Luke Mead

• Financial Planning and Strategy: Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with organizational goals, including long-term planning, budgeting, VAT returns and forecasting. Provide strategic and financial guidance to senior management (2x Franchise directors, 3x General Managers) and act as a financial business partner across departments to support business decision-making, advise on cost saving opportunities, debt reduction advise, maximise profit within a department, I’m currently doing this for (17+ Sales, Service and Parts Managers)
• Financial Reporting and Compliance: Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial accounts, the current procedure is 5 working days, while still maintaining compliance with accounting standards, and internal policies. Coordinating with internal/external auditors to ensure the company is compliant with FCA regulations by implementing good practices and investigating any issues that may arise.
• Treasury and Payroll Management: identify, assess and manage financial risk including, cash flow forecasting, working capital, vehicle funding, capex expenditure and investment planning. Efficiently handling payroll inputs for over 200+ members of staff within the Essex division, working out, overtime, average holidays, commissions, senior/departmental managers bonus, deductions for fuel cards or fines, all within a timely manner.
• Team Leadership and Operations: Leading the finance, and support departments, including, three Accountants, two Accounts Assistants, three processing members (Purchase/Sales ledger), five Sales Admin and a Maintenance Manager. Managing their day-to-day operations, implement process improvements, ensure effective internal controls, and deadlines are adhered too. Provide mentorship and professional development for team members, my main goal when building a team is to guide, inspire, and coordinate towards a team goal, maintaining communication while building trust to help them with their individual career goals. (I’ve accomplished my goal with 6+ members of staff so far, either starting as an apprentice or staring in a processing role with no accounting experience, working their way up, hitting their goals, becoming fully qualified accountants within the team or leaving to progress internally where job opportunities have risen.)

• This was an Internal promotion.

• Reviewed and reconciled ledgers to maintain integrity of financial data.
• Performed thorough expenditure tracking, preventing overspending.
• Generated accurate financial reports using advanced software tools.
• Handled complex account reconciliations; ensured consistency in records.
• Enhanced profitability by managing cost control measures.
• Efficiently managed payroll processing tasks, avoiding errors.
• Prepared monthly and yearly balance sheets, ensuring accuracy.
• Organised and carried out month-end, quarterly and year-end processes.

• Prepared financial reports for meetings, facilitating informed discussions about the firm's fiscal health.
• Provided detailed analyses and explanations of all transactions for decision making procedures.
• Worked closely with the auditing team during yearly audits to guarantee full cooperation from accounting department.
• Maintained company purchase and sales ledgers.
• Entered transactions into internal databases.
• Prepared bank deposits, checking and correcting any errors.
• Maintained and improved company bookkeeping processes.

The Roles and Responsibilities of this Job.

• Ensuring all our marketing is within brand and legal requirements.
• Development and coordination of local marketing activity and materials.
• Liaised with clients to maintain relationships and foster repeat business.
• Compiled data to generate comprehensive reports.
• Ensured compliance with latest industry regulations while conceptualizing marketing campaigns.
• Coordinated with sales team to ensure alignment of marketing strategies and goals.
• Identified potential market opportunities through extensive market research and analysis.
• Collaborated with design team in creating visually appealing promotional materials, attracting more prospects.

I started to progress through the company, and I was offered the chance to become an Assistant Accountant.

Internal promotion.

• I received, processed and reconciled invoices in financial management system and generated timely payments.
• Liaised with internal departments on purchase queries for efficient resolution.
• Prepared BACS payments to settle supplier balances.
• Resolved complex discrepancies in ledger accounts for accurate record keeping.
• Handled petty cash transactions accurately, maintained integrity of funds.
• Worked with accountants and other purchase ledger clerks in different parts of the country, to keep track and reconcile accounts.
• I also dealt with customers over the phone on a daily basis, helping solve their queries.
• I have also been shown how to use a range of software, such as Kerridge, which I feel confident in using.
• Queried and processed supplier payments by cheque and BACs.
• Reconciled bank statements regularly, ensuring accurate financial records.