Peter Williams Email & Phone Number

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Joined PwC UK following their acquisition of Olivehorse Consulting Services in February 2022. Now Senior Manager Lead for PwC's Planning & Reporting Centre of Excellence - 'P&R CoE' (part of Finance).▪️ Manage the CoE’s operations, development of strategic objectives and team direction.▪️ Ensure accurate, timely, commercial and strategic business insight across the firm.▪️ Collaboration with stakeholders, providing analytics on business performance.▪️ Drive approach to management information to reduce duplication and increase standardisation.▪️ Increase use of technology for reporting, forecasting, planning and budgeting.▪️ Oversee the annual budget, 3-year plan and in year forecasting processes for the CoE.▪️ Recruitment and development of the team.

Coventry, United Kingdom

Supply chain planning software consultancy, specialising in SAP and Anaplan technologies, providing advice and implementation services to large international businesses in the FMCG, telco, pharmaceuticals, energy and manufacturing sectors.Engaged as Finance Director, to develop a high performing finance function, improve budgeting, forecasting, reporting and working capital to support growth, international expansion and transaction readiness. ▪️ Improved billing and cash collection processes, reduced overdue debt by 82%, achieved debt free position within seven months and increased net cash by 300% within 18 months during a flat trading period.▪️ Developed flexed forecast model to manage revenue, consultant utilisation, costs, profitability and cashflow in uncertain trading conditions, informing key decisions including resourcing and shareholder remuneration levels.▪️ Negotiation with prospective buyers and management of due diligence processes for sell-side mandates.▪️ Formed a group structure and established overseas subsidiaries in South Africa and France to meet new customer requirements, international business development ambitions and opportunities.▪️ Successful management of a diverse group of owner directors, building confidence, transparency and managing expectations in relation to business performance, shareholder returns and equity value.▪️ Key member of the team in the sale of the company to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Supported the sellers in discussions with multiple interested buyers, buyer shortlist creation, interview and appointment of M&A adviser, managed all financial, tax and legal due diligence, warranties and disclosures, successful integration of finance/tax workstream working with PwC colleagues to achieve agreed sale completion deadline.▪️ Designed new profit share scheme, rewarding staff relative to company performance, recognising individual achievement, loyalty and responsibility, maintaining fairness and equality across the team.

Manchester, United Kingdom

Privately owned computer software and services company providing digital business solutions for a wide range of sectors including automotive, training and financial services (Turnover £1m / 10 staff). Responsible for driving improvements to contract performance and company profitability through the introduction of accurate and complete time recording. Working with owners and new CEO to introduce robust systems of financial control and cash flow management; introduced new budgeting process with related monthly reporting and KPI’s. ▪️ Developed monthly reporting pack and financial forecasting model to support growth plans.▪️ Created shareholder agreement between owners and new management as part of succession planning for current owners’ exit.

Coventry, United Kingdom

AIM listed computer software and services group providing solutions for the retail, manufacturing, wholesale distribution and logistics sectors (Turnover £30m / 300 staff). Responsible for reviewing processes, procedures and activities of each business unit within the Group to improve the utilisation of staff and other resources. Engaged with business unit leads / project and operational managers / staff, to understand business operations and implement changes and improvements in parallel with developing long-term solution. ▪️ Led new acquisition projects; for example, one project valued at £12m, completed in November 2017, increasing Group revenues and staff by around 50%.▪️ Identified and implemented new time recording system across the Group to improve chargeability, forecasting / pricing and performance measurement through appropriate target setting and KPI’s.▪️ Introduced new processes to appraise, price and manage major sales opportunities; providing reliable, transparent information to customers during projects.▪️ Achieved six figure additional value to contract sum at final account stage with a new customer.

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Engaged in a voluntary capacity by the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, assisting with their Multi Academy Trust conversion. Provided additional assistance to the Acting Head Teacher of King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Girls following the absence, due to ill health, of the substantive Head Teacher. Acting Chair of Governors until a new permanent Chair was found; supported recruitment, assisted with induction and delivered handover.

Global

Responsible for financial management of a complex, multi-contract, multi-site business during a period of major contract changes and ownership. Reported directly to the company’s CEO and the Australian Private Equity owners, ensuring their understanding of the business and their requirements were met in a timely manner. Attended monthly Group Board meetings in the UK and Australia to present financial performance and commentary and latest trading forecasts, annual budgets and cash flow forecasts. Developed large scale financial models to assist the Board in understanding the requirements of contract tendering opportunities, including delivery performance and forecast income and profitability. ▪️ Led sale of the UK Company by its Australian Private Equity owners to a privately owned Australian business, from October 2014 until July 2015, including time spent working in Australia. ▪️ Led acquisition, in July 2014, of a London based training provider, sold by its Private Equity owners.▪️ Delivered financial and commercial due diligence during the sale of PPDG to an Australian Private Equity backed business in September 2008. ▪️ Supported reverse takeover of an AIM listed recruitment business in early 2008.

United Kingdom

06/1995 to 12/2006: PCE Group (Construction & Manufacturing): Finance Director / Company Secretary01/1991 to 06/1995: Maxim Construction (Construction Main Contractor): Management Accountant07/1989 to 01/1991: GVA Grimley (Property Consultants): Management Accountant09/1985 to 07/1989: Langard Lifford Hall (Accountants): Senior Auditor