Books:Hawkwind: Sonic Assassins (SAF 2003, Lumoni Press 2017)Strange Boat: Mike Scott & The Waterboys (SAF 2005, Gonzo 2015)Festivalized - Music, Politics, Alternative Culture (Gonzo 2016)Feature Writer/Reviewer, published in Record Collector, RnR Rock N Reel (R2), Vive Le Rock, Shindig!, The Guardian, The Independent and others.Interviewed Contributor: Classic Scottish Albums – This Is The Sea; Radio ScotlandLiner Notes:Hawkwind: Spirit of the Age and The Dream Goes On (Cherry Red/Atomhenge Boxsets)Hawkwind: Leave No Star Unturned (Easy Action)Robert Calvert: Freq (Cherry Red/Atomhenge)Tim Blake: Crystal Machine (Cherry Red/Esoteric)Tim Blake: New Jerusalem (Cherry Red/Esoteric)Tim Blake: Magick (Cherry Red/Esoteric)Tim Blake: The Tide of the Century (Cherry Red/Esoteric)Tim Blake: Noggi 'Tar (Cherry Red/Esoteric)

Commercial Reporting Manager – 14 Week Assignment (Extended to 6 months June to December 2016 and re-engaged February 2017).Based at the venue in Truro, I supported the commercial/catering arm of the business while it was between Food & Beverage (F&B) managers. In the context of the Not For Profit sector, I was complimented by the Director of HFC as having been a “really good critical friend.”I introduced the concept of ‘live’ inventory where it was not controlled ‘on system’ previously, and created an understanding of gross profit by product line and category where only overall gross profit from wet stock and food sales was previously available. The F&B operation runs on a KCPOS till/stock system linked to OPERA; I reviewed the operation of this system and saw that we could improve understanding on the workings and opportunities of the KCPOS system. From this system review I have trained managers and supervisors in the improved use of the system and written a key operating guide for future reference.As a customer-facing F&B business, the commercial arm of HFC is highly dependent on good rota control in utilising its labour. I reviewed rotas and studied sales revenue in key daily time-bands to help ensure the most efficient staff rotas can be drawn up. Created robust budget for 2017_18 financial year and re-cast current year budget to reflect sales trends and cost reductions.Evaluated new and existing vendor tenders on a ‘basket of products’ basis to identify, net of rebates, the most cost-effective tender offer.Assisted with performance ticket yield forecasting and rethought Daily Sales Reporting to make this reporting more streamlined, with better data-mining and drilldowns. I have worked to improve Excel-based reporting throughout the business, making reporting more robust while simplifying user input and enhancing the visual presentation of reporting for business review meetings.

Based in Furse Sanders St Ives chambers, but controlling the finance function for their 6 offices I produced management accounts, administered payroll, and organised ad-hoc professional financing, pending their recruitment of a permanent Head of Accounts / Practice Manager.I also handled legal cashiering in accordance with SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority), including ensuring that funds held were processed to deposit where appropriate, and ensuring property completions had their monies transacted in a time critical manner.System used: P4W Partner for Windows.

Between October 2009 and December 2015, ending due to business relocation, I was employed with Contico Manufacturing Ltd, a janitorial and hygiene wholesaler dealing with national accounts, export customers, key distributors, and public/government bodies.Key Achievements:Project-managed a successful implementation of a new ‘pack-size’ shipping policy, moving Contico away from a ‘sweet shop’ approach to customer order fulfilment and onto a more structured and freight efficient ‘box in, box out’ philosophy which was a major culture change in Contico’s order entry and shipping practices. Created new reporting tools to enable the business to move to a pro-active telesales operation within its Customer Service department. Identified new ways of looking at sales trends, customer and product sale gains and losses and created a proper focus on managing prospects and opportunities within the company’s CRM software. Created new thinking on identifying low margin sales and onward communicated these findings to the Sales department for action on pricing or substitute product offerings.Streamlined Contico’s pricing matrix encompassing circa 1,200 customers and 3,000 products ensuring that system-held ‘special pricing’ was current, relevant, and profitable.Wrote Contico’s tender documents for NHS supply framework agreements as tendered by NHS Supply Chain in England and Wales, and by NHS Scotland. My piloting of the tender process and responses to circa 70 detailed operational questions took the business to the following stage of product evaluation and e-auction.Relocated the administration function of the group companies to Redruth - during Contico's period of being owned by Proventec PLC - importing data from their Sage50 system into Sage 500 and ensured that the companies were successfully operating at the start of business on the first day after relocation.

Business consultant specialising in Credit Management and e-billing solutions.

Responsible for the effective running of the Accounts Receivable (£25M total ledgers) and Accounts Payable functions, with additional responsibilities for areas of corporate reporting, VAT management and additional financial tasks including Budget, P&L and Balance Sheet analysis.Key Tasks:Reporting direct to the Financial Director and liaising with three divisional Managing Directors and with Corporate Management based in the USA.Management of four team members, three in the UK and one in Southern Ireland.Supported the Sales Team with joint visits to customers to assist planning new business and growth in sales opportunities from a fiscal standpoint.Controlled Accounts Payable ledger, including timely invoice processing, liaison with key suppliers, and implementation of electronic banking systems.Cashflow forecasting and analysis. Day-to-day control of available funds to minimise borrowings and maximise flow of “free cash” to corporate.Management of VAT including returns under “Large Payer’s Unit”, Intrastat and EU Sales Lists and advising internally on specific VAT related issues.Liaison on audit issues, in particular with regards to External, Internal, Due Diligence and Collateral audits and with HM Customs & Excise audits.Experienced in implementing Sarbanes-Oxley controls and procedures and in Due Diligence audits during several transfers of corporate ownership and trading division divestitures.Control of bank accounts and reconciliation in multi-currency accounts.Was involved in the set-up of a sub-division in Southern Ireland and acquisition of competitor business in the UK. Closely involved in several new computer system set-ups from accounts standpoint including conversion to SAP. Organised and chair of cross-departmental management meetings.