Newcastle University

Warwick School

Financial Controller at beIN Sports

Initiative

Commercial Financial Director

beIN is a TV Broadcaster in circa 50 countries and the largest acquirer of sports rights in the world. 

Roles and responsibilities included:
­-Report to UK CEO and complete responsibility for UK finance including; budgeting, cash flow forecasts, statutory accounts, tax filings, and monthly reporting to Qatar.
­-Oversight and implementation of Oracle accounting system whilst migrating away from SAGE. 
­-Implementation of numerous controls in the finance department and across the business. Controls added include; comprehensive month-end checklist, automation of numerous excel reports and creation of detailed cash flow forecasting of rights payments. 
­-Responsible for UK operating entity with $1bn revenue and a consolidation entity holding $3bn total assets.

beIN MEDIA GROUP

Financial Controller

Jungle is a global media, marketing and retail business with over 150 million followers on social media.

Roles and responsibilities included: 
­-Complete responsibility for month-end reporting, overseeing management accounts for six entities and performing a multi-currency consolidation. 
­-Implementation of numerous controls in the finance department and across the business. Controls added included; comprehensive month-end checks, month-end balance sheet reconciliation sheets, customer due diligence, staff expenses policy and campaign gross margins reviews. 
­-Finance business partnering; advising on inventory levels, improving sales process, OPEX cutting exercise, monthly explanation of P&L to senior management, explaining tax implications and advising the business on a JV investment. 
­-Large clean up the accounting ledgers for all six entities which allowed for monthly reporting by departments and brands.
­-Company secretary role ensuring compliance with UK taxes (PAYE, NIC, VAT, Corporate Tax) and compliance.
­-Assist the CFO in preparing forecasts, strategy papers and necessary due diligence for raising Series B and a convertible loan.
­-Developing the finance team of three direct reports.

Jungle Creations

Syncona is a FTSE 250 healthcare investment company, net assets of c£1.4bn.

Role and responsibilities increased through the role as Syncona completed a merger, changed administrator and became an FCA regulated entity. Roles and responsibilities included:
-	Management of the monthly financial reporting process; including NAV sign off and preparation of documents for key management meetings.
-	Fund analysis; modelling of fund returns and portfolio analysis which were used in key management meetings and reported to the stock market.
-	Cash management and forecasting; preparation of monthly and weekly cash flow forecasts, determining treasury policy, placing cash on deposit, determining hedging policy, calculating hedge quantum and ensuring cash levels stay within predetermined limits.
-	Managing the statutory accounts process; liaising with auditors, administrator, audit committee and Syncona’s investor relations team. 
-	Preparation of accounting memos for complex items, memos included; financial viability assessment, investment entity analysis of IFRS10, revaluation of investments and share based payment calculations.
-	Ad hoc projects for CFO; notably a ‘Request for Proposal’ for a new administrator and leading the project to change administrator which saved over £200k p.a. 
-	Compliance; implementation of internal policy and month end checks, completion of FCA GABRIEL reports and ensuring compliance with FCA regulations for investment companies.
-	Key communicator between numerous stakeholders; managing administrators, legal and compliance advisors, Syncona investor relations, auditors, Syncona management team and Syncona board.

This was a five month contract which was made permanent.

Syncona Limited

SFIL invests in maritime vessels, fleet of c80 vessels, revenues of c$400m, listed on NYSE. 

Role and responsibilities were:
-Line reviews for numerous financial line items, including complex items normally performed by the group reporting manager.
­-Quarterly reporting for numerous companies.
­-Preparation of quarterly press releases for NYSE and Oslo Stock Exchange.
­-Analysis and commentary in senior management report.
­-Production of accounting memos for senior management.
­-Review accounting treatment for new complex contracts.
­-Review and approval of journals.
­-Preparation of SOX compliant quarter end folders.

This was a six month contract.

SFL - Ship Finance International Limited

Group Accountant

Frontline is engaged in oil tanker shipping, fleet of c100 vessels, revenues of c$1.2bn, dual listed on the NYSE and the Oslo Stock Exchange. 

Responsibilities were similar to those at SFIL, as noted above.

This was a three month contract which was extended to six months.

Frontline Management

Audit junior manager role gaining exposure to a large range of industries from oil exploration to manufacturing to food retail. Benefited from working with clients of varying sizes and cultures.

Key clients included:
-	Aston Villa Football Club, revenue c£100m, managed a team of five, work reviewed by senior partners at PwC. Performed a junior management role when Aston Villa was subject to a takeover offer in 2014.
-­	Midlands Express Way (M6 Toll road), total liabilities c£2,200m.

Assurance Senior Associate

Placements from Newcastle University to PwC Aberdeen. Placement duration January – April annually. 

Roles included audit testing performed by associate and senior associate grade. Clients were in the Oil & Gas sector; mainly FTSE 100 & FTSE AIM.

Assurance Associate

Prior to starting university I worked for BDO researching potential acquisition targets or acquirers for the M&A team in Corporate Finance

Ross Carswell