Louise Meehan Email & Phone Number

East Grinstead, Gb

Lewes, England, United Kingdom

Sussex Community Foundation holds £25m in endowment funds on behalf of donors, with an annual drawdown of £1.6m to distribute to charities, yet with unrestricted reserves of only £500k for core operating costs - it is critical that our funds are well managed, income streams are closely monitored and the difference between restricted and unrestricted funds clearly conveyed to stakeholders. This is the core of my role along with improving operational efficiency throughout the organisation.• Responsible for finances at SMT level, reporting into CEO and Board• Manages a small team• Builds budgets and forecasting models using Excel, Sage and in-house systems• Introduced the use of dashboards• Built and maintains positive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders• Improved and implemented processes in finance and operations• Fund and investment management• Analyses complex investment data and synthesises it for SMT• Reviewed and improved internal controls for risk• Prepares all finance documents, plans and reports• Integrated finance systems: Sage 50, Salesforce and online banking• Leads the external audit

West Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Successfully migrated accounting system from WCBS Pass to iSAMS fee billing and iFinance (Accounts IQ) Improved transaction reporting in accounting systemIntroduced SOCS as online booking solution for management of clubs and activities Prepared debtor management and financial control policiesMember of Digital Strategy working partyGeneral tasks include:All transactional accounting including purchase and sales ledgers, bank reconciliationsLiaise with staff to collate data for billing. Prepare and issue fee invoices to parents, deal with queriesSchool fee benchmarkingEarly Years Funding Entitlement liaison with staff, parents and local authorityCash flow reportingAdminister School Fee Plan applicationsProduce half-termly budget updates for heads of department

Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

Improved the financial processes and transparency of reporting within a complicated regulatory environment (Ashdown Forest is governed by a restrictive and partly ambiguous Act of Parliament and audited under local authority accounting regulations). Ensured that the finances were accessible to all stakeholders (i.e. communication to non-finance managers). Reporting directly to both the CEO and the Board. Part of the Senior Management Team leading the organisation during a period of extended absence of a CEO.The role also involved establishing a charitable organisation, The Ashdown Forest Foundation.GeneralResponsibility for full cycle of financial management Provide financial support and guidance to the Board Management of external finance related contractors (payroll service provider and auditors)Line management of bookkeeperProduction and ongoing review of Financial RegulationsMaintain asset registerReview and maintain insuranceAccountancyBank reconciliations, managing restricted and unrestricted funds, internal rechargesManage accounts using SAGE Line 50Producing quarterly management reports and annual reportPreparing and submitting annual reporting to relevant regulatory authoritiesBudgetingLeading, planning and compiling the annual budgetLiaising with all stakeholders to develop budget Ensuring budgetary control Dynamic budget monitoring and movement where requiredCommunicating budget position on a regular basis to enable informed decision makingPayroll managementResponsibility for the payroll of employees and administration of pension scheme and later managing the process on an outsourced basisAuditLed the audit process for six years including tender for new auditorsVAT and taxPreparation of VAT returns

Part-time position. Responsible for administrative, advisory and financial support to local government, as with the same role at Horne Parish Council.During this time I was also a locum Clerk for Withyham Parish Council.

Key achievements in this role: Extending the communication reach of the council to the public, facilitating relationships between the council and the public and project managing the restoration of a woodland on parish land. Valuation and sale of easements/access. I brought the council up-to-date with their financial regulations, financial reporting and general policies.Clerk tasks: Providing administrative and advisory support to a group of local councillors.First point of contact for all Parish business with residents, other statutory bodies, their officers and elected membersEnsuring that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observedKeeping up-to-date with changes in statute and other provisions affecting local governmentEnsuring that the Council’s obligations for Risk Assessment are carried out and ensure they are properly metResponsible for formal acts on behalf of the CouncilPreparation of agenda and circulation of relevant papers and background information to all Councillors as requiredMinute-taking at meetingsKeeping planning records and deal with planning applications in accordance with the Council’s decisionsFollowing up decisions taken at Parish Council meetings and dealing with correspondence and routine matters on own initiativeWebsite administrationResponsible Financial Officer tasks:Maintaining accurate financial accountsPreparing accounts for audit in line with current legislationControlling receipt of precept and other income or payments, controlling expenditure, budgets, payment of cheques and bank accounts. Preparing an annual budget

I evolved and developed MSI's member relations strategy to ensure that new and established members continue to derive maximum benefits from membership and remain committed to the highest standards of client service. I also had a role in the selection of suitable candidate firms in geographic territories in which MSI does not have representative firms, and worked closely with existing members to leverage existing professional service firm relationships. I was responsible for ensuring prospective members understood the joining process and their obligations as members, and provided support to ensure a smooth induction and the right foundations for a long and successful association membership.

Responsible for the management of MSI's international meetings, social events and annual conference (10-150 delegates). Including site visits, contract negotiation and relationship-building with suppliers, control of strict budgetary guidelines for all events. On-site management of event.The role involved quick thinking, on-the-spot problem-solving, reactive and proactive management of issues while allowing for cultural differences and requirements.

Bsc (Hons), Applied Biology

Research Placement: One Year In Germany