Sara Fearnall-Coleman
Kidderminster,Worcestershire
Summary
Finance analyst with a passion for turning complex data into clear, trusted tools that empower people to make better decisions.
Specialising in building models, dashboards, and structured reporting solutions that save time, enhance understanding, and drive smarter outcomes.
Technical strengths lie in advanced Excel development, financial data analysis, troubleshooting, and bringing clarity to large datasets.
Thrive in collaborative, supportive environments where knowledge is shared openly, improvements are continuous, and real-world impact matters more than hierarchy.
Value organisations with integrity — where purpose, trust, and respect guide the way we work together.
Now seeking a role to apply my technical expertise and collaborative mindset to help teams work smarter, not harder — and be proud of the mission we serve.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work history
Finance Analyst
Sanctuary Housing
Worcester, Worcestershire
2023.06 - Current
- Supporting Property Services finance function of this large, complex housing provider, focusing on improving reporting accuracy, streamlining data flows, and developing tools that empower others to make well-informed decisions.
- Design and build Excel based financial models, dashboards, and reporting tools tailored to operational and non finance users - improving clarity, reducing manual work, and increasing stakeholder trust.
- Analyse and structure large datasets to support strategic decision-making and ongoing project planning, ensuring outputs aligned with both technical integrity and user accessibility.
- Collaborate closely with operational colleagues and finance team members to ensure outputs are relevant, clear, and used effectively - including gathering feedback and improving tools post-implementation.
- Take ownership of legacy reporting issues and data bottlenecks, proactively simplifying and future proofing key analysis processes.
- Support development of positive working culture by sharing knowledge, sharing excel hints and tips with colleagues informally, and building tools and relationships that uplift rather than burden others.
Commercial Manager - Revenue Assurance
Arrow Business Communications Ltd
Worcester, Worcestershire
2022.03 - 2023.06
- Commercial Analyst role re-framed to focus on Commercial Optimisation, Revenue Assurance, and Business KPIs.
- Commercial Optimisation projects have delivered c. £10k pm additional revenue since taking up this role.
- Achieve growth by analysing billing data and identifying avenues for revenue maximisation, by standardising product pricing, call increments, rate cards, and delivery charge billing.
- Provide detailed scenario planning to Head of Commercial for multiple revenue maximising projects.
- Revenue Assurance focuses on reconciliation and management of supplier costs, ensuring cost of sales are matched by customer revenue, supplier overcharges are reclaimed and customer under billing is highlighted to Support and Sales Teams to resolve.
- Cost management strengthened by working closely with Provisioning and Products, ensuring billing system displays all services, and related costs, to maximise margins at every resign opportunity.
- Business KPI data ensures focused management information is available to senior managers to support decision making.
Commercial Analyst
Arrow Business Communications Ltd
Worcester, Worcestershire
2015.05 - 2022.03
- Commercial lead for Corporate business unit, actively engaged with Account Managers, Head of Corporate Sales and Product teams to drive initiatives that grow sales volume and increase GP value.
- Drove business quality and efficiency, by creating excel models for Sales Teams using look ups, pivot tables and data validation, to streamline repetitive and time consuming activities, manage validity of entries, and reduce user error.
- Highlighted revenue maximisation and possible risks factors by analysing relevant customer data, using bespoke models, to distil large data sets into clear and concise information for Sales Teams to use in their customer presentations.
- Increased profitability by developing Revenue Assurance tools to analyse supplier billing vs quoted costs, that resulted in £100k of annual cost savings, reclaimed overcharges and missed customer billing.
- Communicate with senior manager, colleagues, suppliers and other individuals to answer questions, explain information and establish appropriate solutions to challenges.
Margin Analyst
Autoclimate Ltd (acquired by Euro Car Parts)
Shrewsbury, Worcestershire
2011.02 - 2015.05
- Specifically created role, focusing on enhancing businesses margin performance with detailed data analysis, modelling, and implementation of appropriate measures.
- Created and maintained optimisation models covering multiple products, manufacturers and insurance providers resulting in margin growth in excess of 2.5% on implementation.
- Developed and deployed advanced excel models for extensive scenario testing to build and manage pricing structures, margin improvement strategies, target costings, risk exposure and establish rebate obligations.
- Generated regular and ad hoc reports, detailing findings and advising recommendations on cost reductions, increased selling prices or barriers to improved turnover.
- Reviewed performance benchmarks and established metrics for future tracking and continuous improvement of processes and margins.
Management Accountant
Novelis UK Ltd
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
2008.03 - 2011.02
- Balance sheet variance analysis & reporting
- Energy usage analysis & reporting for hedging
- Budget setting, variance analysis & reporting
- Cost analysis
- Month end processing / accruals / prepayments
- Stock valuation & obsolescence
Finance Manager
Waterchem Ltd
Worcester, Worcestershire
2005.11 - 2008.03
Management Accountant
Worcester College of Technology
Worcester, Worcestershire
2005.03 - 2005.11
Finance Technician
Superform Aluminium
Worcester, Worcestershire
2000.10 - 2005.03
Senior Credit Controller
Cromadex
Oldbury, Sandwell
1998.07 - 2000.09
Customer Account Manager / Front Counter Cashier
HFC Bank
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
1996.05 - 1998.07
Assistant Accountant
UK Petroleum
Hartlebury, Worcestershire
1995.08 - 1996.04
Accounting Assistant
Purac Rosewater
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
1993.11 - 1995.08
Accounts Clerk
Acco Cable Controls
Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire
1991.01 - 1993.11
Office Clerk
Turton Finance
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
1990.08 - 1990.10
Education
Master of Business Administration - Management Accounting
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Distance Learning05.2013
NVQ Level 4 - Accounting
Association of Accounting Technicians
Distance Learning05.2004
Skills
- Advanced Excel modelling
- Data analysis & reporting
- Problem-solving & solution development
- Commercial analysis
- Financial data analysis
- Data modelling techniques
- Financial And Operational Reporting
- Process development
- Process automation
- User acceptance testing
- Functional requirements
- Spreadsheet development proficiency
- Revenue Assurance / Profit maximisation
- Collaborative team player
- CIMA qualified
Timeline
Finance Analyst
Sanctuary Housing
2023.06 - Current
Commercial Manager - Revenue Assurance
Arrow Business Communications Ltd
2022.03 - 2023.06
Commercial Analyst
Arrow Business Communications Ltd
2015.05 - 2022.03
Margin Analyst
Autoclimate Ltd (acquired by Euro Car Parts)
2011.02 - 2015.05
Management Accountant
Novelis UK Ltd
2008.03 - 2011.02
Finance Manager
Waterchem Ltd
2005.11 - 2008.03
Management Accountant
Worcester College of Technology
2005.03 - 2005.11
Finance Technician
Superform Aluminium
2000.10 - 2005.03
Senior Credit Controller
Cromadex
1998.07 - 2000.09
Customer Account Manager / Front Counter Cashier
HFC Bank
1996.05 - 1998.07
Assistant Accountant
UK Petroleum
1995.08 - 1996.04
Accounting Assistant
Purac Rosewater
1993.11 - 1995.08
Accounts Clerk
Acco Cable Controls
1991.01 - 1993.11
Office Clerk
Turton Finance
1990.08 - 1990.10
Master of Business Administration - Management Accounting
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
NVQ Level 4 - Accounting
Association of Accounting Technicians