Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Personal Information
Custom
Timeline
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Laura Hughes

Wimblebury,Staffordshire

Summary

Highly organised and detail-oriented professional and recognised for strong communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to perform under pressure. Demonstrates confidence, competence, and a collaborative approach as a team player with vast experience in team management. Quick to learn new systems and processes while maintaining accuracy and diligence in all tasks.


Throughout my professional experience, I have developed a range of personal skills and qualities that have significantly contributed to my development. I am a hardworking individual, eager to learn and expand my skill set. My strong interpersonal abilities allow me to engage confidently and politely with others, making me a reliable team player.

At university, I refined my academic and computer skills, which complement my ability to work independently and think critically under pressure. I thrive in team environments, believing that collaboration is key to success. My proactive nature drives me to take initiative and seek opportunities for growth, including any training and development.

During my time at Greenhous Daf, I gained invaluable insights into professionalism and customer care within the motor trade industry, enhancing my business acumen. My experience at GM Partsworld further broadened my expertise in automotive sales, where I effectively managed targets and deadlines, developed strong problem-solving skills, and consistently exceeded customer expectations.

While working for Smarts Plumbing, a small family business, I recognized the importance of teamwork in achieving goals. My ability to work under pressure led to my promotion to Finance Manager, where I developed leadership and interpersonal skills while managing departmental responsibilities. Faced with financial challenges, I successfully handled the factoring facility and creditor relations, demonstrating my capability to navigate complex situations.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience
2016
2016
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Finance Manager

Smarts Plumbing Specialist LTD
12.2018 - 04.2025
  • Company Overview: Plumbing and Heating
  • Daily bank reconciliations and cash flow management
  • Reporting cash requirements and liaising with Senior Management
  • Monthly balance sheet reconciliations, with particular focus on bank, debtors and creditors
  • Processing of all payments via BACS / online banking and PayPal.
  • Management and processing of credit card statements.
  • Submission and reconciliation of the monthly Vat return and ensuring HMRC liabilities are reconciled and up to date
  • Chasing payments and closely monitoring the aged debt.
  • Reconciliation of receipts to CID facility and SAGE
  • Managing Payroll and ensuring payments are reported and reconciled with payroll bureau
  • Completion of monthly 1-2-1 meetings with Finance Director.
  • Working with the managing director and alongside other departments to drive efficiencies and improve processes across the team and wider business.
  • Training new employees and supporting my team.
  • Improve the efficiency of the accounts payable cycle e.g. implementing an electronic PO/invoice system and educating the wider business about the purchasing process.
  • Supporting external audit requests.
  • Support in producing the month end and year-end financial and management reports.
  • Ensuring the Finance Admin team remains compliant with GDPR requirements.


Accounts Assistant

Smarts Plumbing Specialist LTD
12.2013 - 12.2018
  • Company Overview: Plumbing and Heating
  • Inputting Invoices and credits into SAGE
  • Reconciling Accounts and statements
  • Check all invoices for pricing queries
  • Taking card payments using PDQ machine and controlling Petty cash
  • Maintain a system to chase all outstanding Credits and returns
  • Running daily reports.
  • Companies Utility price comparisons
  • Assist with payroll and pension scheme
  • All aspects of Purchase Ledger duties


Account Sales Support

Aqualux
06.2013 - 12.2013
  • Company Overview: Manufacturing and Trade
  • Raising credits and Debits
  • Reconciling statements and Remittances
  • In-putting accurate information into in-house computer system
  • Placing customer orders and raising invoices
  • Price checking all sales orders.
  • Running daily reports.
  • Dealing with customers on a daily basis
  • Maintaining a quote log so all purchase orders match the quotes.
  • Raising contracts for Special Builds (hotels, New builds)
  • Arranging deliveries and collections.
  • Maintaining large DIY store account.
  • Reconciling a debit log and updating debit claims
  • Any adhoc duties
  • All aspects of admin duties
  • Manufacturing and Trade

Telesales/account manager

BT
02.2013 - 06.2013
  • Company Overview: Telecoms
  • Selling Telecommunications and BT Products to Business’s in the Stoke.
  • Making large number of calls to generate new sales & exceeding sales Targets.
  • Taking incoming calls and dealing with any customer queries
  • Completing all paperwork to hand over to the order processing department
  • Maintaining a CRM system so all customer details are always up-to-date
  • Telecoms

Business Development Manager

GM Parts World
08.2011 - 12.2012
  • Company Overview: Automotive Sales
  • Selling American GM engines.
  • Helped re-build the business structure
  • Dealing with a range of customers from the motorsport industry.
  • Creating new business, managing customer accounts
  • Dealing with new business enquiries via telephone, email and leads generated by the website.
  • Handling volume calls and emails daily - working to a prompt turn around
  • Marketing, offers, mail shots to generate new business
  • Preparing quotes from general customer enquiries, this includes searching the current price files and emailing suppliers for current costs.
  • Fulfilling customer orders, entering orders on the internal system
  • Sourcing new suppliers from the US for stock availability and arrange the logistics to bring the parts to the UK.
  • Building relationships with the Suppliers
  • Purchasing all parts from Various Suppliers
  • Order processing, including purchase and sales orders, raising proformas for customers, invoicing.
  • Chasing incoming payments
  • Consolidating customers orders, to determine the most cost effective way to ship the goods, whether it be by Air, Container, Courier or company delivery Van.
  • Travelling the world to see customer at their premise to create further business, strong business relationship.
  • Exhibited at a number of exhibitions, inc Autosport - this includes me organising the whole exhibition, from staff to the marketing to running the stand.
  • Maintaining and updating the companies’ website and eBay business account
  • Maintain CRM Database
  • Ensuring all databases and records are kept up to date.
  • Managed a small team
  • Automotive Sales
  • Achievements: I have increased sales year on year since starting. Average monthly sales figures £50 K with 60% profit margin.

Receptionist / Sales Administrator

Greenhous Vauxhall Van Centre (DAF)
09.2007 - 08.2011
  • Company Overview: Commercial vehicle specialist
  • Answering Incoming calls and dealing with customers
  • Ordering vehicles via Channel 21
  • Use of AFRL for taxing and registering new vehicles
  • All administration for new, used and fleet vehicles
  • Invoicing vehicles via in-house computer system
  • Maintaining our Vauxhall website
  • Marketing for our new and used vehicles
  • Vehicle logistics and liaising with outside suppliers
  • Commercial vehicle specialist

Administrator

Reed Specialist (Employment Agency)
07.2007 - 09.2007
  • Company Overview: Temporary role
  • Processing candidates CV’s.
  • Ensuring all references are obtained for all working candidates.
  • Chasing and following up references from employers.
  • Using and updating in-house computer system.
  • Temporary role

Help Desk- Customer Service Advisor

Veolia Environmental Service
05.2007 - 07.2007
  • Company Overview: Environmental services
  • Answering a high volume of calls, remaining calm under pressure at all times.
  • Recording any important information on the In-house computer systems.
  • Decision making and using own initiative on a daily basis.
  • Dealing with our own customer accounts.
  • Filling Account spreadsheets.
  • Ensure we meet customer needs where possible.
  • Working to and exceeding deadlines.
  • Environmental services

Senior Health Care Assistant

Excel Direct Nursing Agency
06.2004 - 01.2007
  • Company Overview: Nursing agency
  • Caring for adults with all disabilities, from learning and mental health problems to the elderly.
  • Carry out all aspects of hygiene as and when needed.
  • Maintaining important documentation.
  • Nursing agency

Retail Assistant

Woolworths PLC
11.2002 - 03.2004
  • Company Overview: Retail
  • Dealing with customers on a daily basis
  • Answering the telephone and dealing with any queries
  • Achieving sales targets
  • Cash handling, paperwork and filing
  • Retail

Education

NVQ - Business Administration

Diploma - Health Care Studies

University of Wolverhampton
01.2004 - 01.2007

GCSE - Maths, English, Spanish, Art, Child Development, Drama

Cannock Chase High School
01.1998 - 01.2002

Skills

  • Microsoft Office: Word
  • Microsoft Office: Excel
  • Microsoft Office: PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Office: Access
  • Outlook
  • SAGE
  • Communication
  • Accurate and diligent
  • Confident and competent
  • Work well under pressure
  • Problem solver
  • Highly Organised
  • Team player
  • Team Management
  • Quick learner

Personal Information

Hobbies: Not much spare time for Hobbies as we have an 18 month old daughter. Me and my Husband take our daughter to Soft plays as we love to try out the Cafes.

Custom

First aid at work certificate

Timeline

Finance Manager

Smarts Plumbing Specialist LTD
12.2018 - 04.2025

Accounts Assistant

Smarts Plumbing Specialist LTD
12.2013 - 12.2018

Account Sales Support

Aqualux
06.2013 - 12.2013

Telesales/account manager

BT
02.2013 - 06.2013

Business Development Manager

GM Parts World
08.2011 - 12.2012

Receptionist / Sales Administrator

Greenhous Vauxhall Van Centre (DAF)
09.2007 - 08.2011

Administrator

Reed Specialist (Employment Agency)
07.2007 - 09.2007

Help Desk- Customer Service Advisor

Veolia Environmental Service
05.2007 - 07.2007

Senior Health Care Assistant

Excel Direct Nursing Agency
06.2004 - 01.2007

Diploma - Health Care Studies

University of Wolverhampton
01.2004 - 01.2007

Retail Assistant

Woolworths PLC
11.2002 - 03.2004

GCSE - Maths, English, Spanish, Art, Child Development, Drama

Cannock Chase High School
01.1998 - 01.2002

NVQ - Business Administration

Laura Hughes