Providing support to growing businesses.

I joined the Business Doctors network to work with SME owners and demonstrate how dramatic improvements can be achieved by creating a robust, stress-tested Strategic Plan and then concentrating on the value-building elements that are common to all businesses.Key Contributions:● Focused on achieving tangible results for my clients by recognising that the implementation of a Strategic plan is the key to success. ● Worked with clients to increase their Value Builder Score, a statistically proven methodology, to help increase the value of a business. Companies with a Value Builder Score of 80+ are typically worth 71% more than average-scoring businesses. ● Introduced the concept of red teaming to clients. Adding critical and contrarian thinking and a challenging everything approach to the strategic planning process helps to reduce the impact of biases that individuals and companies typically fall victim to.

A Business Insider Top 500 company and at the time the largest independent recruiter in Scotland. As CEO I reported to the Board and was responsible for all aspects of company performance. The company was purchased for £0.5m in 2006 and was sold for £5.2m in 2017. Turnover increased by 583% to £35m during this period and more than 60 permanent jobs were created.Key contributions:● Instrumental in developing the company 5 Year Plan using strategic planning techniques, ensuring buy-in from all key stakeholders and embedding key goals and objectives within management accounts and reporting suite.● Significantly increased profitability and efficiency through a combination of business development, sales & marketing, business integration, headcount reduction, competitive funding and the use of innovative technology.● Successfully sold the business for a high earnings multiple and then fully integrated it into a new ownership structure post-acquisition.● Responsible for new Sales & Marketing strategy designed to improve candidate and client engagement using social media platforms. Appointed the company’s first Marketing Executive to provide support to the Operations teams in creating brand awareness in their markets.● Successfully change managed through the introduction of a business-critical £200k CRM/back-office system by managing the formal tender process, performing due diligence and then leading the project team responsible for its rollout to the entire company.● Identified the increasing burden placed on the business by regulation and its adverse impact on fee-earning activities, appointed a Compliance specialist to manage all policies and procedures, de-risk the business and reduce admin burden.

Appointed as the company's first Finance Director having performed the role on an interim basis since the inception of the company in 2006. I operated as a key member of The Board to drive business strategy and oversee all financial management and governance with the ultimate aim of supporting growth, protecting cash flow and driving growth and profitability. Promoted to become CEO.Key Contributions:● Developed the finance function from scratch, and created a highly efficient and best-in-class finance team that supported year-on-year double-digit growth.● Led an overhead rationalisation programme that reduced unnecessary costs by 15% and contributed to a significant upturn in profitability.● Introduced new reporting capability using new accounting software, driving an increase in efficiency and resulting in a 50% reduction in the time taken to produce the monthly management reporting pack.● Played a key role in the goodwill purchase of the Quality Link recruitment business from Murray Capital. Performed due diligence, was central to negotiations and the legals and integrated the business post-acquisition and achieved payback within 9 months.● Successfully steered the company through the financial turbulence caused by the 2008 financial crash by robustly managing cash flow.● Identified the need for and introduced a business-wide disaster recovery plan. ● Sought to strengthen relationships with key clients by integrating operational and financial systems and pioneering an open-book approach to costing and pricing.

I operated my own accountancy practice as part of the AIMS Accountants network. supporting local SME businesses in Lanarkshire. My objective was to add value to my client's businesses by becoming a trusted advisor and not just their accountant. I also engaged with larger businesses on an interim FD basis. Sold the business in 2013.Key Contributions:● Built a new franchised business by offering an alternative to the High Street accountant and grew it by marketing to the local business community, networking and creating a robust referral strategy.● Promoted the concept of "Knowing Your Numbers" to clients to help give them a better understanding and appreciation of how every business decision at some point will have a financial implication that needs to be prepared for.● Created a niche Interim FD service for clients that required access to better quality financial expertise but were unable to afford or justify a full-time accountant.

Scottish Citylink is a long-distance express coach operator in Scotland and Ireland and laterly has operated as a joint venture between ComfortDelGro and Stagecoach plc. As Financial Controller I supported the MD during a period of rapid growth. I also lead the business on an interim basis following the creation of the JV.Key contributions:● Key part of the team that was involved in the purchase of an Irish subsidiary and its subsequent integration into the business.● Created robust internal controls, particularly in relation to cash handling and the maximisation of Fuel Duty Rebate and Concessionary Fare claims.● Played a key role in negotiations with sub-contractors over new mileage rates and created a financial model to forecast their impact on profitability.● Liaised with the competition authorities to help gain regulatory approval for the JV deal.