Graham Gunn Email & Phone Number

Romford, United Kingdom

Providing Part Time FD services to businesses, making sense of the numbers, contract management & negotiation, explaining commercial contracts/leases/agreements in plain English, helping businesses grow, improving cashflow, helping people fulfil their potential. Rail bid preparation and evaluation, commercial contract reviews.

Graham Gunn is a qualified accountant (FCCA) with over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sector, and across a range of industries. He has covered roles at all levels including Finance Director, Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Financial Analyst. Proven ability to implement and develop systems and controls, lead and develop people and teams, manage change, understand and negotiate complex commercial contracts, deliver on tasks and projects, present and explain results. At Assist With Solutions we work with owners and directors of SMEs to achieve better understanding of their business, and to identify their personal and business goals. By focusing on the 3 key elements of success – Structure, Systems, Support – we are able to develop bespoke plans and rather than just producing a report we actively work with our clients to implement the recommended solutions. Graham's experience, together with that of his colleagues at AWS, means we are comfortable working with businesses at all stages of their development from those that may need support to overcome short term problems, those that may benefit from some objective independent advice and those that may be successful but need help to move up to the next level.

Led the finance team during the restructuring and subsequent £2bn sale of High Speed 1, the concession to operate and maintain the UK’s first high speed railwayKey Activities• Established separate finance, office facilities, IT and other support functions for as HS1 transitioned from the UK’s largest construction project (Channel Tunnel Rail link) to a standalone operating entity. • Development of business model compliant with European regulations, negotiation and agreement of accounting and economic charging framework with Department for Transport (DfT) and Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). • Developed operational finance model, production and review of business plan, led vendor due diligence of finance and insurance• Review/production of documentation for staple finance package, invitation to tender, bond prospectus etc etc. • Presentations to financial and legal advisors, ratings agencies leading to indicative investment grade ratings from Moody's and Fitch for staple finance package. • Presentations to bidders (6 consortia), site visits, dealt with bidder questions, meetings with bidders and advisers, resolution of due diligence issues• Post sale setting up processes to deal with new finance structure (term loans, interest rate swaps, bond listing on CISX), reporting requirements of shareholders, establishment of new bank agreements, appointment of new auditors, tax compliance, management of Security Agent etc

Covered a number of project roles dealing with financial and commercial aspects of transport related bids such as Dubai Metro/West Mids TOC etc etc. Strategic review of divisional contracts , consolidation and review of divisional 5 year forecasts, presentation of results and control of amendments

Appointed Company Secretary in January 2000, Finance Director in April 2000.Responsible for Finance, IT and Commercial departments, trustee of the DLR Pension Scheme, the Serco Rail Pension Fund and the DRML Profit Share Scheme, commercial risk management. Identified and realised opportunities for increase of non-passenger revenues from property rentals, advertising, fibre optic cable, mobile phones etc etcNegotiated 2 year extension to initial franchise contract and won re-tender for the 2nd DLR franchise contract.

Certificate In International Financial Reporting Standards For Small & Medium-Sized Entities

Corporate Finance Evening Programme 1998-99, Corporate Finance

Education record