Sarah Matthews Email and Phone Number

Finance Assistant covering AP, AR, cash management (in multiple currencies), credit card expenses and a variety of other book keeping functions in a global organisation.

Working on special projects: implementing and embedding new sales processes and client relationship programmes.

Typically SMEs have limited resources - material, human and financial - and their senior team need to fulfill multiple roles simultaneously - operational and strategic. With a wealth of experience within SME's fulfilling the hands-on delivery role alongside a strategic role, Sarah understands the limitations they face, and is well placed to take on projects thereby buying time for the senior team to work on their business, not just in it.

From 2002 to 2009 I was Chief Operating Officer of his City-based operator of private medical centres, where I: ran a project to register the centres with the National Care Standards Commission (the regulatory body); was part of the negotiating team to win a contract to operate an NHS Walk-In Centre; project managed the opening of this centre and was responsible for the on-going operation in line with an exacting contract; consolidation of 5 centres into 4 locations; worked as part of the team that negotiated the purchase of the Finsbury Healthcare from Capita; integrated this new centre into the group; researching and introducing new services and products; researching and reformulating existing services and products to improve their profitability and market appeal; renegotiation of supplier contracts; responsible for setting up and running of the HR function; adherence to regulatory standards, Health and Safety, management of all policies and procedures, performance and profitability of each of the group’s centres; participated in Board meetings; was involved in developing and implementing the strategy and associated budgets.

Responsible for:• All marketing including: all literature and communications; advertising (brand and recruitment); direct marketing; conferences; website; • Brand communication and development• Practice development of 39 dental practices across England & Wales (private & NHS) – brand and staff• General management within the London office and training and development of practice managers• Development and implementation of marketing budget, strategy and plan for the business

Joined in 1994 as an Operations Manager to provide “business consultancy” for the directors of the optical retail outlets. Provided directors with support in 3 main areas:• Retail and general management systems• Human resources• Business financeSuccessfully turned around a number of under performing outlets. Recognised for: the ability to analyse financial information; translation into easy-to-understand and implement action plans; working with store directors and their teams to deliver. Promoted in November 1998 to lead research of the Group’s brand expansion into dentistry.

Worked within Publications Department of TTSL - the commercial arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Responsible for:- marketing of books, learned journals, software and retail book shop at ICE- learned journals commissioning editor- book commissioning editor