Glen Harte Email & Phone Number

Peterborough, Gb

Spalding

Coveris UK is a private equity (Sun Capital Partners) backed £450m revenue business supplying multiple packaging products to the UK Retail Fresh and Chilled sector.Key Responsibilities include:• Day to day leadership of transactional finance function (23 FTE’s) across 20 locations (14 different ERP systems)• Ownership of month end close process with direct reporting responsibilities to the global Chief Accounting Officer• Owning the delivery of statutory accounts preparation and liaison with auditors throughout the process• Developing accounting policy to remain compliant with latest accounting UK and International standards• Developing and leading the implementation of processes and procedures to ensure consistent application of accounting policies across UK sites• Main contact for banking relationships including asset based lenders and credit insurers• Co-ordinating budget completion and consolidation to agreed timetables.Key Achievements• Integration of 9 individual businesses to form 1 business unit. Driving consistency of reporting, forecasting and business management processes whilst at the same time reducing the month end close process from 6 to 4 days and increasing reporting accuracy• Lead the centralisation of the AR and AP functions across multiple ERP solutions and reduced slow moving debt from £4.3m at its peak to less than £0.6m• Successfully supported the acquisition and integration of 9 businesses into the weekly and monthly reporting cycle• Managed the transition of Asset Based Lending providers within tight deadlines, across 10 aged debt ledgers, replacing credit insurers and supporting customers through the transition• Delivered a group simplification process which eliminated 33 companies and reduced the global cash tax burden by £1m on an annual basis• Built, developed and coached a young accounts payable team to maximise cash whilst keeping the factories supplied with a total positive impact on cash of £3.5m.

Peterborough, United Kingdom

Gardman is a leading supplier of wild bird care and garden sundries to independent garden centres, supermarkets and ‘big shed’ DIY businesses both in the UK and overseas. The group turnover is circa £80m and operates in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia.I was responsible for day to day leadership of the transactional finance function (14 FTE's) overseeing all elements of the finance function and preparing the monthly consolidated accounts and reporting pack for the group as well as working closely with the PE investors and banks.During 2012, and due to the group failing to meet certain banking covenants, the business underwent a refinancing process in which I was integrally involved from start to finish including preparing information for an Independent Banking Review (IBR), preparation of the 3 year plan on which to reset covenants, controlling professional advisor fee budget (circa £3m) and supplying various information and schedules to meet the tight deadline for completion of the project.Following the refinancing and at the instigation of our new PE investors the company entered a rigorous series of turnaround projects, again I was actively involved in these as well as monitoring and reporting the outcomes of these projects. Chiefly I was involved in projects to reduce costs through e-auctions and overhead reviews and reducing inventory working capital by over £4m year on year.In March 2013 I was appointed Company Secretary to the UK trading companies and as such I sat on the Investor Board making active contributions to the meeting preparation, actual meeting discussions and follow-up actions.

Spalding, Lincolnshire

Evolution Flowers was a supplier of cut flowers and pot plants to the UK supermarkets (Asda, Morrison and Safeway), this was a first step into industry to develop the financial systems of a small but rapidly growing company. During my time at the company we profitably grew the turnover from £6m to £16m, this required my skills and knowledge to manage the growth within working capital restrictions.The role evolved from that of pure financial management and control to also encompass a wider remit as the Managing Director’s deputy. This involved general management of the company and the team of 16 employees which covered commercial, operational and quality control functions. I had day to day input on all commercial decisions and participated in developing company strategy. I had daily contact with both the suppliers and customers including regular meetings with the Asda commercial team.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

I joined Peters Elworthy & Moore as a trainee accountant in September 1991. After qualifying as a Certified Accountant in June 1998, I was appointed Assistant Manager (Audit) in September 1999. As well as company and charity audits I prepared management accounts on a monthly basis for a number of company clients and reported directly to the Managing Directors of those businesses, giving a commentary on monthly variations of figures and offering general business advice including suggestions for profit improvement. I also prepared VAT returns, corporation tax returns and Companies House forms for many of these clients. My role also covered the preparation of statutory accounts and the management of audit teams of up to 6 staff, for private limited company (start-up to £80m turnover) and charity clients including several Cambridge University Colleges. I was appointed Audit Manager in July 2002 and this gave me more responsibility for allocating and delegating work to junior staff as well as responsibility for a larger portfolio of clients, controlling audit budgets, team allocation and client billing.