Simon Preston Email & Phone Number

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Working in the Advisory practice to support finance functions across the public, private and not for profit organisations.Collaborating with organisations in order to deliver interim solutions (insourced contract roles, ad hoc advice, technical support) and to recommend and deliver tailored finance function change and transformation across people, processes and systems.Supporting finance functions of small and middle market private businesses in preparing for sale transactions and collaborating with businesses to support delivery of post transaction integration and improvement.

Brisbane, Australia

Reporting to the Australian MD on the Group Board and and responsible for the Australian Finance Function across Fircroft's Contract Recruitment and Labour Hire brands. Regional combined turnover of c$500m in Oil and Gas and Mining sectors which represents a third of the global Fircroft group. Accountable for:• Internal and external consolidated regional financial reporting.• Group board and shareholder reporting.• Leadership of M&A activity.• Cashflow management, credit control and relationship with Australian lenders.• Compliance with all taxation requirements.• Service delivery (pay and bill) operations• Commercial analysis.• Leadership of budget process.• Completion of Australian external audits and statutory accounts.Main achievements• Oversaw rapid step change improvement in working capital position.• Significant clean up in local balance sheet and clearance of outstanding statutory submissions.• Step change in quality of financial control.• Led initiatives that yielded multi million dollar tax refunds.• Dramatic improvement in staff retention over a short space of time.

Reporting to the CFO and responsible for a team in the UK team of around 30 heads in addition to functional management of 7 globally located Regional Commercial/Financial Controllers. Accountable for:• Internal and external consolidated reporting.• Board and shareholder reporting.• Business planning and analysis.• Leadership of global budget process.• Working with the CFO to develop and implement global financial strategy.• Corporate taxation strategy and payroll taxes/global mobility.• External reporting and audit relationship.• Accounts Payable function.• Head office based finance team supporting the UK, Europe, US, Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa.• Design and implementation of global financial controls.• Oversight and functional management of Regional Finance Controllers located globally.• Driving change and improvement projects• Recruitment and performance management of global senior finance staff.

Part of Senior Management Team of a rapidly growing provider of NHS services in the Virgin group. Led the finance department in supporting the business through a period of high growth and development. The group grew organically from c$40m to c$250m turnover during my time with them.Reporting to the Group Finance Director I was accountable for the Group Finance Function of around 35-40 heads across Daresbury and Surrey sites. Including:• Cash management and relationship with bank.• Internal management reporting and consolidation.• Board reporting and reporting to investors.• Leading financial planning and analysis.• External reporting and audit relationship.• Group Payroll Function.• Transactional processing - such as Invoicing, accounts receivable and accounts payable.• Group procurement function.• Managing outsourced elements of transactions processing.• Design and implementation and of financial controls.• Compliance with auto enrolment legislation.• Key projects and compliance areas.Selected for and completed the “Inspire" Programme for accelerated development.Led major group wide project to implement neutral vendor agency solution across healthcare services driving significant cost savings and increased visibility of spend.Finance lead on Oracle Fusion ERP development and implementation.Designed and delivered a series of one day “Finance for non Finance Management” training sessions to group wide management group of approximate 300 managers.

Reporting to the Group Finance Director and responsible for group management reporting, business partnering, analysis, budgeting and forecasting.• Ensuring timely and accurate management information and Board reporting into the Exec team.• Provide clear and insightful explanations and commentary on financial performance.• Development of management reporting function to support rapidly growing operations. Reducing reporting timescales and supporting the implementation of new financial processes and control.• Day to day line management of the Virgin Care management accounts and business partnering team (10 heads over split sites) including recruitment and performance management.• Provide financial support the Exec team.• Key financial support for senior operational management in dealing with critical business issues.• Integration of management accounts staff, systems and processes following major contract wins.• Lead corporate budgeting process.

North West

Supported a diverse portfolio of clients and managed large scale audit engagements including listed clients, integrated SOx controls audits, US GAAP and IFRS referred work combined with UK GAAP statutory work.Responsible for delivery of high quality audit engagements on budget and to tight deadlines in a frequently high pressure environment, reporting direct to Engagement Partner/Directors.Contributions outside of core role:• Instructor on the firm’s national graduate and experienced hire programs• Formal counselling role, mentoring audit staff• People role as “Values Champion” for NW audit department• Member of NW plan committee, implementing the firm’s growth strategy locally

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Within the audit and business services department, exposed to a wide range of accounts preparation and assurance assignments for businesses of under £1m to over £140m turnover. Preparation of statutory accounts for companies within the manufacturing, retail, construction, professional service, leisure and food industries.Preparation of monthly management accounts, partnership accounts and sole trader accounts in addition to other ad hoc non audit engagements.

Education record

Education record

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Economics And Finance

Education record