Lydia Cooke

Experience

• 

  Fraser Engineering Limited

  Jan 2011 - Dec 2011

  Accounts and Administration

  This role provided assistance to the business owner including accounts payable and office administration.

• 

  Curtis McLean Limited

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2014

  Accountant

  Curtis McLean Limited was a small accounting firm which merged with Deloitte in 2014.

• 

  Deloitte

  Feb 2014 - Jun 2015

  Senior Consultant

  The main responsibilities of this role were:• Preparation of annual financial statements under NZ GAAP and NZ IFRS for small to medium-sized businesses, trusts, partnerships and sole traders across a wide range of industries• Preparation of interim management reports including preparing the budget and reporting on variances and reviewing cash flow reports• Preparation of income tax returns, GST returns, PAYE returns, and dividend withholding tax returns• Client account maintenance including working with clients to gain an understanding of their business to provide relevant accounting advice, assisting with implementation and improvement of accounting systems, and correspondence with Inland Revenue, banks and other third parties on behalf of clients.• Managing junior staff including coaching them through the problem-solving process, reviewing their work, and managing their work-flow Show less

• 

  Ministry of Justice - New Zealand

  Jan 2016 - Feb 2022

  [Including 11 months of maternity leave September 2019 - August 2020]This role was part of the Strategic Finance Team which had the broad objective of supporting the Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Executives to continuously develop a sustainable, long-term financial management strategy for the organisation. The main responsibilities of this role were:• Coordinating and supporting the development and submission of initiatives to receive new funding through contestable funds • Assisting with preparing and coordinating the long-term investment plan including scenario analysis using a ten-year forecasting model• Maintaining relationships and working closely with The Treasury and other government departments to support initiatives with an impact on the wider system• Preparing all finance related formal correspondence with Ministers and members of the public• Provision of financial consulting advice on key financial documents, such as business cases, Ministerial and Cabinet papers, and financial recommendations for Cabinet approval• Preparing and coordinating information for Baseline Reviews (an in-depth review of the core funding and related outputs)• Providing tools, coaching and support to managers and staff in the delivery of their strategic financial management capabilities • Coordinating insurance and risk financing arrangements including managing the relationship with the broker, providing information for annual insurance renewals, and answering insurance queries from the business Show less This role reported to the Finance Manager and was responsible for providing sound strategic financial advice to an assigned portfolio of business units and projects. The main responsibilities of this role were:• Monthly reporting, variance analysis, and forecasting• Regularly updating managers with budget information and providing advice on managing variances and risks • Coordinating the annual internal budgeting process including helping business managers understand cost drivers, constraints, and trends• Preparing costings, cost benefit analysis, and general advice for bids submitted through the government’s Budget process• Analysing and translating financial data into strategic decision-making information • Being a trusted advisor to managers by being approachable and communicating effectively• Assisting with project management including providing regular reports on budget, risks, and benefits• Assisting with the development of business cases• Working very closely with the management accountant for the portfolio; delegating tasks to meet deadlines, managing workflow and assisting with development opportunities • Collaborating and seeking advice from other teams within the wider Finance team to find solutions for business managers and stakeholders• Assisting to update finance policies and promote finance projects or initiatives to the business Show less

  • Principal Finance Advisor, Strategic Finance

    Feb 2019 - Feb 2022

  • Finance Business Partner

    Jan 2016 - Feb 2019
• 

  Maternity Leave

  Feb 2022 - May 2023

  Stay-at-Home Parent
• 

  The Royal Parks

  Jun 2023 - now

  Finance Business Partner