Debbie Smith

Experience

• 

  Leach Bright & Co

  Sept 1980 - Feb 1982

  Articled Clerk
• 

  Nasco Karaoglan Group (Services) Ltd

  Sept 1982 - Feb 1984

  Assistant Accountant to Financial Controller

  Keeping cash books and ledgers of Holding Company; preparing quarterly management accounts for two groups of companies; Consolidation at year end of financial accounts of same for auditors. Transference of manual accounts system to computer for 8 companies. PAYE for UK based company within the group (60 staff). Liaison with accountants of all worldwide companies within the group via telephone, telex and meetings. Basic word processing. Left to join the airlines.

• 

  British Caledonian Charter

  Nov 1984 - Dec 1987

  Flight Attendant

  Cabin Crew, left at bar flight attendant level. General Cabin Crew duties, including strict safety precautions and cabin service. Preparation of bar paperwork for HM Customs, and accounting for in-flight sales of duty frees and bars products. Later transferred to computerised system. Ensuring other cabin staff followed bar procedure correctly

• 

  Manser, Hunot Co

  Dec 1987 - Apr 1988

  Part Qualified Accountant

  Preparation of client accounts to trial balance/final accounts stage. Employing computerised accounting system devised by one of the partners in house for client accounts, thus determining programme faults and eliminating errors within the programme. Setting up and maintaining computerised monthly book keeping system for a very large catering contractor (approx. 2500 entries per month) and producing monthly management accounts. Left due to relocation to Dorset.

• 

  Debbie's Books and Records

  Jul 1988 - Nov 1996

  Proprietor

  I accepted books and records from both accountancy firms and individual companies to prepare accounts to trial balance stage or final accounts stage for submission to the Inland Revenue. Clients have ranged from pubs, clubs, shops and sole traders to limited companies. I have been involved in the preparation of accounts from both manual and computerised systems. For one particular accountant, I was involved in the setting up and implementation of a new computer system, aiding both partners and staff to understand the procedures involved. This was followed by preparation of posting summaries of client books for input to this system. Show less

• 

  Daflax Ltd

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1996

  PA

  In 1994, I assumed a part time PA/book keeping role for a scaffolding company, where I dealt with all aspects of finance, e.g. bank reconciliations, debt management, purchase, sales and nominal ledgers, debenture forms & VAT returns and reported directly to management. Responsible for setting up and maintaining nominal ledger; preparation of draft accounts for auditors. I also acted as secretary to the Managing Director, being first point of contact for telephone calls, dealing with general customer enquiries and organising delivery drivers. Using "Microsoft Excel " for preparation of quotations and Microsoft Word, as well as a typewriter and photocopier. Show less

• 

  Debbie's Cake Art

  Aug 1997 - Aug 2008

  Owner

  This was a celebration cake company that I built from a hobby. I was involved in the marketing, sales and customer liaison for the business. The prime requirements were to understand the needs of the customers and effectively work to specific time deadlines, highlighting important milestones to clients. In order to meet these timescales it was imperative to be self-motivated, highly self disciplined and extremely organised. Detailed planning of exactly what needed to be done each day and observance of due diligence to meet health and hygiene requirements. Empathy with the customer also played a vital role in situations where the actual celebration had to be cancelled. I built and maintained my own website on a regular basis. In 2004 I accepted a year 10 student for work experience during the summer term. In the school year 2004 - 2005 I accepted a student who attended work experience on a weekly basis. I have given several presentations to the local high school, and spent two mornings at the school in January 2005, helping the students to construct a lighthouse cake for a raffle in aid of the Tsunami disaster. I have also spent time at the school with the students in the Special Needs unit, helping them to design and create a cake in the shape of a horse Show less

• 

  PC Maids

  Oct 2007 - Jul 2008

  Owner

  I taught members of the community, generally older and retired people, how to get the most out of a computer. This involved visiting them in their homes, and helping them get to grips with software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, as well as showing them how to use email programmes, exploring the internet and using Photoshop.

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  The Booja Booja Co Ltd

  Aug 2008 - Jun 2012

  Supply Chain Manager

  Responsible for purchasing of all ingredients for manufacture, and all packaging. Oversaw all logistics, inbound and outbound. Created and maintained daily, medium and long term plans, coordinating with sales and purchasing. Also had responsibility for the facility as a whole.

• 

  PLACE UK Ltd

  Jul 2012 - Mar 2022

  Key account management, strategic new business development, project management and marketing responsibilities.Responsible for new launches into retail and sourcing new and innovative packaging. Strategic purchasing fruit (fresh and IQF), pulses, pasta and packaging

  • Commercial Manager

    Mar 2014 - Mar 2022

  • Business Development and Purchasing Manager

    Jul 2012 - Mar 2014
• 

  Rawcreation Ltd

  Mar 2022 - Jan 2023

  Supply Chain Manager

  Purchasing and logistics of raw materials and packaging

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  Fischer Farms Ltd

  Jan 2023 - now

  Planning and Procurement Lead