Tim Knowles Email & Phone Number

Cirencester

Newport

- preparation and analysis of monthly financial performance - business and financial planning (both short-term, operational budgets and long-term, strategic plans)- working capital / cash flow optimization- project management (including IT systems implementation)- maximizing trading relationships with external stakeholders (Customers, Banks, Finance.

Swindon / Slough

• Central role for leading new business development opportunities, highlighting opportunities for growth and sharing best practice
• Led the annual financial plan and quarterly forecasting processes including implementation of new systems such as Cognos financial planning and Proclarity management reporting
• Provided financial support to the Management team including presentation of financial insights at weekly management meetings
• Robust financial guidance to the Sales and Marketing departments including budgetary control, investment optimization and forecasting accuracy
• Prepared sales and marketing teams bonus targets and presented to management team for sign off
• Managed and developed a team of five Commercial Accountants (three qualified)

Swindon, United Kingdom

• Whilst maintaining the Finance Manager role (see below), also assumed temporary maternity cover for the Financial Controller role
• Led the financial accounting operation for the UK Household and Ireland businesses involving overseeing all aspects of Balance Sheet management, Financial Reporting and Treasury
• Worked with budget holders to implement savings ensuring that fixed costs as a percentage of revenues were the best in Europe
• Managed, developed and recruited a team of 12 to enable them to maximize their performance and be promoted within the business

Swindon, United Kingdom

• Managed the accounting software applications JD Edwards and Hyperion and having ultimate responsibility for accurate reporting of monthly financial information
• Signed off the quarterly VAT returns and monthly payroll calculations
• Managed the relationship with external auditors, being the principal contact for their senior manager
• Attended a global 5 day program with 19 other ‘high potential’ finance professionals identified as future Finance Directors. Debated key finance issues, developed strategies for best practice working and presented case.
• Attended a 6 day modular management training and development course
• Managed several financial projects including financial implementation of a consolidated Irish business, involving implementation of financial controls, processes and systems and recruiting an Ireland financial.

Swindon

• Assessed the impact of potential changes in marketing and promotional initiatives, and product rationalization. Controlled the management of budgets to achieve maximum return on investment
• Ensured that a number of high profile product launches were financially viable when brought to market. Subsequent post-launch evaluations to improve growth and profitability
• Finance representative on UK “squeeze” team, which reduced production costs making annualized savings of £4 million over two years
• Led a pilot project to implementt Cognos financial planning software to improve forecast accuracy and efficiency of the annual planning process. Presented project implementation success to all European Finance.

Swindon, United Kingdom

• Calculated and posted month end journals, completion of balance sheet reconciliations
• Prepared the audit file for the half year, hard close and full year audits
• Implemented improvements to the monthly financial reporting pack used by the management team as well as the marketing and sales teams
• Assisted in the divisional integration of the Boots Healthcare International business incorporating additional brands E45 and Sweetex into the accounting and financial reporting structure

• Coached junior accountants to ensure work was appropriately documented and deadlines met
• Tested key risk areas using analytical procedures to identify unusual trends
• Undertook detailed reviews of financial controls to advise clients on corporate governance issues
• Led meetings to discuss key issues with senior partners and directors of client businesses
• Given a small portfolio of clients and led the billing, WIP and budgetary management processes
• Assisted clients to implement financials systems including Sage, Quickbooks and Pegasus

Qualified Chartered Accountant, All First Time Passes

- Final stage - Joint 1st overall in South West region, 10th in Case Study paper. - Intermediate stage - 9th overall in South West region.

Bsc, Geography, Hons 2:1

Awarded the Evelyn Miller-Barstow prize for highest dissertation mark in 1996

A Levels