Ruth Stringer Email & Phone Number

Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom

I provide a comprehensive suite of services to SME's on a contract basis, working remotely, hybrid or in-house. I am not restricted to a specific industry and have enjoyed working and guiding start ups through to gearing companies for sale.I offer support from an advisory or active capacity within Process Improvement, Accounting (Bookkeeping through to Year End filing), Payroll, Finance, Business Planning, Business Development, Human Resources and Business Administration (including contracts and account management).My purpose is to become the extra arm to a business, supporting in anyway I can.

Inkberrow, England, United Kingdom

In June 2022, Claire Parker, Owner and Clinic Director of Inkberrow Physiotherapy and Acupuncture decided to expand her services and exchange her existing sole trading business with a larger clinic incorporating additional therapies. I joined as a contracted advisor a few weeks into this venture to support the initial phase and enjoyed developing the business through its infancy into the newly formed Revival Health and Wellbeing Centre. The Centre grew from physio and acupuncture to osteopathy, neurological physiotherapy, sports injury and massage clinics, vestibular therapy and providing access to mental health support, bereavement and stress counselling, hypnotherapy, mindfulness coaching, reflexology, podiatry, paediatric physiotherapy and NLP for children. In addition to this we opened an easy access, fully equipped gym in November 2022 with personal training and rehab packages to support re and post injury patients. I supported Claire by setting up the internal systems and processes in line with our new business model, recruiting, accounting, marketing and managing the business administration. From January 2023 I led the rebranding exercise which was necessary to bring reflect the successful growth transformation. This concluded in July 2023.

Warwickshire

General Manager DV8 Works Limited. Dec 2019 - Aug 2020Responsible for all aspects of the business including operational performance, sales, procurement, finance and HR. I manage the retail and dealer channel sales liaising with the network and end user to ensure an exceptional customer experience from start to finish.Group Business Manager - Top Gear Trading (UK) LimitedMarch 2019 - Dec 2019Working across 4 businesses supporting the Owners in the financial, HR and operational corners of the Group. I introduced cost savings and CIPD strategies whilst striving to gain a working knowledge of the industries we work within.Financial Controller - Top Gear Trading (UK) LimitedOctober 2018 - March 2019Joining the Group as Financial Controller for 4x4 Tyres Ltd. I created a strong team of 4 and achieved my personal objective to introduce and deliver financial and analytical information to the Board for the 4 companies - 4x4 Tyres Limited, Top Gear Consumables Limited, Sterling GAP Limited and DV8 Works Limited.

Stratford Upon Avon

Formed in 2001, Consilium Recruit is an award winning authority in the recruitment of qualified engineering, management and industry executives primarily within the Automotive, Aerospace & Defence, Manufacturing and Energy sectors.Responsible for the introduction and production of analytical MI, financial Board Pack, business forecasting and daily accounting supervision. Involved with strategic planning my role moved through finance, operations involving CRM and internal processes, and HR. I introduced Continuous Improvement processes and ensured that internal training supported all employee's professional development and business planning.

Banbury, Oxfordshire

Specialising in providing accurate, efficient, secure and easy-to-use software, for healthcare, legal and other professional services organisations Lexacom was the world's first ever digital dictation and workflow management systemMy role objective was to audit existing procedures of the Finance and Customer Service departments and to provide efficient, productive departmental outputs and business strategy support whilst ensuring customer satisfaction was maintained at a high level. I analysed the day to day data provided by the Finance Dept to produce financial and management accounts. I presented monthly MI at Board through a newly formatted Management Information Pack which also reported on topical and generic KPI's throughout the company. I initiated the review of the pricing and membership strategy and led the communication to clients resulting in a more efficient support service, profitable and sustainable accounts and potential opportunities. The Customer Services processes were reviewed and for the purpose of data gathering, new client processes were introduced in support of the existing operational system. The remodel of the CRM system was an important factor in supporting these projects. Efficiency was improved and analytics became available not only to Customer Service but also sales, accounting and marketing.The accounting system was improved to enable analytical reporting for an increasing product revenue stream. A new chart of accounts was an integral element in this restructure and was fully implemented within 4 months.Through illustrating short and long term business plans into a departmental and consolidated budget and forecast analysis, each department was able to identify their performance and cost variance. This gave a valuable insight to Departmental Heads and allowed them to react accordingly. Other responsibilities included asset management, purchasing, stock control, internal communication and Head of Department meetings.

Worcester, United Kingdom

I founded Business Matters SME in 2010 and worked with several companies on long term contracts to assist in driving business development, new ventures or as a support function. Services were primarily financial and management accounting services but my commercial acumen was also utilised on market analysis, sales functions, business promotion and identifying procedural improvement. I employed additional staff as a project required. My client base included:- Bespoke tailored consultancy solutions. Appointed as Business Manager to introduce efficient business processes in all departments whilst increasing business objectives through structured and tactical sales and marketing campaigns- Training & consultancy in problem solving and process improvement. Appointed as Business Manager to advise and develop on the sales and marketing strategies. - Operations software for event and facility management. Appointed as Finance Manager and Client Account Manager to expand new and existing client base - Facility management in the Thames Valley. Appointed as Financial Controller I produced 85+ departmental management accounts and payroll. Providing consolidated financial whilst working within internal auditing, performance measurement and new sales generation through marketing and phone campaigns.

Maidenhead, Berkshire Uk

I acquired this company in 1993. AYS had supplied contract cleaners to local businesses since 1968. The company was rebranded and marketed and a comprehensive audit was conducted to all internal and external departments and processes. I succesfully introduced a fresh methodology to administrative, CRM and operational procedures focusing on closing gaps in cost, quality, delivery and performance. I planned and executed sales and marketing campaigns in order to approach local businesses with an initial achieved target of 40% growth over the first 15 months of the business. This was executed by building on existing customers and customer references as well as targeting competitive winback in similar vertical markets (schools). The company's new foundations secured its continued growth.Alongside my Director’s role I raised Management and Financial Accounts with the help of two accounting staff. In 2004 I sold the company with a strong market position employing 110 staff but continued to work for the new owners in a part time capacity, initially employed then contracted, until 2013.

Education record

Business Studies

Education record

Activities and Societies: Hockey at school and County level, Netball at school and County level