Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
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Alison Conners

Pontnewydd, Cwmbran

Summary

Motivated accountant promoting more than 25 years of proficiency in identifying and analyzing trends and partnering with other departmental leaders. Action-oriented individual with experience tracking actual business results against plans, including acquisitions. Offering exceptional issue resolution and staff training skills.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience

Work history

Dealership Accountant

Dick Lovett
Bristol
07.2022 - Current
  • Managing a team of finance professionals
  • Overseeing all financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and cashflow management.
  • Production of Monthly management accounts, KPI's and Management Packs.
  • Liaising with Internal and External Audit dealing with all requirements
  • Preparation of annual budgets and financial projections.
  • Preparation of monthly balance sheet reviews.
  • Prepared detailed models, reports and charts highlighting complex financial information.
  • Managed financial updates, watch lists and insurance files.

Finance Director

Response Engineering Solutions Ltd
09.2018 - 06.2022
  • Directly working with the directors and heading up the day to day financial activities and overseeing the preparation of month end accounts, VAT returns, audits and year end statutory accounts.
  • Working with functional teams across the and 3rd party partners to establish processes and capabilities Support operations and financial reporting.
  • Assist in managing banking and Treasury structure.
  • Developing the financial forecast model for operations.
  • Leverage the forecast model to track business performance and to build alignment around strategic objectives and future investment, as well as for the annual budgeting, quarterly forecast, and monthly intra-quarter outlook processes.
  • Executing monthly financial close processes within the business including submission of all required financial reporting schedules and support within the timeline established.
  • Providing timely and accurate financial data associated with KPI's and performance to forecasts (management reporting) to the leadership team.
  • Ensuring that the business remains in compliance with all appropriate local tax and reporting regulations including maintaining statutory financial statements.
  • Implementing internal controls and processes.
  • Provide financial review and recommendations for key decisions, including: inventory purchases, staffing, facilities and marketing programs.
  • Responsible for assuring compliance to legal norms and standards in the UK including GDPR and the Digital Services Act.

Management Accounts Manager

Royal Voluntary Service
05.2013 - 09.2018
  • Responsible for overseeing the day to day finance function of the Royal Voluntary Service including Treasury, Purchase Ledger, Credit Control, Management Accounts and Bank Reconciliations - 17 direct reports.
  • Preparation of Annual Budgets / Rolling five year plans or the organisation.
  • Preparation and submission of accurate and timely, monthly, quarterly, and annual accounts to the Executive Board.
  • Review monthly reconciliations for all balance sheet accounts including Bank and suppliers.
  • To provide financial support and information, and present actual v budget analysis, highlighting key variances, to services on a monthly basis.
  • To account and report for all external funded projects Ensuring accurate and timely reporting adhering to restrictions stipulated.
  • To give guidance on the grant funding and the conditions to ensure that users are fully aware of conditions.
  • Annual Audit: Preparation of audit file for year-end Statutory Accounts and funding, liase with external auditors to provide information, supporting documentation, and reconciliations as requested.
  • Implementation of new finance package and supporting procedures.
  • Reporting and monitoring the performance of services.
  • Management of the development and progression of all team members.
  • Evaluation of key proposals of new ventures before evaluation by the Board.
  • Responsibility for the update, review and implementation of all Financial and related operational processes and procedures.
  • Implementation of on line expenses and Purchasing card facilities.
  • To budget and monitor monthly budgets and activity on support functions including marketing, estates, procurement, facilities and IT.

Royal Voluntary Service
10.2012 - 04.2013
  • Preparation of Tenders for renewal of Key Retail Contracts.
  • Preparation of Budgets for 6 regions nationwide of 67 sites.

Nagra Media
11.2011 - 01.2012
  • Responsible for Finance function for 3 operating units within UK.
  • Preparation and submission of accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual group reporting to parent company within deadlines set by Group Accounting.
  • Preparation of intercompany invoicing.
  • Monthly management, reporting, and reconciliation of intercompany balances within deadlines set by Group Accounting.
  • Manage and maintain the general ledger including monthly accruals and prepayments such as bonuses, unused holidays, contractors, travel etc.

Accountant

Festive Productions Ltd
01.2011 - 11.2011
  • VAT Returns.
  • Forensic Accounting in respect of recuperation of outstanding debts written off.
  • Recovery of VAT on debts formally written off Achievements.
  • Identification of over £200k of recoverable debt formally written off.

Finance manager

Harding Evans Solicitors
01.2009 - 07.2010
  • Effectively manage the work of the Finance section.
  • Production of Year End financial accounts in format agreed with the practices' external accountants.
  • To provide the Management Board with forecasting and budgeting information.
  • Responsibility for services to the building including Building maintenance / Health & Safety and service contracts.
  • Achievements.
  • Brought in initially to inject some life into the Finance Function by reviewing all existing processes/procedures and controls and implementation of new controls where required.
  • Implementing new system generated monthly reporting and KPI indicators in order to provide the business with timely measures on which to drive the business.
  • Identification of Profit Drivers and maximisation of resources.
  • Reduction of Audit Fees by taking work in house.
  • Benchmarking Profit margins against other companies of similar size to compare where the company stands and where it should be going forward.
  • Identifying Profit Centres not achieving and implementing remedial action in order to cut costs.
  • Restructuring of the company for tax purposes to include the set up of a new company at Companies House, arrangement of new Banking agreements, purchase of additional software package (Sage line 50), set up of new reporting structure and vat reporting.

Finance manager

Lloyds TSB
12.2005 - 01.2009
  • Production of Monthly Financial accounts.
  • Production of Annual Financial accounts.
  • Preparation of Annual Budgeting and quarterly forecasting.
  • Provision of advice to Management on the financial implications of new services / products.
  • Audit of Procedures, ensuring adequate controls both Financial and operational and also ensuring compliance with legal and statutory Regulations.



Finance Manager

Lloyds TSB
07.2004 - 12.2005
  • Review of all processes and procedures within the Business Sector.
  • Documentation of Procedures and identification of Key Controls.
  • Testing Key controls identified within Scope and communicating results to Senior Management.

Audit Manager

Focus Wickes
07.2002 - 05.2003
  • Audit of Financial systems, process and procedures.
  • Audit of Operational areas which included, H R, Payroll.
  • Contracts and Health & Safety.
  • Chairman of the Risk Committee Achievements.
  • Compilation and Implementation of Group Audit Procedures both Financial and Operational.
  • Set up of the Risk Committee, dealing with all aspects of Retail.

Project Manager

AXA
10.2001 - 07.2002
  • Management of a finance/systems based project to time and budget.
  • Monitoring progress and teams to ensure success.
  • Achievements.
  • Completion to time and budget, systems for the accountability and recognition of commissions.

Group Audit Manager

Tibbett & Britten
07.1996 - 10.2001
  • Recruitment of a Team of 12 Auditors.
  • Development of Audit Charter.
  • International Audit liaising with Site Management committee and External Auditors.
  • Quarterly presentation of results at Audit Committee comprising of both Executive and non Executive directors.
  • Staff training Programmes.
  • Secondment during the term, undertaking Business Managers role on a Contracted site.
  • This included Finance, Health & Safety, HR and all service contracts.
  • Fundamentally, managing the client relationship.
  • Achievements.
  • Establishment of an Audit Team and function.
  • Compilation and Implementation of Group Audit Procedures both Financial and Operational.
  • Implementation of CSA.

Purchase Ledger

Tesco Finance/Environment Agency and Maibey and Johnson
12.1995 - 07.1996
  • Capital, Contract management and Retail ( shops, Warehousing and Distribution).

Business Manager

10.1994 - 11.1995
  • Budgeting and monthly reporting.
  • Contract tender preparation and evaluation.
  • Responsibility for Human resources.
  • Achievements.
  • Development and Implementation of Monthly reports and KPI's in an Engineering environment not previously familiar with Finance or reporting.

Business Manager

Swalec
01.1993 - 10.1994
  • Acquisition of small exterior Lighting Company, Monthly/ Annual Management reporting.
  • Budget and forecasting.
  • Management of facilities and Contracts relating.
  • Contract tender preparation and evaluation.
  • Responsibility for Payroll /Human resources.
  • Achievements.
  • Implementing Key systems, processes, procedures and controls into a newly acquired business.

Internal Auditor, Graduate Trainee

07.1991 - 01.1993
  • Audit of key functions including Retail, Treasury.

Education

HND - Business & Finance

Professional Accountancy Qualifiction

Association of Certified accountants
cwmbran

Skills

  • Financial management reporting
  • Cash management
  • KPI management
  • Financial risk mitigation
  • Business and strategic planning
  • Reporting and documentation
  • Inspiring team leadership

Affiliations

Full Member of Chartered Association of Certified Accountants

Timeline

Dealership Accountant

Dick Lovett
07.2022 - Current

Finance Director

Response Engineering Solutions Ltd
09.2018 - 06.2022

Management Accounts Manager

Royal Voluntary Service
05.2013 - 09.2018

Royal Voluntary Service
10.2012 - 04.2013

Nagra Media
11.2011 - 01.2012

Accountant

Festive Productions Ltd
01.2011 - 11.2011

Finance manager

Harding Evans Solicitors
01.2009 - 07.2010

Finance manager

Lloyds TSB
12.2005 - 01.2009

Finance Manager

Lloyds TSB
07.2004 - 12.2005

Audit Manager

Focus Wickes
07.2002 - 05.2003

Project Manager

AXA
10.2001 - 07.2002

Group Audit Manager

Tibbett & Britten
07.1996 - 10.2001

Purchase Ledger

Tesco Finance/Environment Agency and Maibey and Johnson
12.1995 - 07.1996

Business Manager

10.1994 - 11.1995

Business Manager

Swalec
01.1993 - 10.1994

Internal Auditor, Graduate Trainee

07.1991 - 01.1993

HND - Business & Finance

Professional Accountancy Qualifiction

Association of Certified accountants

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Alison Conners