At the start of 2011, I left management consultancy in order to set up my own business, working as an Outsourced Finance Director to local entrepreneurs and small business owners. After 20 years heading up the finances for a number of small but rapidly growing companies, I recognised the dilemma that most small companies face: with a critical need for an experienced FD to look after their finances and work on their profitability, but without the need or the funds for a full-time Finance… Show more At the start of 2011, I left management consultancy in order to set up my own business, working as an Outsourced Finance Director to local entrepreneurs and small business owners. After 20 years heading up the finances for a number of small but rapidly growing companies, I recognised the dilemma that most small companies face: with a critical need for an experienced FD to look after their finances and work on their profitability, but without the need or the funds for a full-time Finance Director. As a result I now work for a small portfolio of clients – working for each of them for between 1 and 5 days a month. This makes a highly experienced FD affordable to even the smallest businesses.In the last 5 years I have helped two clients out of ‘special measures’ with the banks following serious cashflow and profitability challenges, successfully helped another two companies to prepare for sale (both have now sold), assisted one client to double their profits in the course of a year and enabled another to save over £100k in tax following a novel use of Entrepreneurs Relief. My experience has included clients in a broad range of sectors including charities, consultancies, education, events & catering, construction, sound engineering, advertising, PR, marketing, care homes, manufacturing, IT and the law. Show less

I launched this boutique festival in 2007. Now in its sixth year, it has trebled in size and gained a significant local reputation. As Event Director I project manage and oversee the creative development and marketing of the event, commission, negotiate and manage contracts with the suppliers and artists, control the budgets and manage the licensing and liaison with the local authorities.

Summary: I led teams working on projects to develop and launch pioneering services for the public sector including: Department for Education - Teachers TV: I managed the purchase and implementation of this service incorporating a digital TV channel and online service. The project involved managing a small project team, developing the service vision, model and specification, creating a business case, bringing in suppliers, overseeing contract negotiations, developing KPIs and… Show more Summary: I led teams working on projects to develop and launch pioneering services for the public sector including: Department for Education - Teachers TV: I managed the purchase and implementation of this service incorporating a digital TV channel and online service. The project involved managing a small project team, developing the service vision, model and specification, creating a business case, bringing in suppliers, overseeing contract negotiations, developing KPIs and subsequently managing the contract and its suppliers, providing strategic direction for the service and managing all financial and legal issues. At launch, Teachers TV was the only public sector TV channel in the world; at its peak it was watched by 25% of the schools workforce in England each month. Training and Development Agency for Schools - The Key: I headed up a project to research, design and develop a multi-channel service to support school leaders. This involved researching and building the service concept, carrying out market analysis, identifying suppliers, establishing a pilot service, building a business case and design and specification of the final service. The Key is currently in the process of national rollout. Show less

As a co-owner of Baber Smith, I and my partner grew the company during this period from a small design agency with 6 staff into an integrated marketing agency with 30 staff and a client portfolio that included Airtours, GE, Marconi and Toys R Us. As Commercial Director, I was involved in financial management, operational management and overseeing accounts providing strategic communications, advertising, branding, e-marketing and direct marketing consultancy.

I was brought into Aurelia Public Relations to bring structure and control to the financial operations of the business and to drive its development towards sale. The company boasted a healthy client list that included Versace, Bose, Tag Heuer and The Arcadia Group, having grown steadily on the back of a passionate management team. In the year before I joined, the company made £50k profit on a turnover of just over £1m. By the end of the first year, we had increased the profits to £250k simply… Show more I was brought into Aurelia Public Relations to bring structure and control to the financial operations of the business and to drive its development towards sale. The company boasted a healthy client list that included Versace, Bose, Tag Heuer and The Arcadia Group, having grown steadily on the back of a passionate management team. In the year before I joined, the company made £50k profit on a turnover of just over £1m. By the end of the first year, we had increased the profits to £250k simply as a result of cutting costs and restructuring roles within the organisation. In the second year we sold the agency into the Abbott Mead Vickers Group in a deal worth over £2m. Show less

This first job in industry enabled me to cut my teeth as a Finance Director, and to learn at the feet of an inspirational Australian entrepreneur who had grown and sold several businesses, before launching Black Sun plc in the year before I joined. Within 3 years we had turned the company into a niche CRM agency, serving a blue chip client base that included American Express, British Airways, Sainsburys and M&G and quadrupled the profits (to £600k) in the process.

I qualified as a chartered accountant with PWC in 1992, having spent 5 years working for a broad portfolio of clients within the public and private sectors in the UK and overseas, including a period as Financial Director to the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney.