John Owen

Experience

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  Wilkinson Sword

  Oct 1984 - Sept 1986

  Financial Controller - France

  Division of US FORTUNE 500 listed conglomerate Allegheny International. Group turnover $2,000M, Group headcount 40,000.Financial Controller, Soissons, France Distribution of Group products including shaving products and garden tools. French turnover £15M, French headcount 60.Reported to Managing Director.Responsible for all aspects of finance, computer and office administration.Planned and installed IBM 34 with accounting and commercial applications software.Improved cash management function by reducing debtors days from 130 to 90 days.Improved quality of sales statistics aiding to increase market share from 3% to 15%.Managed 8 accounting and administration staff. Show less

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  Johnson Matthey

  Oct 1986 - Mar 1992

  US NASDAQ listed hardware and software manufacturer in pre-press equipment. Group T/O $550M, Group headcount 2,200. European T/O $250M, European headcount 500.Reported directly to Vice President Finance Europe.Full financial responsibility including consolidation, cash flow and working capital management in 9 European subsidiaries.Responsible for monthly US GAAP reporting and maintenance of financial data of subsidiaries in 2 base currencies as well as local currency.Responsible for liaison with internal/external auditors and all taxation matters.Leading a team of 20.  Show less Distribution of Group products, small manufacturing facilities. French turnover £30M, French headcount 120.Reported to Managing Director.Responsible for all aspects of finance, computer and office administration.Planned and installed IBM 36/JBA for financial and commercial applications.Restructuring and closure of manufacturing facilities.Successful defence of fiscal audit covering accounting periods from 1980 to 1988.Effective tax planning to safeguard £4m of tax losses.Monthly, quarterly and year-end reporting, budgeting.Responsible for a department of 6 staff. Show less

  • European Financial Controller

    Feb 1989 - Mar 1992

  • Financial Controller - France

    Oct 1986 - Feb 1989
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  Willis

  Apr 1994 - Dec 1995

  Accounting & Finance Director - France

  UK FTSE 250 listed insurance broker. Group turnover £800M, Group headcount 11,000. French operation: Incubator company. French premiums £40M. Headcount 40.Worked closely with 3 Managing Directors on all aspects of policy and development. Prepared and reviewed annual and « 5-year » budgets for presentation to Group.Prepared monthly, quarterly, and year-end consolidation of financial results.Planned implementation of new commercial computer systems.Administered planned office relocation and re-organisation. Show less

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  Berry Birch & Noble PLC

  Feb 1998 - Mar 2001

  Main Board Finance Director

  UK stock exchange listed financial services and insurance broking group (home, motor, boiler, healthcare and schemes insurance). Group turnover £12M, Group headcount 270 across UK in 14 branch offices.Executive Director, member of the Executive Committee and of the PLC Main Board.Advised the Group Chief Executive on all issues during a period of rapid business expansion (increase from 7 to 14 branches) and rapid share price appreciation (more than 220% in three years).Maintained responsibility for all senior line contacts with the company’s corporate city advisers including the stock exchange, brokers, solicitors, bankers, auditors, tax consultants, registrar and the FSA (Financial Services Authority).Responsible for all announcements to the UK Stock Exchange in compliance with the Listing Rules (yellow book).Responsible for all procedures in relation to the Combined Code relating to Corporate Governance.Completed numerous acquisition studies which included the purchase of business interests from the Bradstock Group, a UK listed insurance broking group, within 2 days.Responsible for Y2K project and implementation of IT to meet user requirements subject to tight capital expenditure control.Preparation of annual and half-yearly published accounts.Preparation of annual business plan and monitoring of monthly management accounts for variance analysis.Managing cash flow in a rapidly expanding and changing environment.Responsible for simplification of reporting structure and cost centres.Ran finance and accounting, IT, HR, company secretarial, in-house corporate pensions administration for third party organisations, and all other admin functions (including sales) and led a team of 60 including 5 direct reports.ranch offices. Show less

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  USC Europe

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2002

  European Finance Director

  US venture capital metal container and packaging group. Group turnover $800M, Group headcount 2,000. No. 2 producer of aerosol cans throughout Europe. European turnover $250M. European headcount 500 across UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark.Working in direct collaboration with the Senior Vice President International & President European Operations, assisting in monitoring and analysing operational performance.Led the European financial team of this US venture capital backed (Berkshire Partners) leading metal container and packaging group, providing strategic planning, support and advice, to European business units, including down-sizing and profit improvement.Responsible for and identified profit improvement opportunities across Europe.Prepared UK statutory accounts and structured all financial reporting procedures, including US GAAP, treasury, cash flow, taxation and management of control systems.Responsible for handling commercial and financial dealings with all third parties in conjunction with the President European Operations. Show less

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  Guinea Alumina Corporation

  Apr 2012 - Apr 2014

  Finance and Commercial Manager

  A project to build a $7 billion alumina refinery. Initially a joint venture with 4 shareholders (BHP Billiton, Global Alumina, Dubal and Mubadala) but restructured in July 2013 following the exit of BHP and Global. Costs to date $800 million, total project headcount (including subcontractors) of 650.Reporting through to the CEO based in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and acting as a strategic partner (same peer level) to the local Managing Director and General Manager Operations.Provide leadership and direction to the head office team.Manage the administrative side of the company from accounting, finance management, reporting and budgeting, treasury, procurement, logistics, IT and legal within a complex and deadline-driven environment.Responsible for handling commercial and financial dealings with all third parties including EPCM (in conjunction with site management) and other sub-contractors, banks, internal auditors, external auditors, solicitors, transit companies, port authorities and tax authorities.Being the key contact to the senior finance management and legal representatives of the 4 joint venture shareholders in a sometimes challenging transition process during a period of uncertainty as to the future direction of the project.Contributed to the reduction of the company’s exposure to financial risks by directing, controlling all forms of financial analysis including the preparation of the monthly incurred costs reports, monthly IFRS financial statements.Responsible for full direct management of the expatriate human resource function including expat contracts and payroll, and the related accounting, due to the sensitive nature of the expatriate salary pay scale in a Guinean environment.Responsible for the compilation and approval of the annual master importation list by government departments and customs authorities to allow the company to import materials at low (zero) beneficial import duty rates.Responsible for and identified cost reductions. Show less