A UK Plc which privatised in late 2019, Merlin is a global leader in location-based family entertainment operating brands such as Madame Tussauds, Legolands, Sealife Centres and the Dungeons. Operating across the world with 67million visitors and Revenues over £1.6bn.Global role responsible for leading the Record to Report team within a newly created Finance Shared Service Centre. Supporting the design, testing and implementation of Oracle NetSuite ERP and Kyriba treasury management software before transitioning the finance functions for 37 North American attractions into the SSC. Also includes support for the transition of additional Merlin attractions. Key responsibilities include: • Responsibility for processing and coordinating period end close activities• Completion of monthly balance sheet reconciliations and review with Finance Business Partners• Prepare management reports and ensure compliance with group reporting and local regulations • Supervise accounting activity across legal entities• Manage both the Project Accounting and Fixed Asset Registers• Maintenance of dynamic & static recharge allocations• Creation of daily, weekly and monthly flash reports in line with the centralised reporting strategy• Submit divisional cash flow forecasts to Group treasury• Continue to identify process improvement areas

CA Technologies is a US multinational and one of the largest independent software corporations in the world, with its HQ in New York. Focusing on business to business software across the Mainframe and Enterprise solutions used by the majority of Fortune 500 companies. Operating in 40 countries worldwide with Revenues over $4bn and over 10,000 employees. Based in New York, a position within the Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis team, responsible for designing, implementing and driving the forecast cycles for accurate weekly, monthly and quarterly forecasts to be used by senior and executive management teams utilising Hyperion. Business Partnering with internal FP&A teams ensuring the alignment of assumptions for forecasting and analysis throughout the organisation.This roles also included:> Performing in-depth financial and operational analysis to determine the business reasons driving results;> Comparing results to historical results, budgets and forecast and preparing variance analysis for the senior management team;> Coordinating the global CFFO budgets and forecasts on a weekly and monthly basis. > Working with the senior management team to establish and track quarterly targets;> Establishing historical trend analysis to validate and question forecasts, allowing headlights into future risks and opportunities;> Preparation of the quarterly external segment reporting in accordance with CA’s regulatory requirements and internal financial controls;> Accounting and monitoring the Facilities and Personnel restructuring charges for EMEA and APJ. Reviewing EMEA business models under Commissionaire and LRD's.Key Achievements:1. Automation of the forecasting and reporting packs for senior managers reducing preparation time from days to hours;2. Established key historical trends and forecasting behaviors to improve forecast accuracy.3. Collaborated on metrics monitoring acquisitions and assisting Organic v Acquisition growth reviews.

Management of the sales, revenue and general ledger accounting areas across the Asia and Pacific region based in our Sydney SSC. Overseeing an organisation of 20+ accounting professionals in developing the necessary financial reports required for the company's internal and external controls. This roles also included:> Implementing and maintaining an effective and controlled financial and management reporting system;> Conducting periodic detailed reviews of work papers as prepared by accounting staff and reviewing fluctuations in monthly income statements to investigate any areas of concern;> Developing others by encouraging accountability and enforcing performance standards.Key Achievements:1. Supported the roll out of SAP across 13 Asia Pacific and Japan countries whilst maintaining a strong compliance with US GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley and Statutory GAAP;2. Implemented process improvements to ensure local financial statements were audited and filed within 6 months of the year end - a first for the company in the APJ region;3. Worked with regional and global finance leaders to share best practices and consolidate compliance policies during the roll out of SAP;4. Designed and implemented the first employee Work Experience Program for the staff across the 11 Sydney finance functions, supporting development and collaboration of employees and teams.

Management of the financial reporting for 9 European countries and a team of 7 accountants based in our EMEA SSC in Prague (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK). Responsibility the transition of the following accounting areas across 9 European countries (Treasury Accounting, Intercompany, Statutory Accounting, Taxes, Commissionaire Reporting, Internal Controls and Compliance). This roles also includes:> Co-ordination of statutory financial statements for 9 European countries covering 28 legal entities and 17 audits;> Accountability for the timely completion of all VAT, EC Sales Lists and National Statistic returns;> Providing information for the completion of corporate tax returns and assisting with internal and external audits;> Assisting forecasting and budgeting process;> Review of monthly balance sheet reconciliations and the oversight of quarterly balance sheet reviews with local controllers;> Oversee the integration of accounting functions for a UK acquisition.Key Achievements:1. Built a Finance Shared Service Centre in Prague, consolidating the European regional accounting centres, which supported the reporting and compliance for 70+ legal entities;2. Established standardised and simplified accounting processes upon the setup of the European SSC to improve the efficiency and reporting of the finance functions.

Project lead for establishing a new European Accounting Shared Service Center. Responsible for the transition of the following accounting areas across 21 European countries (Prepayments, Accruals, Fixed Assets, Commissions, Treasury, Payroll, Accounts Receivable and Facilities). Evaluation of business procedures and establishing standardized accounting processes. Feasibility and system testing for new business procedures. Hire and training of accountants and developing strong cross functional relationships and communication.

Responsible for Dutch and Nordic country month end closes and a team of 3 accountants (Denmark, Finland, Netherland, Norway and Sweden). Review of monthly balance sheet reconciliations and the oversight of quarterly balance sheet reviews with local controllers. Completion of internal SOX testing and compliance. Lead for the integration of accounting functions of Dutch acquisition company.

Co-ordination of audited financial statement for the UK and Ireland covering 8 legal entities. Assisting with internal and external auditors. Ownership of Dutch and Norwegian month end closes. Balance sheet reconciliations, analytical reviews, manual journal entry preparation. Integration of accounting functions for acquisitions. Preparation of National Statistic returns.

Preparation of management accounts on a monthly and quarterly basis including the completion of VAT returns. Preparation of statutory accounts, under UK GAAP and corporation tax returns for small limited companies. Including balance sheet reconciliation and profit and loss account analysis.Managing clients VAT returns to ensure they are completed and submitted before their appropriate deadline. This involves communication with the client and work planning with other team members.Assistance in training junior staff and reviewing their preparation of UK statutory accounts. Working with the Audit Manager to plan assignments, completing audits within budget and preparing files for manager’s review. Responsibility for completing audit work on site, which has also included the delegation and review of tasks to junior members. Advanced computer experience of IRIS, Sage and Excel, along with exposure to QuickBooks and CashFlow Manager.

Preparation of accounts for limited companies under UK GAAP, partnerships, sole traders and charities along with the preparation of corporation tax returns. Completion of on-site audit testing under the guidance of the Audit Manager and the preparation of solicitors audits for the Law Society. Bookkeeping services, completion of regular management accounts and the preparation of VAT returns for small limited companies. Assistance in the training of junior staff.