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Finance Business Partner and Manager
Richard Lancaster
,
Huntingdon, United Kingdom
Experience
Other titles
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I'm offering
A successful IT Finance Manager Business Partner, A team player who collaborates with others to understand requirements and deliver operational or strategic goals. A highly motivated leader and manager, pragmatic and commercially focused, ensuring a robust service for the customer.
A strong all-rounder ensuring financial controls and legislative requirements are adhered to and monthly deadlines are met. Highly analytical in approach, able to produce concise management information and guide others on its interpretation and commercial use. A clear communicator and business partner who has established excellent colleague relationships at all levels.
Achievements in business partnering, financial analysis, budgeting, cost out, business case appraisal and financial process improvements.
• Business Partnering: Worked closely both with leadership teams and other finance colleagues based throughout UK and Globally. Providing insight into the cost base, which included identifying costs, cost drivers, potential synergies and business ownership. Also included new investment (capex) review ensuring this was justified and in line with overall Group strategy. I’ve chaired monthly reviews with main stakeholders, including Plc board members and European colleagues, which I structured to enable constructive, meaningful discussion and actions.
• Budgeting: Implemented a bottom-up budgeting process for each cost type. This would be fully reviewed with the business and agreed before final submission, ensuring that the leadership team agreed the budget was reasonable. Further re-forecasts would be dealt with in the same manner.
• Financial Analysis: Established reporting for both operational and capital overhead expenditure, ensuring the information was presented in a clear, accurate and consistent manner. Produced detailed analysis showing movements in cost, trends, trading results and other ad-hoc management information. Also introduced working financial models.
• Cost out: Identified potential cost out opportunities through synergies within the cost base, including the merger of two FTSE 100 companies. Reviewed options with the business, procurement teams and 3rd parties to help drive the best possible commercial outcome. Directly involved with RFP meetings, analysis and reviews. Tracked savings identified and reported to the market.
• Business case appraisal: Reviewed in full all business cases for proposed projects (new systems/significant enhancements, new build developments) and ensured benefits stated were realistic and that the investment was reasonable based on updated metrics. Completed full investment analysis for final approvals.
• Financial process improvements: Introduced and documented a number of essential process improvements to enable efficiencies and standardised methodology. Areas most impacted; P&L consolidation, balance sheet reconciliations (fixed assets, prepayments, accruals etc). This also gave our external auditors comfort around our processes.
I hold qualifications in accounting, management and project management. A proficient user of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and experience of SAP, Oracle and Unit4 financial modules.
A strong all-rounder ensuring financial controls and legislative requirements are adhered to and monthly deadlines are met. Highly analytical in approach, able to produce concise management information and guide others on its interpretation and commercial use. A clear communicator and business partner who has established excellent colleague relationships at all levels.
Achievements in business partnering, financial analysis, budgeting, cost out, business case appraisal and financial process improvements.
• Business Partnering: Worked closely both with leadership teams and other finance colleagues based throughout UK and Globally. Providing insight into the cost base, which included identifying costs, cost drivers, potential synergies and business ownership. Also included new investment (capex) review ensuring this was justified and in line with overall Group strategy. I’ve chaired monthly reviews with main stakeholders, including Plc board members and European colleagues, which I structured to enable constructive, meaningful discussion and actions.
• Budgeting: Implemented a bottom-up budgeting process for each cost type. This would be fully reviewed with the business and agreed before final submission, ensuring that the leadership team agreed the budget was reasonable. Further re-forecasts would be dealt with in the same manner.
• Financial Analysis: Established reporting for both operational and capital overhead expenditure, ensuring the information was presented in a clear, accurate and consistent manner. Produced detailed analysis showing movements in cost, trends, trading results and other ad-hoc management information. Also introduced working financial models.
• Cost out: Identified potential cost out opportunities through synergies within the cost base, including the merger of two FTSE 100 companies. Reviewed options with the business, procurement teams and 3rd parties to help drive the best possible commercial outcome. Directly involved with RFP meetings, analysis and reviews. Tracked savings identified and reported to the market.
• Business case appraisal: Reviewed in full all business cases for proposed projects (new systems/significant enhancements, new build developments) and ensured benefits stated were realistic and that the investment was reasonable based on updated metrics. Completed full investment analysis for final approvals.
• Financial process improvements: Introduced and documented a number of essential process improvements to enable efficiencies and standardised methodology. Areas most impacted; P&L consolidation, balance sheet reconciliations (fixed assets, prepayments, accruals etc). This also gave our external auditors comfort around our processes.
I hold qualifications in accounting, management and project management. A proficient user of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and experience of SAP, Oracle and Unit4 financial modules.
Markets
United Kingdom
Language
English
Fluently
Ready for
Larger project
Full time contractor
Available
My experience
2019 - 2020
job
Development Finance Business Partner
Accent Housing Ltd.
Primarily working with the Development team and Finance Controller to improve cash flow and I&E forecasting for new developments in line with business strategy, which included input into a 30-year plan. Identifying opportunities and/or risks (costs, sales and government grants). Introduced a new reporting format.
Business strategy, Forecasting, Finance, Sales, Finance controller, Business Partner, Development
2007 - 2019
job
IT Finance Manager
Thomas Cook UK Ltd.
RFL: Company Insolvency
Reporting to the IT Head of Service Delivery, then later Head of Central Overheads, I was responsible for IT accounting and reporting in the UK business (circa £65m pa). I was also responsible for liaising with our IT and Finance teams globally as a central Group function.
Following the merger of MyTravel and Thomas Cook, there was an action to rationalise the application and infrastructure landscape. To ensure full visibility of the costs, I implemented a new reporting structure for IT.
• Created and owned the bottom-up budgeting and forecasting process which was previously spread across IT, establishing one complete view of all IT costs. Completed preparation of the budget using input from various colleagues across the business.
• Carried out all month end accounting processes for operational and capital expenditure. Completed balance sheet reviews including accruals, prepayments and fixed assets.
• Interpreted and communicated the monthly results in a clear way so that financial and non-financial colleagues could easily understand any movements, both at a UK and Plc level. Also provided material for UK business review each month.
• Chaired cost out reviews with IT senior management (UK & Plc). Structured the meetings to stay focused on the main areas of opportunity. Also highlighted any possible risks in order to pre-empt and mitigate these.
• Reported all operational IT costs (Payroll, 3rd Party, Depreciation and Project) at the lowest level. 3rd Party costs were reported at contracted level, payroll by staff member and depreciation by asset (Highlight report to senior management).
• Managed all IT fixed asset reviews. Reported project costs (capex), summarising by internal and external resource costs, 3rd party costs and other accounting adjustments. Reviewed with UK tax manager to ensure correct classification of assets.
• Supported all UK IT related business cases pre-approval to ensure cost estimates were accurate and investment in the solution was justified. Ensure continued justification through review during the project.
• Main contact for internal and external (EY/PWC) audit queries for UK IT costs.
• Implemented a contracts database for 3rd party costs, covering circa 160 supplier contracts, detailing contract values, key dates, clauses and business contacts. I chaired meetings with IT, business contacts and procurement buyers each month to review opportunities to consolidate contracts or applications where possible, in order to realise efficiencies and potential savings. The total numbers of contracts were reduced to circa 100.
• Managed a team responsible for all IT 'procure to pay' processes. This was for both operational and project services.
Reporting to the IT Head of Service Delivery, then later Head of Central Overheads, I was responsible for IT accounting and reporting in the UK business (circa £65m pa). I was also responsible for liaising with our IT and Finance teams globally as a central Group function.
Following the merger of MyTravel and Thomas Cook, there was an action to rationalise the application and infrastructure landscape. To ensure full visibility of the costs, I implemented a new reporting structure for IT.
• Created and owned the bottom-up budgeting and forecasting process which was previously spread across IT, establishing one complete view of all IT costs. Completed preparation of the budget using input from various colleagues across the business.
• Carried out all month end accounting processes for operational and capital expenditure. Completed balance sheet reviews including accruals, prepayments and fixed assets.
• Interpreted and communicated the monthly results in a clear way so that financial and non-financial colleagues could easily understand any movements, both at a UK and Plc level. Also provided material for UK business review each month.
• Chaired cost out reviews with IT senior management (UK & Plc). Structured the meetings to stay focused on the main areas of opportunity. Also highlighted any possible risks in order to pre-empt and mitigate these.
• Reported all operational IT costs (Payroll, 3rd Party, Depreciation and Project) at the lowest level. 3rd Party costs were reported at contracted level, payroll by staff member and depreciation by asset (Highlight report to senior management).
• Managed all IT fixed asset reviews. Reported project costs (capex), summarising by internal and external resource costs, 3rd party costs and other accounting adjustments. Reviewed with UK tax manager to ensure correct classification of assets.
• Supported all UK IT related business cases pre-approval to ensure cost estimates were accurate and investment in the solution was justified. Ensure continued justification through review during the project.
• Main contact for internal and external (EY/PWC) audit queries for UK IT costs.
• Implemented a contracts database for 3rd party costs, covering circa 160 supplier contracts, detailing contract values, key dates, clauses and business contacts. I chaired meetings with IT, business contacts and procurement buyers each month to review opportunities to consolidate contracts or applications where possible, in order to realise efficiencies and potential savings. The total numbers of contracts were reduced to circa 100.
• Managed a team responsible for all IT 'procure to pay' processes. This was for both operational and project services.
Business cases, Manager, UP, Service Delivery, ON, Processes, Contracts, Audit, Infrastructure, It, Budget, PLC, Service, Finance, Management, Database, Procurement, Audit, Contracts, Forecasting
2005 - 2007
job
IT Finance Manager
MyTravel Group Plc.
RFL: Merger with Thomas Cook Plc
Reporting to the Head of IT Commercial & Audit, responsible for the overall account management of circa 70 suppliers along with the budgeting process.
• Managing supplier relationships, ensuring payments for goods and services were managed on time.
• Re-negotiating supplier payment terms to ensure that the business was only committing to large payments during optimal cash seasonality.
• Assisting Central Finance in completing month end reporting and providing valuable management information to IT Leadership team.
• Managing a small team responsible for the IT contracts database, administering contract changes and ensuring appropriate documentation was complete and the system up to date.
Reporting to the Head of IT Commercial & Audit, responsible for the overall account management of circa 70 suppliers along with the budgeting process.
• Managing supplier relationships, ensuring payments for goods and services were managed on time.
• Re-negotiating supplier payment terms to ensure that the business was only committing to large payments during optimal cash seasonality.
• Assisting Central Finance in completing month end reporting and providing valuable management information to IT Leadership team.
• Managing a small team responsible for the IT contracts database, administering contract changes and ensuring appropriate documentation was complete and the system up to date.
Account management, Contracts, Audit, Database, Leadership, Management, Finance, PLC, It, Audit, Contracts, UP, Manager
2004 - 2005
job
IT Contracts Administrator
MyTravel Group Plc.
Reporting to the IT Contracts Manager, assisting in producing budgets for the business, reviewing existing contracts and identifying opportunities to consolidate. Administering, the contracts database, completing new contract documentation and change notes.
Contracts, Database, It, Administrator, Contracts, Manager
2002 - 2004
job
Management Information Analyst
MyTravel Group Plc.
Working within the UK Finance team, producing management information regarding ex gratia payments made to customers, typically by complaint type, accommodation, star rating and destination, also incorporating CSQ scores. The information was used by customer services and product in order to improve the services offered to customers.
Management, Finance, Analyst, Customer
2001 - 2002
job
Marketing Analyst
MyTravel Group Plc.
Reporting to the marketing manager, producing performance analysis for various marketing campaigns and call centre conversion rates.
Marketing, Manager
1993 - 2001
temp
Customer Services Executive
Airtours Ltd.
Customer
My education
2021
The Knowledge Academy
PRINCE2 Foundation, Project Management
PRINCE2 Foundation, Project Management
2015
Institute of Leadership and Management
Level3, Leadership and Management
Level3, Leadership and Management
2005
-
2008
Accrington College
Association of Accounting Technicians Level4, Management Accounting
Association of Accounting Technicians Level4, Management Accounting
1992
Bury College
Diploma, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Diploma, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
1985
-
1991
Woodhey High School
GCSE, 9 GCSE's including Maths and English
GCSE, 9 GCSE's including Maths and English
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