Jonathan Cohen Email & Phone Number

Amsterdam, Netherlands, Gb

GUS is a dynamic privately owned global group of over 40 further education institutions, including ten universities.As part of the establishment of a new subgroup within the broader GUS Group, I was brought it to create and lead an entirely new best-in-class group finance team (encompassing consolidation and reporting, FP&A, tax and procurement), and also to run the full service finance function for the centralised head office platform.

Moorgate, England, Gb

East Croydon, Surrey, Gb

The Gym Group is a leading UK provider of high-quality low-cost gyms and has a full listing on the London Stock Exchange. Founded in 2008, this high growth multi-site business now operates more than 180 gyms across the UK and generates over £150m of annual revenue. Pre-lockdown the Group had 900,000 members, making it the 4th largest gym chain in Europe by membership. My role was newly created to bring financial control and process discipline to an inexperienced team, and to build the team, structures and systems such that they are future-proofed for the continued expansion of the Group. My initial responsibilities included external reporting, oversight of technical accounting and financial controls, along with Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. This quickly expanded to include Finance Systems, the Group’s first in-house Tax and Treasury Manager, and the establishment and ongoing management of the Group’s first in-house Procurement function.

London, England, Gb

Eurostar International is the £1bn turnover operator of high-speed train services through the Channel Tunnel, with 2,500 staff across its activities in the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is a 55% owned subsidiary of SNCF (the French national railway) and 40% owned by a private equity group.Brought in as a change agent to address an underperforming finance team, as part of an organisation-wide transformational agenda, I was initially responsible for Financial Accounting & Reporting and Shared Services (Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Payroll). Subsequent expansions added Assurance (Revenue & Cost Assurance, Fraud, and Data Reliability) and Management Accounting to my remit. Member of Project Board for the successful re-implementation of the Oracle ERP system. Deputy to the CFO.

London, Gb

Virgin Management is the global head office of the Virgin Group, the branded venture capital group with subsidiaries including Virgin Money, Virgin Active and Virgin Galactic. It is responsible for brand management and oversight of the Group’s investments, with annual Group turnover of £3.7bn. Planning and implementing the strategy for the Group finance team, I had specific responsibility for management of the Virgin Group consolidated accounts production and audit process, as well as day-to-day accounting, budgeting and management reporting for a large number of head office companies.My responsibilities also included managing relationships with finance teams across the Virgin Group and supporting them on technical accounting matters.

London, Gb

Client-facing senior manager within the audit practice of this ‘Big 4’ professional services firm. Led large teams on the audits of international blue chip companies in a wide range of industries, in particular transport, software and professional services.Experience also includes:• Vendor due diligence• IPO short-form reporting• Tender processes and new business generation• Whitewash reports• Non-statutory reporting

Sydney, Nsw, Au

Lead on-site auditor on newly won ASX listed media company.

Client-facing assistant manager within the audit practice of this mid-tier professional services firm.

Aca

Bsc (Hons), Maths And Business Studies