Paul Kidman
Grays,Essex
Summary
Accomplished financial professional with extensive expertise in financial software, including Sage Line 50. Demonstrates proficiency in cash flow management, profitability analysis, and strategic forecasting. Adept at ensuring compliance with policies and regulations while excelling in audit preparation and statutory accounts preparation. Skilled in VAT return submissions, cost accounting, and management accounting. Committed to enhancing organisational efficiency through meticulous bookkeeping, financial planning, and budget management.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Head of Finance and Administration
WORLD NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION
LONDON
01.2013 - 09.2025
- All Finance Manager duties as below
- Attend and report at bi-weekly Staff and Management Team meetings
- Calculation and preparation of invoices for 230+ members in the nuclear industry
- Consistently monitor and chase members for outstanding annual subscription fees
- Oversee and responsible for all other Administration duties including IT purchases
- Carry out annual performance reviews with (5) team members
- Oversaw administration functions ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational standards.
- Harnessed data visualisation to drive insights through management reporting.
- Represented business in negotiations with external partners.
- Oversaw audits to collate accurate data and recommend constructive improvements.
- Collaborated with business management to set and control annual budgets.
- Finalised VAT returns with rigorous transaction checks.
- Analysed financial performance to implement key improvement strategies.
- Created and presented accurate, detailed financial forecasts.
- Reduced annual business expenditure through careful expense monitoring.
- Reviewed bookkeeping and management accounts to achieve clear and correct reports.
- Managed daily finance services for smooth business operations.
- Identified areas for improvement and enhancements in financial processes and reporting mechanisms.
- Conducted variance analysis to identify discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
- Delivered regular management reporting and supervised quarterly tax calendar.
- Developed thorough forecasting and cash-flow management processes to maximise progression and profitability.
- Consolidated comprehensive management accounts, integrating income statements, cashflow and balance sheets.
- Managed cash flow and liquidity, mitigating financial risks and ensuring stability.
- Oversaw financial reporting processes, maintaining accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Managed timely and accurate reporting of various financial transactions and information for detailed analysis.
- Implemented new accounting software to streamline operations.
- Prepared monthly and annual financial reports for senior management team review.
- Streamlined financial processes to enhance efficiency.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant legal regulations, mitigating risk.
- Managed the preparation of year-end accounts; ensured timely submission to Companies House.
- Improved accuracy in financial reporting by implementing rigorous checks and audits.
- Liaised effectively with auditors during annual audit process for transparency.
Finance Manager
WORLD NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Preparation of monthly management accounts including annual budget and forecast
- Responsible for board updates at Companies House and assisting with AGM preparation
- Managing GBP/EUR/USD bank accounts
- Reconciling monthly credit card statements for 25+ employees
- Control and monitor registration fees for various nuclear events within the organisation
- Prepare financial statements and annual report for end of year audit
- Overall implemented many changes to the accounting function, which includes changing of bank accounts, credit card providers and merchant banks dealing with card and online receipts. Introduced more streamlined payment system and upgraded payment authorisation process in line with restructuring. Created Fixed Asset and Foreign Petty Cash registers which were not in place.
Financial Controller/Company Secretary
US STEEL EUROPE (UK) LTD
01.2000 - 01.2012
- Accountable for managing company finances with an annual turnover of approximately £40m, with responsibility for all credit control, financial and risk management
- Responsible for managing working capital efficiently to maximise short term finance liquidity, and overseeing Foreign Exchange liquidity
- Preparing monthly P&L, balance sheet, cash flow forecasts and reviewing bank accounts, invoice discounting facility, authorising all purchase and sales invoices, and all UK and International payments
- Leading purchase ledger process, arranging weekly payments as required, managing petty cash, company credit cards and manual cash book for current account, carry out reconciliations on a regular basis
- Producing regular reports pertaining to sales and purchase ledgers and nominal ledger and preparing estimated and actual management accounts to senior team to provide a clear picture of company position
- Liaising with payroll unit, monitoring payments against BACS limit, ensuring all NIC and PAYE liabilities are fulfilled, collating information for P11ds
- Ensuring all legislation and regulations are adhered to regarding VAT, preparing returns in a timely and account manner, maintaining the Fixed Asset Register
- Working closely with external audit teams to collate and prepare information required for mid and year end audits, company representative during inspections from governing bodies i.e. HMRC
- Carrying out annual reviews of all service providers to maintain best value for expenditure, negotiating with existing and potential suppliers
- Providing all relevant year end information, including accruals, prepayments, asset acquisitions, disposals, bad debt provision, trial balance, claims provision, stock valuation and bank reconciliations
- Acting as authorised signatory for company bank accounts, working closely with the MD to negotiate loan facilities and credit insurance policies
- Successfully planning and facilitating an office move, with accountability for organising transfer of network and telephones and managing removals with minimal disruption to business as usual
Credit Controller
US STEEL EUROPE (UK) LTD
01.1994 - 01.2000
- Responsible for preparing monthly aged debtor reports, statements and sales invoices, collecting and banking all trade debts while minimising overall debtor days
- Accountable for managing monthly stock control, authorising Sale Contracts in line with credit insurance policy and assisting in resolving debt claim disputes
- Building positive working relationships with clients to ensure access to relevant credit facilities
Customer Accounts Coordinator
NEOPOST LTD
01.1990 - 01.1994
Order Processing Clerk
NEOPOST LTD
01.1988 - 01.1990
Accounts Clerk
JESSUPS (Vehicle Contracts) Ltd
01.1986 - 01.1988
Administration Clerk
JESSUPS (Vehicle Contracts) Ltd
01.1984 - 01.1986
Education
RSA - Typing, Grade 1
Royal Society of Arts
Pitmans - Typing, Grade 1
Pitmans
CSEs - Mathematics, English, Geography
Skills
- Microsoft Office including Excel, Access and Word, limited PowerPoint
- Sage Line 50, Sage Line 100
- Management accounting
- Statutory accounts preparation
- Financial reporting
- Audit preparation
- Strategic forecasting
- Invoice processing
- Account reconciliation
- Bookkeeping
- Budget management
- Administrative leadership
- Cash flow management
- Profit and Loss Analysis
- VAT return submissions
- Not-for-profit accounts
Hobbies and Interests
Current interests: Football, Golf, Film, Music, Past Activities: Karate (Instructor), Football (Assisting Youth Team Coach)
Accomplishments
- Appointed as one of four new Head of Department roles in company restructure
- Changed Merchant banks saving over £10k per annum on card and online transactions
- Created Fixed Asset Register which was not in place, continued monthly update of register
- Collection and reconciliation of fees for over 600 delegates to Annual Nuclear Symposium
- Modernised accounts provision with the introduction of online banking and implementation of new accounting software providing accurate reporting of Foreign Exchange movements
- Overseeing the development and implementation of a bespoke Microsoft Access database linking with accounting software
- Led the department in comprehensive preparation of accounts and data for use in 4 external audits
Languages
English
Native
Certification
Studied AAT
Affiliations
Football, Golf, Karate.
Timeline
Head of Finance and Administration
WORLD NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION
01.2013 - 09.2025
Finance Manager
WORLD NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION
01.2012 - 01.2013
Financial Controller/Company Secretary
US STEEL EUROPE (UK) LTD
01.2000 - 01.2012
Credit Controller
US STEEL EUROPE (UK) LTD
01.1994 - 01.2000
Customer Accounts Coordinator
NEOPOST LTD
01.1990 - 01.1994
Order Processing Clerk
NEOPOST LTD
01.1988 - 01.1990
Accounts Clerk
JESSUPS (Vehicle Contracts) Ltd
01.1986 - 01.1988
Administration Clerk
JESSUPS (Vehicle Contracts) Ltd
01.1984 - 01.1986
CSEs - Mathematics, English, Geography
RSA - Typing, Grade 1
Royal Society of Arts
Pitmans - Typing, Grade 1
Pitmans
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