Responsible for all non-legal areas of day to day running and long-term planning for a Criminal Defence Practice. This is wide ranging and includes; COMPLIANCE OFFICER FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (COFA) (responsible for ensuring systems and processes are in place to enable the firm, its managers and employees, and anyone who has an interest in the firm, to comply with the SRA Handbook requirements.);HUMAN RESOURCES (Staff recruitment, training and management);ACCOUNTING (Budgeting, Reporting, VAT reporting, banking, bookkeeping, purchase and sales ledger); PROCUREMENT (Contract management – identifying suitable tenders (usually Government), bidding and delivering); IT (All hardware (PCs, server, networks), software (Case Management, O365) and communications (cloud-based telecoms and emails);COMPLIANCE (GDPR, Insurances,FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (Office leasing, maintenance, health and safety in the workplace, cleaning);DISASTER RECOVERY (Ensure all IT and physical systems are recoverable and that any disaster (fire, flood etc..) can be recovered from and that business interruption is minimal. Key success: Helping establish one of the most respected law firms in Milton Keynes, and ensure that in a tough trading environment, the excellent organisation and running of the firm means we compete and exceed the performance of many established national competitors.

Developed and administered a new software product, which became Ostara Systems. Focused on the MS SQL Database development built the database, and programmed all the stored procedures, functions and MI which interacted with the software level. Key Success: Building software, that was able to manage estates for large domestic retailers such as John Lewis and international ones such as Auchan. It was better than the existing products on the market at that time. What was at the time, a start-up, is now a thriving business with many clients.

Administration and development of the company’s customer and legacy databases. These were MS SQL, in various incarnations. Development was required in cooperation with the Web development to ensure that the 60,000 customers could securely access and manage their Broadband and Telecom accounts via the companies’ web portal. In an exceptionally dynamic and competitive market sector, we developed systems to support emerging products, and bundles of products, which are now commonplace (‘broadband, bundled with telecoms and media’ for instance). Key success: Being part of a team that was able to develop the software to support products in a new industry.

Developing and supporting bespoke accounting software solutions based around the Microsoft Navision products (now Microsoft Dynamics). This included successful development and deployment of point of sale units into a chain of pharmacist stores, to integrate ordering and accounts system. The upgrading of various software platforms from MS Access to MS SQL. Enhancements to stock control and management systems. Development of additional Management Information packages focused around business needs and technologies (e.g. Excel, Jet Reporting, Crystal Reports).Key success: The enjoyment of taking an off the shelf software product and tailoring it to really help businesses improve processes, decision making and reduce costs.

Provided all areas of IT support for a 100 person call centre. Including, but not limited to; Hardware purchasing, deployment and installation of hardware. As well software installation, networking, system security. Programming telecoms and database administration. This included all areas of the office from desktop to server and infrastructure.Key success: Providing users with high quality support for a whole range of technology and software.

Helpdesk roles, supporting wide range of desktop, and back office IT systems and users.

Contract work. Hired to model and transfer data from the existing Land Information Databases to an Activity Based Costing software package, in order to assist in a full costing and analysis of the government department.Key success: It was a short-term contract, with clear set goals, all of which were achieved.

Joined as an office assistant, progressed to help administer a £100,000,000 marine insurance facility. As part of this developed software to streamline transactions between the company and Lloyds of London brokerage systems.Key success: Saving the company time and money as well as improving accuracy of data transfers to Lloyds of London.