Ross Cheshire

Experience

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  KPMG UK

  Sept 1980 - Aug 1991

  Department Manager

  International firm of accountantsDepartmental managerAchievements:• First time qualification as Chartered Accountant.• Audit and tax responsibility for key clients in the Midlands• Managed KPMG role in M&A projects in UK and overseas for Tarmac, Apricot/ACT Group, Lloyds Chemist, Evode, IMI, Triplex Lloyd etc.

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  ACT Financial Systems

  Aug 1991 - Apr 1995

  Divisional Financial Controller

  Division of listed software and services group.International Financial Controller for group’s overseas financial software operations (including New York, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney) 1991-1994Responsible for UK financial software operations during 1994-1995 (£50m+ annual turnover)Achievements:• Integral part of team for due diligence on acquisition of an international software and sales operation.• Introduced new systems of financial and managerial control over overseas offices.• Set up legal entities and back offices for new companies in Singapore, Brussels, Chicago and Moscow.• Trained all overseas finance staff and took direct control where required in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney and Moscow.• In 1994 also assumed responsibility for all UK financial software operations reporting directly to ACT Group managing and financial directors whilst finding “bedrock” in an ailing business and divesting non-core activities.• Appraisal of all fixed price contracts prior to signature and regular review of progress.• Critical review of all development projects and regular re-forecasts of costs to delivery of product. Show less

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  Corofil Woodall

  Apr 1995 - Nov 1996

  Financial Director

  A division of Benjamin Priest/Alumasc manufacturing, sourcing and distributing for the construction industry.Divisional Finance Director responsible for all financial functions, HR, IT, M&A projects.Achievements:• Managed successful acquisition strategy and subsequent integration of diverse businesses.• Led reduction of manufacturing sites to achieve efficiencies and savings.• Successful implementation of previously stalled software project.• Responsible for all aspects of banking and finance for the division including establishing lines of credit for importing from the Far East. Show less

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  Bilston & Battersea Enamels plc

  Nov 1996 - Mar 2004

  Group Financial Director

  International manufacturing and marketing company selling, inter alia, the Halcyon Days brand with subsidiaries and partner companies operating in four countries.Group Finance Director responsible for all financial functions, HR, IT, M&A projects, shareholder relations. Managed one subsidiary.Achievements:• Managed MBI and associated placement of family shareholdings – including 3i - in 1997.• Managed long term relationship with a series of private equity investors 1999-2003.• Led trade sale of Bilston & Battersea in 2003.• Managed printing subsidiary and formulated expansion strategy- within two years sales improved from £200,000 in-house to approaching £1m (mainly to third parties).• Managed five major M&A projects. • Restructuring/cost savings – led the company’s major cost reduction exercise including significant overseas sourcing. Savings of 40% in fixed and variable costs over five years.• Renegotiated enlarged bank facilities and established treasury management. Show less

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  Cradley Group Holdings plc

  Mar 2004 - Jun 2008

  Group Financial Director

  AIM listed printing and publishing group with turnover >£25m and 375 employees.Group Finance Director and Company Secretary responsible for all financial functions, IT, M&A projects, HR, shareholder relations. Executive responsibilities within publishing division.Achievements:• From appointment led restructuring/cost savings within the Group’s printing division to drive down its cost base by >£1.5m (mainly in manning levels) delivering a 15% saving in fixed costs. • Immediately after appointment identified shortcomings in existing publishing management which led to a complete management restructuring of the group’s publishing operations directly under group MD/FD which resulted in day to day executive responsibilities. Personally led wind down and closure of book publishing business.• Negotiated and secured new banking facilities of £3.5m and additional borrowing arrangements totalling of £1.25m plus new HP facilities.• Managed three M&A projects and negotiated acquisition of 49% minority interest.• As independent director led sale/leaseback of property to family directors’ trust to raise £2.5m to fund proposed restructuring of printing division and reduce debt.• Following the board decision to cease printing, the shareholders determined to wind up the group’s publishing and print management activities. Accordingly, personally identified potential purchasers of publishing operations, negotiated disposals and led closures of elements of group that did not prove saleable. Show less

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  High Bank Consulting Limited

  Jun 2008 - Sept 2010

  Principal

  Following closure and redundancy from Cradley Group Holdings plc, set up own consultancy business providing management and accountancy services. Inter alia, acting in the following roles:Terenure Investments Limited:• Acted as group financial director and interim managing director for a cash restricted series of companies owned by an Irish investor. Charged with investigating whether individual businesses were viable and whether the financial backers should inject further funds into these and/or into new ventures which were also being actively sought. • Evaluation of acquisition opportunities and presentation of cases to potential funders.• Without securing sufficient funding, the brief changed to one of divestment, protecting the lenders and creditors and preserving value and jobs. Cash had to be managed on a day-to-day basis directly with the bank. Buyers for five businesses were found – plus remaining closures implemented.Lohmann GB Limited:• Successfully sought funding for an MBO of a national poultry farm business. • Subsequently, acted as the financial director overseeing implementation of a new accounting and MIS system and relocating the administration to the Midlands for this large scale poultry business.CWXperts:• Prepared defence arguments for a proceeds of crime case in a £28m pan-European VAT fraud.• Acted as expert witness in a number of cases - including giving evidence in Court• Lectured on the subject of confiscations to barristers and solicitors.Malvern House International Limited:• Following its acquisition by an AIM listed group, charged with investigating accounting issues and making recommendations, setting up budgeting and reporting procedures for this London based language school.Cradley Group Holdings plc:• Continued as the main director of Cradley Group Holdings plc during its planned closure and voluntary liquidation. Show less

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  Malvern House Europe

  Sept 2010 - Dec 2014

  Divisional Financial Director

  After providing consultation following the trade sale of Malvern House International Limited to AEC Education plc, appointed Finance Director with additional group strategy role reporting directly to the Group Chairman.Responsibilities:- Head of finance, HR, IT, buildings and expansion projectsAchievements:-• Introduced new financial management tools and reports to measure KPIs enabling improved forecasting, more accurate revenue projections and tighter budget controls as well as accreditation monitoring.• Responsible with London managing director for effecting downsizing to turn around loss making business in the face of major government changes affecting UK language schools.• Negotiated divestment of four London school leases and three office facilities (2011-2014).• In addition to the traditional finance role, now addressing a wider brief including pricing, capacity planning and property issues.• Worked with two UK universities on facilities management projects.• Presently working on key international plan for European expansion to refocus group from Far East.• Full responsibility for IFRS compliant AIM listed parent group accounts for last two years. Show less

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  High Bank Consulting Limited

  Jan 2015 - Oct 2016

  Principal

  Undertook various assignments for my own consulting businesses including:Pasta Foods Limited - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk • Prepared financial restructuring plan for group and secured support of owners and bankers• Appointed interim financial director from July to December 2015 to steer £30m turnover group based in Norfolk through refinancing and turnaround. Secured lines up to £8.5m in December 2015.• Addressed damaged banking relationship and worked within a very stretched cashflow• Managed currency exposures on export sales and core purchases.Intercoat Industrial Paints Limited - Walsall, West Midlands• Acting as interim FD of privately owed £7m group to address issues including weak//tardy reporting - April 2016-October 2016.Agathos Management LLP - Mayfair, London• Undertook due diligence exercises for a private equity firm.WayPoint Change LLP:• Undertook a series of due diligence exercises reporting to private equity backers.AEC Education plc• Prepared IFRS compliant accounts (31 December 2012-2014) for AIM listed company.Malvern House Europe• Following redundacy continued to oversee year end and handover to Dublin based team.Pretty Investments Limited• Advisory on property disposal, structuring, tax and accounting. Show less

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  UBT Accountants

  Nov 2016 - now

  Senior Account Manager

  Appointed as senior account manager to develop fledgling accountancy practice within the Warwick based UBT consultancy business - providing financial consultancy and advisory services including forecasting, budgeting, internal systems reviews, strategic business reviews, desktop reviews, turnaround, cashflow monitoring, accounting and tax advisory, client staff mentoring. Supported clients by face to face visits.Over three years built up a portfolio of clients in buy-sell (packaging materials, fixings), manufacturing and contracting sectors (hospitals, commercial landscaping and building developments). Show less