Xero
Carmen Williams
Head of Finance and Operations
Croydon,SRY
Summary
Warm, driven and commercially focused Head of Finance & Operations with 20+ years of experience managing finance operations, most recently in a fast-paced education recruitment business. Skilled in multi-entity reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit readiness and financial leadership. Adept at building strong stakeholder relationships and leading teams through change, with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach. Now seeking a progressive Finance role in an organisation that values impact, innovation, and collaboration.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Finance & Operations/Finance & Operations Manager
Humly London (Future Education Ltd)
Croydon, Surrey
06.2017 - 04.2025
- Mentored and managed a team of up to 7 staff based in the UK and South Africa, fostering a collaborative, results-driven environment
- Led the finance and accounting functions, overseeing budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and cash flow management
- Managed full-cycle accounting, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and general ledger postings
- Supervised the outsourced payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely processing of monthly payroll for staff and contractors in line with tax regulations
- Produced monthly management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial statements, providing insights into profitability and cost control
- Led the year-end financial closing process, coordinating with external auditors and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and tax regulations
- Developed and enforced financial controls to improve efficiency, reduce financial risks, and ensure compliance across all financial operations
- Implemented cloud-based financial systems to streamline accounting processes, enhancing reporting accuracy and time efficiency
- Managed intercompany financial transactions and reconciliations
- Delivered financial analysis, supporting key decision-making with reports on cash flow, budget variance, and profitability
- Ensured compliance with APSCO/REC regulations, implementing best practices in recruitment agency operations and maintaining up-to-date certifications
- Monitored and ensured adherence to recruitment agency guidelines, including contractor payroll, invoicing, and client contracts, aligning with industry standards and legal requirements
- Led the business’s GDPR compliance efforts, overseeing data protection policies, ensuring staff training on data handling, and managing subject access requests
- Worked with IT to ensure data security protocols were followed and risk assessments were completed on data privacy matters
- Managed IT infrastructure and collaborated with external providers to implement and maintain software, security systems, and backups, ensuring system stability
- Oversaw facilities management, including office maintenance, health and safety compliance, vendor contracts, and workplace risk assessments
- Played a key role in the implementation of business continuity plans, ensuring both IT and facilities were prepared for emergencies and operational disruptions
Assistant Accountant/Team Leader
Liberata UK Ltd
Croydon, Surrey
04.2007 - 05.2017
- Led and managed a team of 10 staff, overseeing performance reviews, one-to-ones, coaching, training, workload allocation, and development plans
- Drove process change and continuous improvement, including developing procedure manuals and process flow maps
- Proposed innovative solutions to support client needs and company-wide cost-saving initiatives
- Contributed to disaster recovery and business continuity planning, ensuring uninterrupted operations during emergencies
- Coordinated and executed the accurate and timely processing of weekly and monthly payroll, including statutory deductions, third-party payments, and BACS remittances
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery within scope, budget, and timeline
- Acted as a key liaison with external auditors and led internal audit activities to ensure compliance and accuracy
- Supported database and system implementations, including requirements gathering, design, testing, user training, and ongoing administration
- Analyzed and implemented payroll-related business requirements for new and existing clients, ensuring operational efficiency and compliance
- Produced management and client-facing reports, acting as a business partner to internal managers and external clients to support strategic decision-making
- Ensured the accuracy and integrity of accounting records, with specific oversight of payroll transactions, advances, inter-company transfers, and return payments
- Managed inter-company accounting, including monthly balance sheet reconciliations, journal preparation, and recharge postings
- Monitored and reconciled daily activity across 10 bank accounts, ensuring robust cash management and oversight
- Developed and maintained strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external clients, serving as a primary point of contact for key finance and operational matters
Accounts Receivable Assistant Manager/Assistant, Accounts Payable & Cashbook Assistant
Sainsbury’s Supermarket Ltd (Head Office)
Croydon, Surrey
09.2000 - 03.2007
Education
ACCA - Applied Knowledge achieved
Learn Signal
UK 04.2025 - 12.2027
Master of Science - Finance
The Open University
UK 11.2023 - 12.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Business & Finance
The Open University
UK 09.2006 - 12.2013
Skills
Business process improvement
Financial systems integration
Cash flow management
Continuous learning mindset
Internal controls implementation
Change management
Auditing procedures
Financial operations streamlining
Financial reporting
Software
Fathom
Bright Analytics
Microsoft Office
SAP
Sage
Oracle
J D Edwards
Timeline
ACCA - Applied Knowledge achieved
Learn Signal
04.2025 - 12.2027
Master of Science - Finance
The Open University
11.2023 - 12.2024
Head of Finance & Operations/Finance & Operations Manager
Humly London (Future Education Ltd)
06.2017 - 04.2025
Assistant Accountant/Team Leader
Liberata UK Ltd
04.2007 - 05.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Business & Finance
The Open University
09.2006 - 12.2013
Accounts Receivable Assistant Manager/Assistant, Accounts Payable & Cashbook Assistant
Sainsbury’s Supermarket Ltd (Head Office)
09.2000 - 03.2007
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