisors to maintain confidence and keep the business running whilst a rescue solution was concludedRecommended the closure of a dot.com business in order to conserve cashWorked with CEO to pursue re-financing options Presented details of cash requirements and forward projections to Board and potential investors resulting in an agreed sale to Chrysalis GroupLiaised with brokers, accountants and legal advisors to document the sale prospectus for communication to shareholdersActed on behalf of the company during due diligence process with Chrysalis

Performed a variety of roles including Interim FD in North London and then Bradford & Kendal regions.Carried out a special project for MD North London to identify and measure KPI's to enable better monitoring of performance across the regions newspaper titles

Commercial role with small business and inventory management team principally engaged in driving business performance. Introduced bottom up business planning process to ensure stakeholders accountable for plans. All stakeholders helped to drive significant profit growth (up from 12% to 18% of net sales over 4 years)Reviewed publishing operations to determine viability of various areas of publishing providing direction for key areas to focus onImplemented more effective inventory management systems reducing inventories by £1mEstablished Spanish subsidiary and re-negotiated distributor's contract to increase profitability of future investment in this market

Joined as Business Analyst and progressed through Financial Controller to Finance Director during period with the company

Joined as a graduate trainee progressing through two mid range executive roles to District Finance Manager at Peterborough Letter District. Gained experience in planning and managing large buildings projects, development and application of workflow and work measurement. Full range of finance function responsibilities at Peterborough Letter District

Ma (Hons) 2.I, Economics

Activities and Societies: University Football Club - 1st eleven. Club Captain 1980-81 I have a degree in economics although I also studied.

Education record