Wooldridge Group provides comprehensive construction services, from demolition to design and delivery, for commercial and residential developments. In this role I was able to take my financial background and drive some real improvements within the organisation to drive revenue and margin growth. In this timeframe I covered cost performance and analysis, team management, surveying support, project management and commercial strategy. Below is a description of my responsibilities and achievements across these roles.Responsibilities and achievements:• Improved the accuracy of budget forecasts, defining reports specifically requested by department heads. Resulted in increased use of reports and faster decision-maker attention to variances• Reconciled all accounts in order to identify and resolve any variances between original scope of work and actual work conducted• Attended monthly site meetings with all contractors to ensure project was on track from a time and budget perspective• Worked with project manager to negotiate all contracts and supplier terms• Resolved any supplier / contractor issues • Established and developed relationships with key external and internal partners, customers and suppliers• Developed and supported team members to achieve personal and professional growth

During this four-year period I got the opportunity to develop my role in a number of disciplines and directions allowing the expansion of both my financial analytical skills and management approach.Responsibilities and achievements:• Managed all aspects of financial accounting including preparation of group monthly management accounts, tax computations, submissions to statutory authorities, payroll figures, annual statutory accounts, cash flow statements, P&L, balance sheet and WIP analysis, intercompany reconciliation, fixed asset register, liaising with external advisors on the preparation of statutory financial information.• Management of accounts assistants• Assisted with the introduction of Sage / Construct within the accountancy department• Developed and implemented the concept of Bacs payments to both suppliers and employees across the group, increasing processing power and reducing resource assigned to this task

Connoisseur International is a worldwide freight forwarder specialising in fine wines and art.Responsibilities & achievements:• Managed all customer enquiries regarding finance, ensuring an appropriate resolution was reached• Completed all reporting requirements on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis• Presented functional reports to relevant management teams highlighting areas of concern and possible solutions• Worked with the Accounts Manager to set up streamlined processes for credit control and purchase ledger management• Monitored cost centre data to ensure correct costs were reconciled in the appropriate cost centre• Developed new quality standards for better quality performance and reliability• Established good working relationships with customers / clients • Accelerated the month-end closing process to the tenth calendar day of every month, reducing it by four days

When I finished school I was keen to get some office experience whilst I decided where I wanted my career to go. I held a small number of administrative / accounting roles in a range of companies. Not only did this provide me with a solid understanding of working in busy offices, it also helped me to learn a lot of key skills that would benefit me right through my career.