Direct management of HQ Finance Team (team of 40).• Responsibility for the integration of acquired companies into the business processes and systems.• Ensuring the Finance team build robust & collaborative relationships across the business.• Driving the continuous improvement of finance systems and process.

Establish reporting function for a new Directorate with a £50 million annual budget, supporting an ongoing research project and a major capital programme, including strategy and budgeting.Develop and deliver commercial strategy, pricing and bid process.

Establish all aspects of financial control and reporting, along with strategic and commercial input to the board and leadership team, within an SME start up with 300% YOY sales growth.Financial planning, cash management and fundraising. Establish Monthly Management Accounts and Investor Reporting.Future-proofing through resource planning, including capital, operational and staff.

Strategic/Commercial. Provide input to the Board / Leadership Team in defining and shaping business strategy, business planning, trading strategy, commercial and operational policies, forecasting and working capital management, including fundraising.Overseeing and supporting Operations, Sales, Marketing, NPD and strategies, including· Team resourcing, development, roles and responsibilities · Commercial Analysis to provide strategy-relevant insight and decision support, including future product development· Heading up marketing function, overseeing Brand, plans, budgets and managing agencies· Research into and implementation of all aspects of entering proposed new areas of distribution, both channel and geographical· Identifying areas where cost savings and efficiency improvements can be made.· Managing relationships with the company’s Manufacturers and raw material/component suppliers· Managing relationships with the company’s Fulfilment Partners· The company’s Customer Care function and customer care policies· Ongoing review, assessment and improvement of operational business processes · Lead and Direct the company’s legal and compliance activities

Financial Control and reporting: Ensure that the business is excellently financially managed in a proactive and controlled manner, supported by robust processes and controls and IT systems fit for the current and planned scale of the business.Responsibilities include:· Cash Flow and Funding Management & Forecasting· Preparing Budgets & Financial Forecasts· Daily/Weekly/Monthly Sales Reporting· Delivery of monthly Management Accounts & Finance Report· Managing the delivery of the company’s annual statutory accounts within the required timescales, liaising with external advisers and auditors as required· Managing the relationship with company’s Bank and other financial stakeholders· Maintain and manage the company’s master Pricing & Margins database and ensure pricing decisions are always in line with the company’s pricing and margins strategy

Responsible for all aspects of financial leadership and control, managing all financial and operational areas of the business, including accounts, premises, insurance, contracts & HR within an SME generating £12m t/o within $60m t/o Group, contributing 15% operating profit via a total headcount of 60+ FTEs. Focused on centralising the accounts function across 2 sites, following a business acquisition in 2017, enabling a headcount reduction of 2 and improving efficiencies in engaging with customers and suppliers. Instrumental in the development of strategies and business plans, assigning key accountabilities & actions. Leadership, management and motivation of +5 direct reports, including a Financial Controller and HR staff. Develop, manage and embed policies relating to CAPEX, Debt, Treasury, FOREX and Investments. Key contributions and successes: • Supporting teams across all business functions, promoting best practice and improving the culture • Improve management information, boosting visibility on potential cost savings, trends and margin • Provide insightful information on what a ‘good’ customer looks like, underpinning profitable growth • Reviewed 3rd party contracts for insurance and audit, realising major savings of 40% of total cost • Delivered a major shop floor restructuring in light of Covid-19, reducing headcount by over 10% • Led the Brexit project, engaging a 3rd party logistics partner, enabling continuity trading EU • Over-achieved KPIs relating to working capital, cash conversion, AR and AP, despite Covid-19

Responsible for all aspects of financial and operational business leadership, ensuring the ‘fit for purpose’ provision of financial and management information, supporting strategic planning, day-to-day operations and guiding business decision making. Leadership, management and control of 10+ direct reports in back office. Instrumental in rapid business growth, achieved via both organic business growth and strategic business acquisition. Tasked with urgently bringing the finance function back ‘in-house’ after a number of years of outsourcing, getting the finance department and accounts (including payables and invoicing) back up to scratch after a breach of trust and communication difficulties with the 3rd party which had resulted in accounts not updating. Full remit for statutory accounts, tax returns, quarterly VAT returns, EC sales list and oversee audit. Accountable for all financial systems, controls, policies and procedures, including financial KPIs. Key contributions and successes: • Established Sage internal accounting systems and processes, recruiting new staff & building a team. • Guided the business through a due diligence and the acquisition process, completed without delay • Introduced a number of reporting processes, improving management accounts and decision making • Managed teams to realise operational efficiencies, increasing operating profit by in excess of 5% • Oversaw asset purchase of a business, bringing a new revenue stream with a new nostalgia range • Integrated acquired business into existing business, migrating production from Scotland to China • Instrumental in developing improved 3rd party relationships, including bankers, auditors & insurance • Led development, coaching and mentoring of staff across finance, warehousing, production, HR & IT

Assisting businesses with senior leadership support across Finance and Operations, enabling owners and managers to concentrate their time and effort on the growth of their business, removing the noise from the back and middle offices and providing a much needed crystal ball when it comes to visibility of both risk and opportunity.I specialise in set up, process, planning and future proofing, be it the introduction of people, software systems and processes, providing safe financials and best in class management information. This is project work, with visible reduction in costs for the businesses. I work across a number of industries, specialising in start up and scale up, FMCG and manufacturing.

At Haines Watts, as Financial Controller for Slough and London, I have been able to utilise my commercial experience and financial acumen to provide the Partners with pertinent management information in order to drive the business forward.My role encompassed:-Full responsibility for accounts team including all aspects of accounts input from various team members-Budget Preparation, on a six month rolling basis-Weekly management reporting of Gross Profit and variances (time based)-Production of Profit and Loss Accounts and Balance Sheet for relevant accounting periods-Quarterly reporting to Group-Purchasing control and supplier management, including contract negotiation-All other aspects of Partnership accounting, eg VAT returns, Capital Accounts, Inter Company transactions

Whilst working as Financial Accountant, I was offered a move into Business Operations, where my role of Logistics Controller brought together many functions of the company, including sales, purchasing, fulfillment, and, most importantly, accounts.-Controlling courier/freight agents, including engagement, supervision, invoice approval.-Management of third party fulfilment agent, including contract, monthly reviews and charge accruals at month end.-Customs work, including logging of import documentation and verification of weekly deferment statements, audits and general correspondence and administration. -Accounts work, including sales ledger management, cash forecasting, debtor analysis and various accruals. Also ad hoc reconciliation work.-Quality assurance, including internal audit schedule, procedure management, liaising with BSI auditor, issuing and ensuring closure of corrective actions.-Management of the warehouse function and staff, and training/supervising the Logistics Administrator.

-Intercompany accounts – France and Germany-Fixed Asset Register-VAT Returns-Cash Forecasting and Reporting, bank reconciliation-Various input into Management Accounts