A former client, and friend, engaged me to maintain the books for his new venture. I prepare VAT and VIES reports, and maintain his accounts on a bi-monthly basis. I prepare management accounts and advise him of any concerns, or opportunities that I see in the accounts, or in the business generally. We are working towards sourcing a new computer system tailored to the needs of the business at this stage of its development.I am now ready to start looking for other clients.

My wife recovered from a illness and returned to work. Given the therapeutic value of her work to her continued recovery, and a desire for a lower stress lifestyle for a period of time, we decided that I would care for the children at home. I also cleared a backlog of interior and exterior maintenance issues.

Learned a considerable amount from the practical application of different teaching methods and resources.Assessed children's individual progress and my own teaching style.Tackled the challenges posed by the children's need and the subject matter with enthusiasm and innovation.The circumstances of the recession meant that it would be impossible to get an appointment that would satisfy the needs of the probationary period. I arranged with the Teaching Council to withdraw from their register in order to preserve the right to return to it in the future.

Exposed to a completely new world in which I found my own style of teaching and began to thrive at it, and even have fun. They taught me the importance of wonder, excitement and fun in motivating us to work and learn.Attended to the needs of different personalities. They also taught me the importance of respect for people, for ideas and for knowledge.Developed a warm rapport with the classes and an effective style of listening and questioning. Learned how to pitch a message to the audience.

Continued working for Business Services Group and its clients.Maintained current price and availability details on hotel websites.Performed ad-hoc projects at crunch times in the financial calender.During this time I needed to combine caring for both my wife and sons at home, and continue with as much work from BSG as the situation allowed.

Travelled to the offices of 3 to 4 clients one or two days a week each on a rotating basis to fulfil their financial controller role.Managed clients’ expectations of what their business and the financial system could produce for them.Developed systems and procedures and completed ad hoc projects.Assisted one deeply indebted client to trade through three winters during which they were in danger of liquidation.Assisted others in the collection of debts, and the streamlining of their paper based processes.Enjoyed my role and achieved my goals and targets.

Managed audit teams on engagements, budgeted time and developed the skills of new trainees, while maintaining a focus on the overall aims. Developed understanding of the audit approach and methods of a ‘Big 5’ firm. Audited grant claims and refreshed my knowledge of the taxation system.

Developed ownership of the monthly reporting preparation and inputs for the business and received full ownership for the monthly reports of two cost centres. Supported operational decisions with hard financial information including the creation of a variance analysis model for Payroll and the analysis of other cost lines.Completed a quality training course on process improvement. Assisted development of controls, policies and registers, maintained and streamlined financial records through office automation and process redesign.Developed a good relationship with the management team in Shannon and my finance colleagues in Leeds. Produced budgets for the transition costs of new business from the UK.

Trained in a fast developing firm with a range of substantial clients many of whom approach us specifically because of our strengths in Business Development.