GARY PAUL SMITH
Biddulph,United Kingdom
Summary
Highly skilled accounting professional with extensive experience in financial reporting, management accounting, and regulatory compliance. Proficient in using a wide range of accounting software including SAGE Line 50 & Line 100, Pegasus Opera, and Xero. Demonstrates exceptional numerical aptitude and expertise in cash flow management, balance sheet competency, and statutory reporting. Adept at cost-reduction strategies, debt management, and audit coordination. Holds AAT certification with a strong understanding of ethical compliance and internal controls. Career goal includes leveraging financial modelling skills to drive strategic business decisions and enhance organisational efficiency.
Committed manager with exceptional leadership, organisational skills and communication abilities leads high-performing cross-functional teams. Leads projects, company operations and business growth.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work history
Interim Accountant
Unitas Stoke on Trent Ltd
Stoke on Trent
2024.01 - 2025.06
- My main duties involved:
- Month end processes (including working through tight schedules to complete monthly accounts).
- Help to drive down work in progress value (WiP).
- Help with monitoring spend against budget and operating tight budgetary control process.
- Apply VAT on pricing/quotes in relation to Grant funded schemes ie Safe and Warm homes Grant and Disabled Facilities Grant.
- Knowledge of Construction industry scheme (CIS) and Domestic Reverse Charge (DRC).
- Completing CIS returns and filing with HMRC.
- Completing various annual statistics reports for submission with government.
- Accounting duties and management accounts for Unitas Maintenance Solutions Limited.
- Assisting Auditors and taking lead for annual audits.
- Checking monthly payroll before final submission.
- Verification of Sub-Contractors on HMRC site.
- Assisting Accounts Payable with various queries.
- Assisting HMRC with VAT Inspection.
- Also checking weekly payment runs and spotting any IR35 suppliers that needed investigation.
- Ensured timely invoice payments with diligent follow-ups.
- Facilitated company-wide budget meetings; achieved consensus on fiscal strategy.
- Enhanced profitability by managing cost control measures.
- Led tax compliance initiatives to ensure regulatory alignment.
- Executed comprehensive internal audits; highlighted areas requiring action.
- Streamlined budgeting exercises for efficient financial planning.
- Reviewed and reconciled ledgers to maintain integrity of financial data.
- Handled complex account reconciliations; ensured consistency in records.
- Improved cash flow through meticulous accounts receivable management.
- Achieved streamlined operations by implementing efficient accounting systems.
- Efficiently managed payroll processing tasks, avoiding errors.
- Generated accurate financial reports using advanced software tools.
- Managed financial reporting processes resulting in enhanced transparency.
- Optimised financial performance by monitoring key indicators.
- Conducted financial audits for improved internal controls.
- Assisted with strategic planning efforts leading to sustained growth.
- Completed detailed profit and loss analysis; identified improvement areas.
- Prepared monthly and yearly balance sheets, ensuring accuracy.
- Devised strategies for risk management, minimising potential losses.
- Performed thorough expenditure tracking, preventing overspending.
- Generated invoices based on established accounts receivable schedules and terms.
- Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy.
- Organised and carried out month-end, quarterly and year-end processes.
- Managed financial updates, watch lists and insurance files.
- Trained new employees on accounting principles and company procedures.
- Advised management on financial details related to business operations, inventory levels and budgets.
- Resolved invoice coding and tracked recurring expenses for accrual entry.
- Compiled financial data for business forecasting and budgeting.
- Prepared detailed models, reports and charts highlighting complex financial information.
- Analysed budgets and financial projections for accurate reporting of company performance.
- Conducted regular reviews and official audits to validate recordkeeping and controls.
- Tracked tax, invoicing and budget information accurately using QuickBooks.
- Installed internal controls and set up standard procedures for business accounting systems.
- Assisted with developing and ongoing control of costing and pricing systems for business goods.
- Produced accurate tax returns complying with official requirements and serving client needs for minimising liabilities.
- Reviewed and certified official financial statements for presentation to shareholders and governing bodies.
- Helped resolve disputed claims as official client representative to tax officials.
- Followed up with customers to collect specific financial information and verify details for preparation of [Type] forms.
- Assessed accounts and accounting systems in cases of alleged criminal activity.
- Investigated suspected cases of fraud and theft involving small numbers of transactions or complex systems.
- Completed reviews of personal or business records in cases of insolvency and bankruptcy.
Group Financial Controller
Stoke Galvanising Ltd/Paramount Steel Fencing Ltd
Stoke on Trent
2021.10 - 2023.08
- In charge of Finance team of four people. Originally responsible for financial control of 6 companies. One was later sold, and another was closed due to poor sales. I was later asked to run day-to-day management of Paramount Steel Fencing Ltd (acting as temporary General Manager).
- Main duties involved:
- Stock management.
- Preparing annual/monthly management accounts, using Pegasus Opera.
- Completion of VAT returns.
- Renewal of insurance/energy and trade credit insurance contracts.
- Property Management.
- Barclays banking system.
- HR (including redundancy).
Finance Director/Company Secretary (started as Group Finance Manager)
Wayte Travel Management
Stoke on Trent
2007.07 - 2021.09
- Managing two limited companies, with an annual turnover of £36M. In charge of a Finance/Admin team of nine people in four offices Stoke-on-Trent, London, Manchester and Jersey.
- My main duties involve:
- Company secretarial duties.
- Preparing annual/monthly management accounts, using Sage Line50.
- Completion of VAT, ABTA and ATOL returns.
- Payroll functions and pension payments.
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Property Management.
- EQ banking system.
- Jersey (Channel Islands) law knowledge for business and payroll
Accounts Assistant
Hurst & Company Accountants LLP
Stockport
1999.03 - 2007.06
- I work for the Director of Finance, within a busy Finance department. I work to strict deadlines completing all the monthly internal accounting functions and management accounts. I also deal with the finances for our Liverpool office, where I attend twice a month. I am responsible for two members of staff, one of whom is based at our Liverpool office.
- I am hard working, conscientious, reliable and work to a high standard and strict deadlines. I also consider myself to be self-motivated, organised and have excellent communication skills.
- Some of my main duties included:
- Preparing monthly management accounts for the practices, using Sage Line50.
- Processing all sales/purchase invoices, bank and cheque payments.
- Preparing monthly journals for accruals/prepayments etc.
- Processing of weekly staff timesheets and expenses.
- Credit Control (collecting approx £300k per month).
- Dealing with petty cash.
- Completion of quarterly VAT returns, and filing online.
- Monthly Bank Reconciliations.
- Processing direct debit payments and receipts using RBS bank software.
- Preparing quarterly cash forecasts.
- Maintaining fixed asset registers.
- Writing reports using Access, extracting the data from Practice Engine which is our main database holding our client and financial data.
- Property Management (Arranging repairs, cleaners etc.)
- General admin duties.
Book-keeper/Administrator
Bedi James Associates (Chartered Accountants)
Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire
1995.03 - 1999.02
- My duties at Bedi James Associates were very varied and all my bookkeeping and payroll was computerised. I dealt with about 30 payroll clients most of which are monthly, and 8 clients that I did bookkeeping for, including our own. My main duties involve the following:
- Recording and making daily bankings
- Credit Control and issue of monthly statements
- Posting staff time sheets to a time recording system
- Raising cheques and paying suppliers
- Reconciliation of petty cash float
- Monthly Bank Reconciliation
- Posting Sales/Purchase invoices
- Preparing and posting journals for petty cash and wages
- Completion of all government forms for employees and employers (ie P35, P14, P45, P46 etc)
- Calculation of PAYE & NIC Liability/SSP/SMP/Deductions from Sub-Contractors
- Setting up employees with the bank, and arranging payment of salary via BACS
- VAT Returns for all bookkeeping clients
Accounts Assistant
Etrop Grange Hotel
Manchester
1992.10 - 1995.03
- My duties at Etrop Grange started as Accounts Assistant and involved the following:
- Sales ledger and purchase ledger (including five other Restaurants - two of which two were public houses.)
- Payroll (For the hotel and the other business’s - approx. 120 employees).
- Weekly reports on all sales figures.
- Bank Reconciliation’s for six bank accounts.
- Weekly stock reports for the hotel.
- All correspondence for the management.
- Daily bankings.
- Credit control and sending out monthly statements.
- Ordering of all stationary.
- Nominal Ledger
- In September 1994, Etrop Grange merged with another hotel group which have a 50% share in the hotel. This meant considerable changes in my job, I no longer looked after the five other business’s as previously mentioned. My title then changed to Financial Controller.
- My duties were very similar to the above, however we had much tighter controls over each aspect, such as purchase ordering systems and Group reporting.
Trainee Manager
Ratners the Jewellers
Stockport
1990.09 - 1992.10
- I started at Ratners, as a Trainee Manager. I was responsible for opening the shop, setting up the window display. I was in charge of six staff, and I was left to run the shop during the day, except for when I had company reports to complete.
- I had to deal with customer queries/complaints as well as staff training. At the end of each day, I had to prepare the bankings and balance the tills.
Sales Assistant
Habitat Design Limited
Wythenshawe
1988.10 - 1990.09
- I started working at Habitat, part-time whilst working for Hussain & Co., however when I was made redundant I was asked if I would like to work full-time.
- As a full-time Sales Assistant, I was responsible for the China Department. This involved cleaning of the stock and displays, stock rotation and requisitions. I was also required to do special orders for customers. I also dealt with customer queries/complaints as well as opening Storecard accounts. I left Habitat as there was no chance of promotion.
Accounts/Payroll Clerk
Hussain & Company (Chartered Accountants)
Withington
1987.01 - 1989.11
- My duties here were as Accounts/Payroll Clerk, however I had more responsibility to my previous position, and I worked my way up as head of the Computer Department.
- I was in charge of about 15 different companies, some of them on weekly payroll, and some on monthly. Some of the companies had over 200 employees. The computer program I used was ‘SAGE’ Accounts/Payroll package. I also dealt with the employees on the telephone as I was responsible to sort out any queries or tax problems, this sometimes involved dealing with the tax office. I also had to calculate S.S.P., S.M.P., Bonuses and produce P35/P60’s at year end.
- I was also responsible for writing up VAT books for client’s, and at each quarter end produce a VAT Return. I also had to update the sales/purchase ledger for the company, and produce statements every month. I was made redundant from Hussain & Company.
Accounts/Payroll Clerk
Comac Accounting Plc (Computer Bureau)
Manchester
1985.09 - 1987.01
- During my employment at Comac Accounting, I started as a Y.T.S. Office Junior, and worked my way up as Accounts/Payroll Clerk. I was trained to use ‘PEGASUS’ computer system, which deals with Accounts/Payroll. I was also trained to use a word-processor/database called ‘SILICON OFFICE’ and a spread-sheet program called ‘EASICALC’. My main duties involved batching together invoices from clients, then posting onto the computer system, processing all the data up to trial balance. I used the word-processor for producing company letters, as well as mail-shots, and the spread-sheet program was used for producing anything from trial balances to cash flow projections. I was eventually trained to go to client’s and set up systems (using the packages I had been trained in) for their own purposes. I left Comac Accounting for a more permanent position.
Education
Art & Design, Computer Studies & Art & Design, English, English Literature, Mathematics, History, Control Technology & Physics
Newall Green High School
Manchester 1980.01 - 1 1985
Skills
- The computer applications used during present and previous employment’s include:
- SAGE Line 50 & Line 100
- Pegasus Opera
- IBACS Accounts package
- IBIS2 payroll
- Microsoft Office Package
- PAYE Master (Payroll)
- Hartley accounts package
- Practice Engine (Microsoft Access driven bespoke Time/Fees & Client Database)
- Microsoft Outlook
- ROYLINE & EQ – Banking Software
- Management accounting competence
- Fixed asset register maintenance
- Use of xero software
- Debt management capabilities
- Knowledge of sage 50
- Competent erp user
- Regulatory compliance knowledge
- Financial reporting expertise
- Accounts receivable maintenance
- Ethical compliance
- Credit control techniques
- Cash flow projection
- Cash book reconciliation
- Time management excellence
- Exceptional numerical aptitude
- Balance sheet competency
- Sales ledger handling
- Audit procedures understanding
- Sage line 50 experience
- Statutory reporting proficiency
- Precision in data input
- Debt recovery measures
- Taxation knowledge
- Accounts payable expertise
- Cost allocation
- Payroll administration
- Financial modelling
- Negotiation tactics
- AAT certification
- Financial Forecasting
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Audit coordination
- Balance sheet management
- Cash flow management
- Cost-reduction strategies
- Project leadership
- Transactional Analysis
- Budgetary planning
- Pension scheme administration
- Revenue recognition
- Profit and Loss Analysis
- Bank reconciliations
- Ethical judgement
- Internal controls understanding
- Regulatory understanding
- Accounting software expertise
- Spreadsheet competencies
- VAT preparation
- Data analysis tools
Custom Section
Full clean driving licence/own vehicle
Personal Information
- Date of birth: 13/02/1969
- Nationality: British
- Marital status: Single
References
- Mr C Morris, Wayte Travel Management, 18 Britannia Place, Bath Street, St. Helier, JE2 4YS, 01534 626500
- Mr R Mottram, Unitas Stoke on Trent Ltd, Contact details available on request.
Interests
- Walking
- Reading
- Computers
- Art
- Gardening
Training
- City & Guilds 953 - Computer Literacy, 1986-08-31
- CLAIT - Computer Literacy & Information Technology
- AAT - Technician (NVQ Level 4)
- Numerous courses at New Horizons Computer Training Centre (M/cr) on Microsoft Word, Excel (up to Advance Level) and Access.
- Appointed Health & Safety representative with St. Johns Ambulance.
- Fire Marshall Training.
Timeline
Interim Accountant
Unitas Stoke on Trent Ltd
2024.01 - 2025.06
Group Financial Controller
Stoke Galvanising Ltd/Paramount Steel Fencing Ltd
2021.10 - 2023.08
Finance Director/Company Secretary (started as Group Finance Manager)
Wayte Travel Management
2007.07 - 2021.09
Accounts Assistant
Hurst & Company Accountants LLP
1999.03 - 2007.06
Book-keeper/Administrator
Bedi James Associates (Chartered Accountants)
1995.03 - 1999.02
Accounts Assistant
Etrop Grange Hotel
1992.10 - 1995.03
Trainee Manager
Ratners the Jewellers
1990.09 - 1992.10
Sales Assistant
Habitat Design Limited
1988.10 - 1990.09
Accounts/Payroll Clerk
Hussain & Company (Chartered Accountants)
1987.01 - 1989.11
Accounts/Payroll Clerk
Comac Accounting Plc (Computer Bureau)
1985.09 - 1987.01
Art & Design, Computer Studies & Art & Design, English, English Literature, Mathematics, History, Control Technology & Physics
Newall Green High School
1980.01 - 1 1985