I am an experienced COO & CFO, qualified Chartered Accountant and Warwick Business School MBA graduate. I have six years’ Corporate Recovery experience and 20+ years of working with SME's in senior finance and commercial positions, providing an analytical perspective to strategic decisions. I have a proven track record of enhancing operations in a wide range of industry sectors. I have maximised company profitability, growth and investment return by:* motivating and developing finance staff;* focusing attention and resource in business critical areas;* implementing enhanced processes and systems;* optimising company cash;* putting in place strategic plans for growth;* carrying out M&A work, including due diligence and post-deal business integrations. I work with SME's with turnovers of between £0 (start ups) and £100m. Often these businesses are private equity backed, requiring a skill-set that fosters growth and continual improvement. I bring together all business functions to ensure coherent goals are set to achieve strategic aims. I build relationships with external shareholders, board colleagues and operational managers and build business partnerships with CEOs - providing both support and challenge. I have recently concluded a 3 year CFO role with an AIM listed PLC. This has given me further exposure to strategic, operational and leadership best-practice. I believe a competent Finance executive must ensure accounting fundamentals are delivered, be technically competent and be able to effectively mange risk. An outstanding finance executive is also a communicator, understands what drives wealth creation and grasps opportunities.I can be reached at richard.withers@bridgefd.com.