I completed a consultancy contract for a major retailer contracted to the SAGE500 finance system implementation project team.SAGE500 is a fully integrated finance solution and the project included a bolt on data warehouse with reporting facilities via Business Objects.

In April 2007 I was promoted and given the responsibility of the finance function including the financial accounting team, management accounting team, the treasury function and the accounts payable team, totalling 20 team members ranging from qualified accountants to clerks. I retained the responsibilities from the previous role as well as taking on more of the project related work.Achievements• Responsible for and assisted with all aspects of financial control and profit driver activity undertaken by the Board aiding the significant cost reductions• Significantly reduced the cost of the production of the Annual and Interim reports by managing a tendering process• Developed models for the daily cash flow reporting and forecasting to aid monitoring and ensure facility limits were not exceeded• Regularly achieved forex gains in excess of targets each season from hedging of USD forward exchange contracts up to USD$40m a year • Recovered in excess of £1m of corporation tax overpayments in relation to years prior to my control • Key member of a refinancing project via an ABL financing route, which at the last minute was rescinded due to the banking crisis• Key member of the team involved in the preparation of information for the CVA process in conjunction with external advisors (auditors, lawyers, appraisers, bankers)• Advisor to the project leader for the implementation of the new finance system, Sage 500 • Responsible for the smooth running and employment related issues required for management of a finance team

In May 2002, Blacks Leisure Group plc disposed of the Sport & Fashion Division (First Sport Ltd) which provided the opportunity of promotion to Group Financial Accountant with the additional responsibilities of the Group financial reporting and production of the Annual and interim reports. Reporting to the Divisional Financial Controller but with an indirect reporting line to the Group Finance Director and responsible for the Financial Accounting and Management Accounting teams of 7 qualified and part-qualified accountants.Achievements• Ensured smooth transition of the Group finance function to Northampton• The production of the consolidated Group statutory accounts including the management of the design process and content for the Annual and Interim Reports to completion• Transition from UKGAAP to IFRS financial reporting standards• Production of presentations to the Group Board and shareholders/investors• Creation of corporation and deferred tax models for tax accruals and to aid with tax computations in conjunction with external tax advisors• Co-ordinated the year end procedures and Group audit including negotiation with the auditors • Redesigned and produced the Group management accounts to improve the quality of information required by the Board• Modelled and monitored the banking covenant tests to ensure compliance• Aided the Financial Controller with the creation of a Financial Analysis department as a result of a board change and culture change• Assisted new Board members with budgeting, forecasting and performance monitoring• Designed an automated database, within Excel, to eradicate inconsistency in reporting• Devised timetabled workflows reducing time taken to produce the monthly management accounts

In December 1999, The Outdoor Group was acquired by Blacks Leisure Group plc. Reporting to the Divisional Financial Controller and responsible for the Financial Accounting team of 3 we contributed to company’s growth in profits despite the worst trading conditions experienced when the foot and mouth outbreak effectively closed the countryside. This then led to the opportunity to acquire and integrate our largest competitor.Financial responsibilities• The production of the full management accounts, subsidiary statutory accounts and the consolidation packs required by the Group accounting function• Managed the year end procedures and the audit• Constant development of reporting system and quality of information mainly using Excel• Preparation, reporting and monitoring of performance to detailed annual budgets and quarterly forecasts to achieve corporate goals

Millets Leisure was acquired from Sears in March 1996 at which time the company became a private stand-alone entity trading as The Outdoor Group with institutional shareholders and significant loan finance. Reporting to the Financial Controller I continued my progress within the company and I was responsible for training the Trainee Accountant and Assistant Accountant.Main achievements/responsibilities• The acquisition by the MBI team from Sears plc led to involvement in the due diligence process and the successful integration of duties previously administered by Sears; including treasury, corporation tax and VAT matters• I was exposed to the acquiring and the successful integration of the accounting functions of Free Spirit from LBW Retail Ltd and Milletts Camping and Countrywear stores from Peacocks plc• An internal team, of which I was a member, was created to implement a Stock Management System. This system, Mercatus, was chosen to manage the stock flow within the business from purchase order to external sale, including managing store replenishment and the warehouse stock management. I was tasked with ensuring the company was able to use this system to value stock based on a moving average cost valuation• Transfer of the stock accounting from the previous manual systems to an automated computerised systems for GRN/invoice matching and the creation of the full stock accounting ensuring the integrity of the stock records• Maintenance of the nominal ledger, production of the analysis schedules for the management accounts, budgeting and forecasting

I was appointed as a Trainee Accountant when Millets Leisure was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears plc. Reporting to the Financial Accountant I was responsible for the maintenance of the nominal ledger, fixed asset register, inter-company transactions and accounts and full responsibility of the foreign branch accounts.In March 1994 I was promoted to Assistant Accountant reporting to the Management Accountant and was involved in the effective financial control of capital expenditure, including investment appraisals for new store openings, existing stores refurbishments and store disposals. I was tasked with setting up a database and reporting tools within Excel for the Weekly Trading Report. I was involved in the co-ordination of the effective start-up of the Irish foreign subsidiary for which I was then responsible for all accounting entries.During this period, being part of a team of 4, I was exposed to all standard accounting practices as well as gaining a wide variation of accounting skills. I completed the AAT qualification a commenced CIMA training.