Greater London, England, United Kingdom
With strong foundations in practice and audit, I am a results focused professional with extensive experience working for a variety of SMEs as Head of Finance in various industries. Having worked all levels in finance I possess strong mentoring skills coupled with a hands-on methodology. With a strong eye for detail and sense of business, I drive finance functions able to interpret and explain numbers to all degrees of stakeholders. Key achievements: extensively enhancing deliverables and reporting, introducing efficiency in accuracy via team management, identifying cost saving opportunities, improving timeframes, streamlining and implementing systems and learning each business on a non-financial level being adaptable and versatile. Certified accountant with experience in a varied background of both practice and industry, operating in both management and financial accounting capacities. Specialties: Hospitality, retail, music, and publishing industry.
Founded in 1979 the LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS is one of the world’s most recognised literary magazines that publishes 22 issues a year on a bi-weekly basis with a 73,000 subscriber base. In addition to the magazine, it runs a successful bookshop and cakeshop in Bloomsbury, close to the British Museum. Key achievements: • Beginning as Finance Manager in January 2022, a few weeks after arrival I found myself capably stepping up into the Head of Finance role following the surprise departure of the existing Finance Director. With this I picked up managing a team of four, providing a seamless transition for the function with zero disruption. • Bringing a fresh approach to legacy systems I was able to streamline and simplify existing processes. Improvement was seen in moving the management reporting from Quarterly to Monthly, to enhancing the budget process, introducing a forecast model, departmental cost analysis and extending cash flow reporting for a challenging cash management position attached to a £4M loss making business funded every six months by a family trust. • Successfully managed three annual audit processes. • Generating £30K bank interest via Business Reserve. • Strategically proposed and introduced St John Restaurant collaboration in cakeshop space. • Team management saw an improvement in morale, communication and productivity in a company going through a culture change. Duties and responsibilities • Management of four-person team and fortnightly management meetings with department heads. • Daily cash flow management. • Presentation of monthly management accounts packs for magazine and retail divisions. • Creation of forecast model with department analysis maintained with regular updates. • Preparation of annual budgets consulting with stakeholders and recognising industry trends. • Managing year-end processes for submission to external auditors for annual audit. • Overseeing full monthly balance sheet reconciliation and stock review.
KINGDOM OF SWEETS (Croftray Limited then Fordgreen Limited) is a family run business with 15 international themed confectionery stores across the UK, Ireland, Germany and Holland. Also having an events business (Simply Sugar Limited) running concession stands within arenas and stadiums in London (including Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium) and the Midlands as well as a warehouse in the North West of England to support the business (Overhirst Limited). Responsibilities: • Manage a small team reporting to MD and the business owners. • Ensure P&L's for each store are provided complete with balance sheet reconciliation • Cash flow management and forecasting in a challenging climate and environment • Entrusted with running bank transactions and communicating with account managers • Supplier account management (including administration of CCJs) • Managing year-end accounts of 20+ multinational entities for submission • Ensure compliance with internal financial and accounting policies • Oversee payroll and creditor functions • Effectively maintain all financial records • Preparation of VAT returns in the UK, Ireland and Holland (including Dutch VAT inspection) • Intensive intercompany reconciliation of a complex group structure Key achievements: • Arriving at the beginning of a concentrated period of growth (joining with 6 locations, currently 15 locations) my role was to establish an accounts function from scratch coupled with managing a demanding cash flow looking to fund growth internally without having to source external investment. • Managing a small team developing and establishing the finance department offering the business a strategic insight not previously in place. • Head of finance during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Offering management level accounting services on a term contract basis, my most recent appointment was with a high street casual food brand with over 60 outlets serving as Interim Group Management Accountant. Key achievements: • Arriving as a short notice appointment covering exited Group Management Accountant I took on the role without a handover while the company was in the process of performing year-end, going through a software change from Sage Line 100 to Navision and changing auditors from Grant Thornton to PWC in addition to meeting demands from the bank with ad-hoc reports and generating covenant tests. • Conducted review of existing processes and uncovered historical issues and weaknesses with view to identifying improvement and solution for following full-time Group Management Accountant. Duties and responsibilities • Production of monthly Group Management Accounts compiled four entities (including one in the US). Complete production of monthly management accounts of over 60 locations with annual turnover of £91 million. • Provide management information for FD and FC, leadership team, area managers and bank. • Collation and creation of ad-hoc reporting for bank. • Begin audit pack, collating schedules and information for PWC review. • Offer informed opinion on impending software transition from Sage Line 100 to Navision. • Put together a handover pack for next full-time Group Management Accountant.
ST JOHN RESTAURANT is the innovative Michelin Star rated restaurant chain created by Fergus Henderson. It hosts three locations in London (Farringdon, Shoreditch and Bermondsey) in addition to operating its own bakery (ST JOHN BAKERY), wine companies that import (HG WINES) and make wine in France (HG VINS) and property management (AQUABOULEVARD) Key achievements: • Arriving at time of upheaval for the finance function (the third head of finance in five months), without a handover I reviewed, overhauled and streamlined systems and controls to become more versatile, accurate and detailed • With limited timeframe and scope I directed a difficult audit covering the incorrectly recorded period from before I joined Duties and responsibilities: • Perform the role of preparing, analysing and delivering financial information of five trading entities and head office to board of directors and senior management team. Facilitating the process of decision-making and financial control of the business during a testing period of trade • Daily management of bank facilities and maintaining a challenging cash flow • Monthly preparation of management information and narrative for bank covenant • Monthly preparation of rota and salaried payrolls including Tronc • Quarterly board meeting presentation of management accounts and financial position • Managing team of three and leading the finance hiring function • Annual preparation of budgets and forecasts for seven accounts used to inform business strategy • Preparation of annual accounts for audit and statutory submission • Liaising with tax accountants and assisting tax planning • Quarterly submission of VAT returns for the four entities • Assisting HMRC with VAT inspections and PAYE queries • Administering auto enrolment pension contributions via Nest • Systems used: Sage Line 50, Fourth Hospitality and Vintner
Key achievements: • Improving the overall quality and delivery of information and communication between finance and management • Overhaul of cash flow reporting bringing better transparency to the business Duties and responsibilities: • Performing the role of preparing, analysing and delivering financial information of four locations to board of directors and senior management team. Facilitating the process of decision-making and financial control of the business • Production and review of a detailed financial reporting pack, liaising with the Operations Director and Managing Director on fluctuations against budget, variance queries and performance • Daily management of bank accounts and maintaining cash flow • Monthly preparation of management accounts and pack with full balance sheet reconciliations • Preparation of payroll for group (fortnightly and monthly) including Tronc payroll systems • Reconciling Tronc payroll variables and reporting the management team. • Preparation, submission and payment of quarterly VAT returns • Management and supervision of small team • Preparation of budgets and forecasts that reflect the business strategy • Preparation of annual accounts for audits acting as first point of contact with auditors and tax advisors • Liaising with Inland Revenue/HMRC