On a part-time, contract basis, I provide Financial and Management Accounting services to SkootEco, which is a Fintech and B Corp company building carbon footprint management solutions. This contract role is responsible for supporting the finance function:Year End Duties- Prep of year end financial accounts, developing YE Excel model as fully referenced working papers, including all lead schedules and evidence, as the company prepares to be annually audited.- Reconciliation of prior accounting periods to accounting software.- Set-up foreign currency bank accounts, transaction posting.- Reconciliation of all balance sheet control accounts.- Review and adjustment of aged AR and AP, accruals and prepayments, payroll, depreciation and amortisation, R&D tax credit accounting.Month End Duties- Prep of monthly management accounts- Develop Excel model, driven by data exports from Xero, to easily manipulate and analyse data and insights in real-time. Model uses pivot tables mapped to custom P&L and BS roll-up groups.- Operate month end process on a 3 working day close cycle, develop and operate system processes that improve efficiency and accuracy of accounts production. Close accounting period.- Automate processes appropriately, minimising production time and error, maximising analysis.- Bookkeeping duties including bank reconciliations, post transactions and appropriate manual journals.I greatly enjoy this contract role, utilising my accounting technical skills and Excel modelling. It has also exposed me to the accounting software Xero, which has proved to be very simple and easy to master in a short space of time - another skill added to my accounting toolkit. Working for SkootEco is also very rewarding as it empowers businesses to enable positive ecological behaviours of their customers, which I greatly support.

Responsibility for compliance and DPO function was a natural progression of my skill set. Required to develop the company’s compliance & risk function, operating an Enterprise Risk Management Framework, regularly assessing our risk register, controls library and issues log against the risk prioritisation matrix approved by the risk committee.Responsible for all external audits of Bink, leading our internal response, answering questionnaires, preparing evidence, on-site and remote interview sessions with the auditors. Audits that I led were: Supplier assessment audit by KPMG for LBG; FSQS supplier assurance for LBG; CyberGRX supplier assurance for Barclays; PCI DSS v3.2.1 certification audit by QSA; CyberEssentials certification by QSA; Security questionnaire for Costa. Assisted in onboarding audit by PwC for Barclays.Owner of regulatory duties as DPO, I was primary contact for ICO and data subjects. Responsible for DPIAs and for overseeing any applicable data breaches. In addition to all the duties described in my previous role as Head of Data Management, I further developed the records management function, including implementing a Record of Processing Activity (ROPA), and a Record Inventory for all applicable data sets.Other key duties included: Third party management (4th party questionnaires for LBG, third party risk assessments, merchant onboarding and assurance reviews); Delivery of staff training (Training programme, modules, certification); Economic crime compliance (Conflict of Interest registers, Gifts Entertainment and Hospitality, Political Exposed Persons (PEP) and Sanction checks); Physical security management (Floorwalk Log, office risk assessments, CCTV audits, audit of door access logs, accident & incident register, office visitor log. Automated via SharePoint, MS Lists, Power Automate and MS Forms).Compliance & Risk and DPO have been a valuable addition to my experience, providing another perspective of core business administration.

Reporting to the GC and later, Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer, my role was responsible for leading data management strategy and operations. It utilised my comprehensive experience in financial/business systems and data to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and security of data across the organisation. Encompassing all parts of data management, data governance, data privacy and data quality, it required a deep working knowledge of our data architecture and systems.I created a comprehensive suite of data maps and data flows for all data integrations and processing undertaken by the business. These reference documents were fundamental in illustrating the data source, its journey, and crucially, its usage. This was critical to the company's data strategy, and to our partnering banks, retailers, payment networks and other stakeholders.To enable to service of 'payment linked loyalty’, customer personal data was shared by the partnering banks, payment networks and retailers, to be processed by Bink. I created a framework of policy and process to operate and document the complete data life-cycle, including source, transfer, personal data type, data controller or processor type, classification, separation, processing, derivative works, storage, ownership, usage, retention & destruction. Responsible for all data documentation held within SharePoint and Confluence, I created Excel models to aid data discovery, keeping data maps up-to-date.My expertise, and the resources I created, were fundamental to data contract discussions and due diligence with legal teams from Barclays Bank and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG). Many of my documents were cited in subsequent data processing agreements (DPA) and addendums. We subsequently powered loyalty wallets for Barclays and LBG across four major UK banking apps for several years. It was a privilege to steward data strategy and operations, and I personally gained a wealth experience in data management, privacy and governance.

Bink was a Fintech that links loyalty cards to payment cards, and I joined the company at the inception. As a 'start-up', I was hired to build the company from the ground up. My responsibilities were comprehensive and multifaceted: office space procurement; sourcing media agencies, collaborating to design customer UX; working with app and web developers to bring the concept of 'payment linked loyalty' to life.For a Fintech in the growth phase, recruitment, team building and staff training is critical and I was responsible for placing and integrating 50+ staff members including developers and non technical roles, conducting hundreds of interviews during my tenure. A significant part of my role involved researching existing UK retailer loyalty schemes, analysing how technical solutions of linking of payment cards to loyalty cards would work. My work also included extensive market research, contributing to legal contracts with payment schemes, banks and retailers to confirm data flow requirements and design. I was also responsible for creating and building the necessary systems, processes and controls, resource planning using robust Excel models. I contributed to the procurement of many of our outsourced critical services. I also created and maintained systems of corporate governance and all company policies.As Head of Operations, I built the systems and an Ops team responsible for all elements of customer support and engagement using Intercom, business continuity management, incident management, change management, operational risk, data privacy, and data reporting using Excel and ThoughtSpot. My comprehensive approach ensured the smooth operation of the company, laying a strong foundation of systems and controls.This role leveraged all my extensive management and commercial skills, honed over many years as an Accountant and Business Consultant, and it was a rewarding challenge to establish and operate core functions of a Fintech business over many years.

From my mobile network experience at AWA I saw a market for aerial planning surveys in the mobile network industry. I started my own business in 2005, Sky-mast UK Ltd, the core operation being the provision of aerial planning surveys using vehicle mounted telescopic masts. As a new business, the initial focus was the generation of sales and sales contracts, and in 2006, the company secured planning survey contracts direct with Telefonica (O2), and with agents acting for T-Mobile and 3. After a year of successful operation, the company attained a level of activity where I could outsource the surveys, and continue with my accounting career by contracting out my accountancy and management consultancy services through the business, alongside the planning survey services.

18 months contract with Kingfisher IT Services, an operating company within the Kingfisher plc, whose UK brands include B&Q, Screwfix and TradePoint. The contracted role was as a Financial Accountant in the KITs Finance Team. Responsible for month end, year end financial accounting and fixed assets, budgeting and system development and process improvements to enhance financial operations. Utilising SAP and Excel as my primary software tools, I ensured accurate and efficient financial reporting and analysis.Special projects during the contract include: 1) the review, development and maintenance of a complex bonus model in Excel, focusing on scalability, calculation and tracking of employee bonuses, improving accuracy and transparency in the bonus allocation process. 2) Annual impairment review of the Fixed Asset Register requiring close collaboration with cross-functional teams to review validity and appropriateness of calculations, testing for impairment.Role was an essential part of the KITs Finance Team, and it utilised my extensive accounting experience.

Contracting as a Finance Manager for 9 months, I was part of the Shared Services Management Team, providing financial expertise and support to the Managing Director and Heads of Business within the Shared Services Directorate. This high-profile position involved working closely with many people at all levels.In this role, I oversaw the preparation of monthly management accounts and management commentary, reviewed balance sheet reconciliations, key provisions, and performance within Estates & Property, and provided financial assistance for business decision-making. I produced budgets, forecasts, and long-term plans for the business area, ensured appropriate financial controls were in place and operating within the directorate, and collaborated with cost centre managers to ensure understanding of financial numbers and processes. Additionally, I supported the preparation, review, and challenge of Capex and business cases, and responded to various ad hoc reporting and analysis requests from Arqiva stakeholders.Having made significant contributions to the directorate over the last nine months, this role utilised all my accounting and management experience. I enjoyed the challenge, whilst also adding new skills and business knowledge to my repertoire.

4 years of contracting as a FP&A Senior Analyst, I provided high-quality group-level financial planning to senior management. This senior and high-profile role supported the Group’s business planning processes and was crucial to the financial planning of Arqiva.The role demanded strong financial analysis and modelling skills, offering a comprehensive view of Arqiva's operations. I worked closely with the operating board, shareholders, and senior management, earning a reputation for being a trusted professional in key financial tasks and processes.My responsibilities during the planning cycle included producing and consolidating the company’s annual budget, quarterly forecasts, and long-term plans (LTP). I assisted in creating presentation materials for budgets and LTPs, led quarterly forecasting processes, and managed the production of key planning outputs and financial statements. I also modelled business scenarios, conducted sensitivity analyses, and provided relevant output. Additionally, I collaborated with business units to produce budgets, forecasts, and LTPs, reviewed and challenged business submissions and assumptions, and liaised with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management and shareholders.For ad-hoc projects, I provided financial analysis to support decision-making for various initiatives. I designed and built key financial models and business consolidation packs, created a bonus calculation model for the company’s bonus schemes, and managed the LTP model development by PwC. I also assisted in scoping and testing the Hyperion planning tool and conducted various business unit reviews, such as Satellite Capex reviews and the Satellite profitability project.I greatly enjoyed this integral FP&A role, which gave me a comprehensive commercial view of Arqiva.

4 month contract as Operations Management Accountant, providing interim cover and financial support to the Operations division, comprising of 500+ staff across 32 cost centres. This role required excellent communication skills and contained all aspects of management accounting.My monthly duties included preparing management accounts at division, department, and cost centre levels, handling cost centre accrual and prepayment accounting, and conducting transactional reviews. I generated and distributed reports for all individual cost centres, reviewing significant budget variances with cost centre managers and preparing key balance sheet reconciliations, discussing findings with the Ops FD.Annually and periodically, responsible for preparing divisional budgets, collating and uploading cost centre budget templates, and managing national statistics for monthly, quarterly, and annual returns. In addition to routine responsibilities, I worked on ad-hoc projects, designing and building various Excel accounting models, including key cost centre reports.

18 month accounting contract as a Senior Financial Accountant, leading the financial accounting team, maintaining business-as-usual functions and supporting several special projects. Monthly and quarterly duties included controlling the financial accounting aspect of the month-end reporting process, generating group cash flow statements and forecasts at multiple levels of consolidation, providing commentary for the group balance sheet and cash flow. Responsible for calculation and reporting of financial covenants and debt documents, preparing information covenants for the lending banks, calculation of lock-up test covenants prior to group distributions, calculation of group VAT returns, and provision of VAT expertise to all areas of the business. Some of my achievements conducting special projects include: Creating Excel model for the group consolidated budgeted P&L, BS, and cash flow at all levels of consolidation; Generating company forecasts for a company whitewash procedure; due diligence for refinancing Arqiva funding £2.5bn acquisition of NGW; Acquisition accounting for the BT SBS purchase. Also responsible for design and build of various Excel models including: Budgets model; Cash flow statement and forecast model; Pivoted trail balance; Deferred tax model; Macro writing to assist finance team members with daily and monthly reporting and data manipulation tasks.Working with auditors annually during the group audit processes, I assisted in the production of group statutory accounts, calculated and submitted the group corporation tax return, calculated and submitted the group R&D tax relief claim, and managed national statistics monthly, quarterly, and annual returns.This role encompassed all aspects of financial accounting and management, proving to be an excellent opportunity to further enhance my accounting and management skills in a large corporate group environment.

Building on the success of my previous role as Finance Manager, I was promoted to Finance Director and a member of the Board. Alongside ensuring the smooth running of the company's finance function, myself and two other directors were responsible for managing the operation of the company, whilst the MD sailed around the world for fifteen months.Monthly duties included: Presentation of management accounts to the board; Review of dept accounts with department head; Treasury and cash flow forecasting; Review and presentation of investment proposals; Construction WIP completion negotiations and sign off with clients; Build contractor site completion review and sign off. Annual duties included: Production of audited financial accounts; Presentations to the board; Control of budgeting/forecasting cycle; Resource planning review; Commercial review of key annual contracts and tenders. Ad-hoc / project duties included: Control of RFI processes during acquisition approaches made by interested plc’s; Development Integrated site information database (Relational database interfacing with SAGE); Continual business process re-engineering - key to cost efficiencies; Accreditation of ISO 9000 quality standard; Review and implementation of redundancy programme.The role of Finance Director provided me with comprehensive management and operations experience, and was a challenge that was met with enthusiasm.

AWA provided Acquisition, Design and Construction services to UK mobile network operators, and trading since 1993, it had seen significant growth to T/o £4m and 60+ FTEs. Its informal finance systems were out-dated, so I was employed as Finance Manager to implement and operate a new finance department, delivering appropriate financial control and reporting.Robust control systems were implemented including: Payroll & Treasury; VAT; Budgets; AR/AP; Construction WIP; Procurement. Existing systems were re-engineered, improving accuracy and efficiency, and a full MIS and reporting suite developed to efficiently produce adhoc reporting, monthly management accounts and year end accounts. Achieved using SAGE Financial Controller as the core accounting system, coupled with my Excel models providing bespoke reporting, including P&L commentary reports for each department, which drove departmental performance reviews required for staff OTE calculations. As such, its success had many vested stakeholders across the business.Regular duties included: Review & approval of payment runs incl payroll, monthly management accounts prep, variance analysis to budget/fcast, monthly operational KPI calcs; Control of annual budgeting and forecasting cycles, setting dept budgets with dept heads, consolidating into a company-wide budget and feeding into OTE and bonus models that I designed and built; Prep of two company’s annual accounts; a complete set of working papers for the year end audit; liaising with auditors to complete audited financial statements. Managerial duties included the continual development, recruiting, managing and mentoring the finance team of four.The target to implement a completely new finance function was met, and proved to be very successful at delivering all requirements. My role was of critical importance which demanded a capable and motivated professional to implement the controls and systems for a finance function fit for purpose.

I returned to my Financial Accountant role in Group Accounts after the Oracle upgrade project.

Seconded to an Oracle Project for 12 months, as the business support for the Oracle GL module. The project's primary focus was on upgrading Oracle's systems and integrating the operational frameworks of multiple Cable & Wireless group companies acquired by Arqiva (formerly NTL). Included harmonisation of financial processes, data integrity review and mapping, to ensure seamless transition across the integrated systems. Working closely with the Oracle consultants and stakeholders, I conducted user acceptance testing, wrote and delivered Oracle GL module staff training during the implementation phase, ensuring the successful transition . This was invaluable experience of a large and critically important ERP upgrade project.

My first accounting role in industry - Arqiva (formerly NTL), working in Group Accounts, part of the central finance function supporting Broadcast and Cable divisions. Responsibilities included:- Consolidated financial reporting, Interco txns, accounting standards;- Financial accounts, prep & analysis of monthly, quarterly, annual accounts;- Group budgeting & forecasting, actual vs budget/forecast, variance analysis;.- Annual audits, preparing documentation, assisting external auditors;- Supporting group tax planning and filings, tax compliance;- Implementing controls and optimising financial operations;- Finance support, for budget holders and cost centre managers.

As Audit Manager, I led the Audit team in scoping, planning, executing, including pre-partner review, in auditing businesses of up to £4m turnover. Effective communication of audit findings to stakeholders at all levels was required to ensure strong client relationships. The role leveraged all my skills gained through my career to-date, and further honed skills such as financial analysis, risk assessment, control analysis, ultimately leading to delivery of high quality audit services, meet client objectives and regulatory standards.

As an Audit Senior, I managed audit engagements for clients with up to £10m Turnover. I handled the entire audit life-cycle from planning to fieldwork, review, reporting and follow-up, supervised a team of junior members, coordinated testing, and reviewed audit evidence. I also prepared audit reports and presented findings to Audit Managers and Partners. This role enhanced my analytical skills, attention to detail, and project management abilities, delivering high-quality audit services to Menzies clients.

Building on my accountancy training and experience, I advanced to an Audit Junior role. Responsible for supporting senior audit staff in financial audits for diverse clients, prepared audit plans, tested financial transactions, and ensured compliance with standards. I gained hands-on experience identifying discrepancies, preparing reports, and recommending improvements. This role significantly enhanced my skills in financial analysis, auditing procedures, and client communication.

The start of my accountancy career. Responsible for the preparation and analysis of all areas of the Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss statements. My duties included comprehensive accounts preparation and bookkeeping tasks across Sales, Purchase, and General Ledgers. Prep and reconciliation of control accounts, including Bank Accounts, VAT, PAYE/NIC, Payroll etc. Complete accounts preparation up to the Trial Balance (TB) and Extended Trial Balance (ETB) levels, ensuring accurate double-entry accounting throughout. This foundational role equipped me with essential skills in financial reporting, reconciliations, and regulatory compliance.