KATHRYN COSTELLO
Kingston Upon Thames,London
Summary
Finance professional with in-house experience supporting general accounting, financial control, and UK tax mitigation for onshore and offshore operations. Manage group standardisation and adherence to accounting policies, cash management, and timely collections and billings. Oversee statutory and tax compliance for international entities, including VAT/sales tax and corporate tax.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Controller
dunnhumby Limited
London
01.2008 - 01.2016
- Led team of 8 in managing statutory and management accounts for 16 countries, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
- Managed statutory and regulatory accounting compliance, including payroll, taxes, and reporting.
- Produced group consolidated accounts, validating figures for integrity and accuracy to support financial reporting.
- Standardised accounting policies across the group and applied compliance controls consistently.
- Improved and standardised accounting policies and procedures across all markets.
- Led global expansion finance setup from incorporation through operational growth.
- Owned financial set-up across Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, China, Japan.
- Reviewed tax advice on international corporate structures and local implications.
- Reconciled inter-company transactions between subsidiaries and the parent company.
- Managed local and expat payroll outsourcing, tracking provider deliverables and fixes.
- Prepared finance sections for business plans, providing critical insights for assumptions updates.
- Supported commercial finance teams as key contact for finance queries.
Financial Controller/Interim Finance Director
Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited
London
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Prepared annual budgets, forecasts, and long-range plans for business needs.
- Prepared monthly management accounts and forecasts, facilitating informed shareholder updates.
- Presented reports to board of directors and audit committee meetings.
- Ensured finance and regulatory compliance across company reporting and activities, minimising risk of non-compliance.
- Built a long-range plan model for forecasting costs and revenues.
- Managed accurate cost contract true-ups with suppliers and customers, enhancing financial integrity.
- Analysed future pricing of capacity using model outputs and scenario work.
Financial Reporting Manager
TNS (Taylor Nelson Sofres)
London
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Produced half-yearly and annual statutory packs for TNS group and external auditors, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Prepared statutory accounts, managing compliance and reporting processes to uphold financial integrity.
- Compiled monthly financial packs for 5 operating activities and 100 cost centres to support informed decision-making.
Financial Analyst/Management Accountant
GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)
London
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Prepared monthly accounts for global manufacturing and supply areas, providing insights for financial decision-making.
- Tracked inter-company profit across central databases, facilitating accurate financial reporting.
- Recorded exports and shipping details within central database, ensuring data integrity for financial analysis.
Group Accountant
Lattice Group
London
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Coordinated group financial reporting processes to verify accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.
Financial Accountant
Serco
London
07.2000 - 09.2000
- Reconciled share accounts with registrar records and share premium balances to ensure accuracy.
- Coordinated with banks, registrars, and share brokers to maintain consistency in issue details.
- Liaised with trustees to verify accurate share numbers across records.
Management Accountant
Primesight Limited
London
01.2000 - 07.2000
- Completed prior year statutory accounts for all group companies, including plc, to ensure compliance and accuracy.
- Prepared monthly forecasts and cashflow packs to support effective accounts planning.
- Reconciled current year accounts to ensure audit readiness and maintain evidence trail.
Management Accountant
Hill Taylor Dickinson
London
09.1999 - 12.1999
- Compiled monthly accounts following established bookkeeping processes and timelines to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Resolved lawyer finance queries by applying policy guidance and providing relevant account figures for clarity.
Chartered Accountant
Markhams Auckland, Moores Rowland
Auckland, New Zeland
01.1996 - 06.1999
- Completed tax preparation and filing, conducting ongoing tax compliance reviews to maintain regulatory adherence throughout the year.
- Prepared annual income statements for small and medium business clients.
- Managed two staff members, coordinating daily accounting tasks to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
Education
Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand
01-1999
Professional Accounting School
01-1998
01-1997
Bachelor of Commerce and Management -
Lincoln University
New Zealand01-1995
Skills
- Analytical skills
- Change implementation
- Team leadership
- Collaboration
- Microsoft Excel and Word
- PowerPoint expertise
- JD Edwards
- Sun Systems
- AIM Evolution
- Solution 6
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Organisational skills
Custom
Cinema, theatre and attending concerts, museums and galleries., Africa, Europe Australasia and throughout Great Britain., Tennis, martial arts, rugby and cricket., Cooking, reading, crosswords, card playing and photography.
Timeline
Financial Controller
dunnhumby Limited
01.2008 - 01.2016
Financial Controller/Interim Finance Director
Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited
01.2005 - 01.2007
Financial Reporting Manager
TNS (Taylor Nelson Sofres)
01.2004 - 01.2005
Financial Analyst/Management Accountant
GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)
01.2001 - 01.2004
Financial Accountant
Serco
07.2000 - 09.2000
Group Accountant
Lattice Group
01.2000 - 01.2001
Management Accountant
Primesight Limited
01.2000 - 07.2000
Management Accountant
Hill Taylor Dickinson
09.1999 - 12.1999
Chartered Accountant
Markhams Auckland, Moores Rowland
01.1996 - 06.1999
Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand
Professional Accounting School
Bachelor of Commerce and Management -
Lincoln University