Darren Ward Email & Phone Number

Kenilworth, Warwickshire

Over the past twenty plus years I have run TOP along with fellow Director and data analytics expert John Taylor. We have provided advice and support on many £'billions of cost reimbursable and target cost contracts, helping our clients to recover several £000'million in overcharges and paying for ourselves, on average, ten times over. We offer a unique blend of forensic accountancy and commercial knowledge which means we unpick complex cost issues quickly. With our collaborative and independent approach we bring confidence and transparency to our clients that:• Overcharges are identified efficiently and recovered quickly• Complex accounting data can be made simple • Unnecessary commercial and contract risks can be identified early and addressed or avoided• Reimbursable contracts can be run successfully based on robust financial controls and earned trustAs Managing Director, I provide strategic lead to our experienced team of accountants on a wide range of established clients in the nuclear, water, energy, defence, and transport sectors. What we do:Contract Setup and Mobilisation, Commercial Assurance, Cost Assurance, Contract Audit, Commercial Recovery, Dispute Avoidance and Recovery

I undertook a number of assignments working within the T5 Supply Chain team to develop its contracting strategies and core procedures, to drive value and performance from its key 1st tier suppliers. I was heavily involved from the start of the T5 Agreement, defining contractual terms and conditions in relation to the Schedule of Cost Components, Disallowable Costs and Overhead apportionments.Despite being one of the UK’s highest profile projects, the integrated teams lacked awareness when it came to assessment of financial control, compliance and performance monitoring. I was able to provide support through analysing the environment in which the programme operated and assessing the skills and capabilities available to it. By creating and delivering a change management programme to address the issues I highlighted, I was able to raise the credibility of assurance reporting and drive significant cost recoveries of £60m during the final years of the project.

At Highview, I worked for numerous clients, almost exclusively on delivering commercial solutions to various supply chain problems, whether in face to face negotiations with suppliers or recommending improvement to internal procedures. In 1999, I started consulting at BAA plc. Initially I was seconded into the Internal Audit function where I carried out several value for money audits on a number of key Framework Suppliers, whether engaged in Capital, Revenue or Facilities Management type activities. In 2000, I moved into the Supply Chain team as a full time in-house forensic accountant. In this role, I was responsible for developing BAA’s award winning Supplier Evaluation Process - a post contract performance monitoring and improvement tool which was then used on all framework agreements. I was also responsible for carrying out numerous supplier cost audits, recovering millions for BAA Supply Chain.

Chartered Accountant, Fellow, Audit Qualified

Bsc (Hons) Economics (First Class), Economics

Education record

Fellow, Chartered Accountant

Fellow Of Institute Of Chartered Accountants In England And Wales