Darren Taylor Email & Phone Number

Sydney, Australia

CFO for Perpetual Entertainment Group, an award winning independent producer of lifestyle, factual & documentary content for TV

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

NED & Board Advisor to a private group of companies

Sydney, Australia

Virtual CFO for Nordwake Group which is the Support Offices to multiple brands in the injury management and occupational health market and provides operational infrastructure to a substantial team of medical and allied health specialists. Clients are insurance companies, the legal profession, large employers, government institutions and the regulator

Sydney, Australia

Helping SME management teams through a corporate transaction of Acquisition, Sale of business or Capital raise, including managing the significant requirements of the Due Diligence processRecent assignments have included:- helping a digital business undertake a sale of the business- undertaking due diligence for a acquisition by a services business- reviewing the business plan & financial forecasts for a new ecommerce venture- part of the DD committee that took a business to IPO - facilitating the sale of part of the business to a trade buyer

Sydney, Australia

Virtual CFO for Ox Tools AU & Ox Tools Global, a world leading manufacturer of hand tools and diamond tools.

Sydney, Australia

Initially engaged by Sparc Media to help in the sale of the business, I managed the Due Diligence process, liaising between the owner of Sparc, the purchaser & advisers (corporate finance, lawyers, accountants) on both sides. The objective was achieved (with maximum earn-out consideration) when I helped sell the business to Pureprofile, a leading online consumer insights and marketing technology company.As part of the sale process, I was invited to be part of the Due Diligence Committee for Pureprofile & fully involved in the successful listing on the ASX in Jun-15 (ASX: PPL). After a period of integration, I then undertook a group role for Pureprofile as Commercial FD, developing the commercial finance function of the wider group, including the budget & forecasting process.

Sydney

brandsExclusive is a leading ecommerce retailer, grown from start up to $60m turnover in 5 years. Acquired by APN News (ASX listed) in Jun-12 & subsequently sold to Aussie Commerce Group in Feb-14. Reported to founder Managing Directors.M&A activity:• presented to Corporate Finance/prospective purchasers• developed Information Memorandum with Deloittes Corporate Finance• managed sell side Due Diligence process with Corporate Finance/lawyers, leading to sale of business to APN in 2012, resulting in successful exit for VC shareholders in $66m transactionCommercial finance:• introduced rolling forecasting model, integrating balance sheet & cash forecasts• supported MD's, colleagues & APN Group with all financial data & analysis, introduced KPI/scorecard reporting• preparation of Board papers/presentationsFinancial reporting & accounting:• developed financial reporting & forecasting, controls & governance, moving the business to become "Investor Ready" & pass DD process• managed audit planning & implementation: clean audit for 3 years, with no management letter points (the last two years audited by PwC)• implemented new financial systems, outsourced payroll for 200 team members• responsible for Company Secretary tasks (all ASIC submissions), including attendance at APN Board meetings. Responsibility for all legal matters & liaison with external lawyers

Sydney

Interim CFO, helping the business move from absolute start-up to setting up financial controls, management reporting & introduction of ERP.

United Kingdom

Interim role within Select Plant Hire Company, the in-house plant hire subsidiary of Laing O'Rourke. Interim position extended a number of times, from initial 3 months to 18 months. Leadership of UK finance team of 12, including financial/management accounts, AP & AR.Financial Reporting & Commercial Finance:• improved management reporting & forecasting process• managed the year end/audit process, including full balance sheet reconciliation. Improved audit process in second year, gaining positive feedback from PwC.• introduced asset verification process for $240m of asset value throughout business (over 20,000 individual assets), including rolling counts for faster moving product areas

Dubai

Extension of UK role to include financial responsibility for all activities for Laing O'Rourke within Dubai & Abu Dhabi. This includes construction & manufacturing, through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries & Joint Ventures.Financial Reporting & Accounting: • monthly management reporting, update of forecasts, ensuring forecasts met in time of limited cash in Dubai.• full review of overseas dormant companies/branches, leading to closure of 5 entities & identifying excess provisions of over $4m, which were released to profit. • managed year end & audit process with no material issues arising

Undertaking a variety of interim & consulting positions: • M&A activity for various businesses• leading the Finance team, • challenging & enhancing the Finance function;Assignments included:- Pub company: process re-engineered Finance function through period of change & rapid growth of business- Project managed acquisition of hotel group from Whitbread to private business- Pub company: managed finance function through budget, year end & secondary buy out by a new Private Equity shareholder.

United Kingdom

An interim position to support the buy & build strategy of Oasis. I successfully completed acquisitions on a number of practices, leaving a strong pipeline for the future. This included everything from the negotiations with the vendors, through due diligence & managing the legals to completion. I also implemented a new & disciplined process for acquisition sourcing & review, including internal approval process, due diligence & completion management.M&A activity: • acquired 13 practices (acquisition investment of c.$20m), including via a LLP• undertook DD on each acquisition, introduced more robust process• left strong pipeline of potential acquisitions for following year

United Kingdom

Reporting to the UK CEO & a member of divisional Board/Exec Leadership team. Responsibility for all Financial matters, including cash management, processing & reporting teams. Managed finance function (16 team members) & Internal Audit team (6)M&A activity: part of property review team reviewing estate, including acquisitions & disposals, preparation of financial input to decision makingCommercial Finance: led financial management of company-wide restructure, which achieved cost reduction of $20m/25% of controllable costs

United Kingdom

FD of a private equity company in the multi-site dental market, backed by Kleinwort Capital. Helped company grow from start up to £6m turnover, before managing sale to trade competitor. Developed financial reporting & forecasting, controls & governance, moving the business to become "Investor Ready" & pass DD processM&A activity: • introduced pre-acquisition financial forecast model, plus post-implementation reviews• developed IM with corporate finance advisers (BDO London), presentations to prospective purchasers, leading to a trade sale• managed sell side DD for sale of business to competitor, primary contact with corporate finance, legal & accounting advisors

Initially Financial Controller, then promoted to Finance Director & member of the UK Trading Board. Responsible to the UK MD for the Finance & Loss Prevention teams, within the largest division in the Body Shop Group. Led a team of 39 across multiple functions – finance, internal audit/loss prevention, sales analysts;M&A activity: project managed acquisitions of shops from Franchisees – 8 acquisitions of 24 shops over 2 yearsCommercial Finance: reduced shrinkage by 50% through specific targeting of resource & utilisation of IT, saving c.$1.6m p.aFinancial Reporting & Accounting: managed the franchise debtor balances down by 20%, through more pro-active credit control and review process

Various financial positions in retail business such as Grand Met (pubs & restaurants), Sears plc (fashion & speciality retailing), Oddbins (wine merchant)