Neal Ingram FCCA

Experience

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  American Express Services Europe Ltd

  Jul 1994 - Mar 2001

  The Globestar Finance Team is responsible for all financial issues resulting from launches and conversions of the new American Express Card Issuing platform. My role was to ensure that all financial related issues, as a result of conversions including all the financial data, were duly identified and resolved. Ensure American Express is not exposed or in breach of Financial Accounting Policies.Ensure existing financial processes are not seriously affected by the change in system.Prepare budgets, forecasts and financial accounting entries to ensure that Globestar Finance meets its financial objectives.Design and train key finance staff in Brazil, India, Phoenix and Hong Kong on how to reconcile the old card platform to the new card platform, ensuring no loss to the company, or cardholders. Design all aspects of the finance reporting for the new Globestar system whilst ensuring compliance.Managed departments financials including budgets, forecasts, intercompany charging, etcBest Achievements:- Converted from old Blue card platform to new Blue card platform Show less The Financial Application Support group within the organisation is responsible for supporting the largest three financial applications within the Finance Resource Centre utility.Ensure each system correctly accounts for financial entries made by the individual users, educating the users where necessary.Advise business groups on how the system correctly accounts for various types of financial transactions.Liaise between the business and technologies to ensure financial issues are resolved.Apply financial accounting knowledge to ensure system changes do not conflict with financial policies.Represent the department as a consultant for all major initiatives affecting the financial applications.Manage the applications, fully document processes and train team members to ensure American Express is not exposed to risk and the FAS team has depth of knowledge.Design new functionality, manage the release of new system versions, and communicate with all business partners to ensure staff is fully aware of all system-related issues.Manage the department's financials including, budgets, forecasts, chargeouts, etc.Manage the month-end close of the General Ledger system.Roll-out training to new users of the applications within an appropriate timeframe. Ensure all Ad-Hoc Financial issues are highlighted and resolved.Best Achievements:- Able to represent the department for any of the finance systems, through becoming a 'super user' for all 3 systems. Show less The Business Systems Integrity group within the organisation is responsible for ensuring compliance to the Management policy with regard to systems development whilst partnering with Internal Audit to ensure the company is not exposed financially to loss. I undertook projects both as a resource and as a project manager. My main objective is to standardise systems development whilst ensuring external policies are not breached. Test Pack creation -ensuring financial policies continue to be adhered to.Year 2000 testing - Millennium V.3. Ensuring the system is Y2K compliant whilst keeping the fixed asset Accounting compliant to all regulatory requirements. Acting as the primary point of contact between the Millennium testing group and Technologies, advising Senior Management to "sign-off" accordingly.Managing the Millennium testing team, ensuring deadlines are accomplished and issues are resolved.Systems Development Methodology (Method 1 - Andersen Consulting).System Projects Documentation & Reviews, ensuring the company will not be at risk from financial loss.Preparation of cost centre budgets, forecasts, accruals and preparation of MIS to senior management.Design and assist the building of the "knowledge database" for the team.Manage the department's financials, budgets, forecasts, chargeouts, etc.Meet with Internal Audit to provide assistance with new developments and their potential risks.Training other team members to provide adequate cover within the group.Best Achievements:- Successfully tested and ensured the fixed asset accounting system was Y2K compliant. Show less Fixed Asset Accounting.The fixed Asset Accounting group are responsible for the Fixed Assets of American Express across the Europe, Middle East and African markets. I controlled the movement of Fixed Assets for various markets and reported in detail to both internal management and External stakeholders (e.g. Taxation). Maintaining the fixed asset database ensuring correct fixed asset accounting across EMEA.Ensure all Fixed Asset Accounting complies with US & EMEA GAAP accounting policies. Structured Query Language, as a tool to interrogate the database to produce MIS and financial reports.File Transfers - Mainframe - PC ensuring the integrity of the data loaded.Spreadsheet Analysis, Modelling &Training, to allow all team members to use the financial models in order to prepare regular tax schedules for internal and external stakeholders more effectively.Asset Management - ensure the accounting of fixed assets meets Financial Accounting policies.Business Analyst - Acting as a consultant where necessary to the business groups.Analysis of different fixed asset accounts to produce reports for New York and local management.Liase between the Business and Technologies to drive system enhancements.Assistant manager of the team, providing support when required.Automation of routine tasks within Fixed Assets, allowing the group to focus on more value added activities.Best Achievements:- Successfully participated in the completion of a new legal entity that would then encompass several European markets into one entity. The project involved very detailed accounting, but saved American Express large sums of money through VAT savings. Show less The UK Financial Accounting group are responsible for the UK based American Express group, ensuring the accounts meet all statutory and regulatory requirements, whilst also supporting all internal stakeholders. The UK Financial Accounting group is responsible for the Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account of the UK Company.Accounting entries for Accruals, Prepayments, intercompany accounting, intracompany accounting.Walker (American Express's General Ledger System). System analysis to investigate the use of accounts.Tax Reporting and Analysis, reviewing various P+L and Balance Sheet accounts to produce reports for the Tax Dept, used to complete statutory returns.Customer Support & Training, ensuring all managers are fully informed and aware of financial issues.Monthly variance commentary, Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet reviews.Automation of manual financial procedures using spreadsheets.Training staff on PC skills to ensure "Best Practices" are utilised.First point of contact for all managers regarding financial issues.Best Achievements:- Obtained a very good grounding for accountancy within a highly evolved Financial Accounting team Show less

  • Financial Analyst - Brighton, England

    Jul 2000 - Mar 2001

  • Financial Systems Analyst - Brighton, England

    Jul 1999 - Jul 2000

  • Business Systems - Brighton, England

    Mar 1998 - Jul 1999

  • Senior Financial Analyst

    Aug 1996 - Mar 1998

  • Financial Analyst

    Jul 1994 - Aug 1996
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  American Express Services Europe Ltd - Technologies Finance

  Mar 2001 - Aug 2002

  Asst Manager Technologies Finance - Brighton, England

  My role with Technologies Finance was to act as a financial consultant to the Technologies Operations (AETO) leadership to help them meet their financial objectives. This included effective financial reporting, training and education of key personnel within their organisation. I ensured effective communication between Finance and Technologies as well as providing a proactive approach to solving ad-hoc financial issues. AETO - ensure their $30m budget is met and financial accounting policies and procedures are adhered to.Support all finance issues resulting from major technology initiatives, i.e. outsourcing. Account for all major technology projects and charge-out to various business groups across EMEA.Provide "parser" sheets to the ABM team allowing the ABM model to work effectively.Prepare regular forecasts, budgets and MIS for all the above responsibilities.Ensure all monthly financial processes are carried out, (Accruals, P+L Flash Reporting, Variance Commentary).Review re-engineering projects from a financial perspective and sign-off CBA's where appropriate ($2.0m in 2001).Consult with 250 AETO staff to advise on how a financial issue should be resolved whilst adhering to financial accounting policies internally and externally.Design Financial models to drive efficiencies within the financial reporting environment, cross train other team members to ensure the group has the most effective reporting tools for their customers needs.Advise New York and other locations on EMEA accounting policies to ensure continued partnering between the Technologies Finance Team and other Business groups.Best Achievements:- Contributed significantly to outsourcing the IT division to IBM Show less

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  Legal & General

  Aug 2002 - May 2004

  Finance Manager - Kingswood, Surrey

  As the Financial Control Manager within the Central Finance Team my role was to ensure that all business Finance teams adhered to the policies and procedures set up by the Group Division. Within the Central Team came the steer and direction for the entire Finance function within Operations. It was key that policies were clearly communicated and key business partners were well informed. I was also responsible for ensuring the monthly results were complete and accurate. Once the results were Final they were consolidated into an appropriate report suitable for Board presentation. Key areas of the role included:-• Management and Consolidation of P&L’s across Operations• Management of the Balance Sheet for Operations• Management of the Value Added team and Actuarial department to report accurate ‘Value Added’ results to key stakeholders• Ensure key models are established in order to plan future Value Add margins• Completion of 5 year plans• Completion of Strategic and Scenario testing reports / presentations• Providing key information for the FD to attend Product Board meetings• Managing and providing monthly Board reports• Provide briefing papers for the Board reports• Managing the budgeting process• Build and maintain strong relationships with non – finance staff• Ensure the appropriate accounting is completed for the ‘void properties’ • Ensuring required data is passed to the FSA – i.e. Endowment Review processBest Achievements:–  Successfully re-designed the Board report (well received by the Board) Successful implementation of SAP (asset module) Liaised with IT division to enhance / automate time critical reporting Show less

• 

  East London

  May 2004 - Mar 2005

  Finance manager - London, England

  My role within First Group is to manage and control all key aspects of Finance and the reporting of results to head office for the East London Division. I am responsible for ensuring all financial activities are controlled and reported and where necessary appropriate action is taken in timely manner. The key points of the role are:-Weekly and Monthly KPI reporting, investigating any areas of concern and taking appropriate actionConsolidation of P&L results and all relevant accountingManagement of the Balance Sheet for the East London division and all relevant accountingMonthly forecasting and management reportingMaintaining good relationships with business leaders (Non finance and finance based)Implement and drive added value initiatives to improve ultimate resultsIdentifying areas for Financial improvement Ad-hoc Financial issues i.e. Fuel Duty Rebate returns, Accounting for key projects i.e. Fuel Cell - (zero emissions bus project)Optimisation of key reporting systems in order to ensure team's deliverance within time constraintsLeverage resources to meet highly demanding deadlinesManagement of 9 staffBest Achievements:- Phase 1 costs of Fuel Cell (bus project) reimbursed by the Transport for London Successful integration of 2 finance teams into 1, creating significant benefits Show less

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  Modis International

  Mar 2005 - Mar 2006

  Finance manager - London, England

  Manage and develop a team of finance staff (5), monitoring workflow and performance against set objectives and providing professional guidance and advice where necessary.Lead the month end accounting process for the business, ensuring that accurate accounts are produced in line with accounting best practice and that all departmental deadlines are met.Manage the production of budgets and forecasts as required for the business, and monitor the actual and forecast performance of the business against the budget and other indicators, ensuring financial information is accepted and understood by managers in the business.Review all balance sheet accounts each month, ensuring reconciliations are up to date and that reconciling items are resolved on a timely basis.Ensure that financial policies, procedures and controls are in place to ensure that the assets in the business are accurately accounted for and the profits correctly stated.Manage all returns to third parties including statutory accounts and IR and HMCE returns.Provide financial support to the business to aid decision-making, and ensure that ad hoc financial analysis is produced in line with business and group requirements.Ensure all processes adhere to Sarbanes Oxley accounting regulations - due to being US listedBest Achievements:- Moved Finance team to be fully SOX compliant with 3 months Re-designed Management accounts pack - Management team now take more time to review and understand their financials. Show less

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  HSS Hire

  Mar 2006 - Oct 2007

  Financial Controller - London, England

  • Manage and develop a team of finance staff (8), improve workflows and performance and set objectives whilst providing professional guidance and advice where necessary.• Implement development plans and formal appraisal processes to ensure the staff is motivated and working towards common goals.• Streamline the month end processes to ensure the key stakeholders receive high quality information and key reports in accordance to timetable.• Review all key financial reports and data to ensure issues are investigated and resolved.• Develop a strategy that ensures all data and reporting is dynamic and reliable.• Implement a new balance sheet reporting system (Cognos) that helps to ensure the company is not exposed to risk.• Empower the newly appointed regional finance controllers with the tools they need to help manage the regions finance requirements.• Ensure all external requirements such as VAT, TAX, Audit are met with high quality and to timetable• Represent Finance on key projects such as Hire stock system, debtor day reduction.• Ensure all Finance issues / objectives / targets are resolved and delivered effectively and professionally. • Liaise with external auditors ensuring any audit points are addressed• Liaise with the tax authorities ensuring all aspects are compliant with legislationBest Achievements Turnaround of Finance to a motivated team delivering high quality outputs, through mentoring, motivating and streamlining processes Implementation of Cognos for group reporting and producing statutory accounts Show less

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  International Air Transport Association (IATA)

  Jun 2008 - Nov 2016

  • Ensure the processes involving revenue are fully understood and documented• Ensure accounting and reporting for relevant countries are compliant to the internal controls of IATA• Development of financial reports / process improvements to be used by team members to improve key processes i.e. P&L reporting• Prepare the processes (electronic and manual) for transfer into SAP system• Prepare Spanish statutory accounts and ensure all relevant processes are followed, VAT, Income tax, Payroll requirements etc• Liaise with tax authorities / understand process of tax free status, provide support to staff when completing tax declarations• Manage the month end close for relevant countries• Ensure collections of invoices and relevant processes are strictly followed• Partner the country managers to ensure they are supported from a finance perspective• Complete relevant finance documents ensuring these are compliant with the FPPM (internal control document), such as Budgets and forecasts• Liaise with the internal control team (CPC) to ensure risks are identified and weaknesses are addressed• Review and adapt different accounting to ensure a ‘common’ method exists within the Madrid Service Centre for the Profit &Loss and Balance sheet• Complete forecasts, budgets, and other financial reporting for several countries managed at the SCE• Continually review and improve processes Show less

  • Manager - E&F Settlement & Reporting - Geneva, Switzerland

    Jul 2013 - Nov 2016

  • Finance - Madrid, Spain

    Jun 2008 - Jul 2013
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  ELEMENT

  May 2017 - Dec 2020

  Financial Controller

  -Finance Integration of newly acquired entities-Implementation of ADP Payroll system for +1500 users-Treasury Diagnostic - review of treasury functions and banking costs globally-Implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365

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  VIBRANT LIFE GROUP SL

  Jan 2021 - Aug 2022

  Chief Financial Officer
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  HCL Technologies

  Jul 2022 - now

  Dynamics F&SCM Solutions Manager