Curriculum Vitae

ADDRESS Wardle Bank,
Calveley Hall Lane,
Wardle,
Cheshire, CW6 5BS

WEBSITE www.lenejones.com
Email lenjones@lenejones.com
TELEPHONE
Home 01270528680
Mobile 07788914843
DATE OF BIRTH
15th. October 1955

QUALIFICATIONS
9 'O' Levels
4'A' Levels
B.A. (Hons) IIi , Accounting and Financial Administration
Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Administration
F.C.A

BRIEF CHRONOLOGY
University of Wales 1975-1978 Undergraduate (Three Years)

Bristol Polytechnic 1978-1979 Post Graduate ( One Year )

Deloitte,Haskins & Sells 1979-1984 Articled Clerk/Senior ( Five Years)
(now PricewaterhouseCoopers)

Hall Livesey Brown 1984-1993 Manager/Partner (Nine Years)
(Chartered Accountants)

Paramount p.l.c. 1993-1997 Finance Director/Company Secretary
(Four Years)
Assignment work 1998 to March 2000
Principal assignments---
Mitras Composites Aug 98 to April 99 Financial Project Director
Protector Technology May1999 October 1999 Business Accountant
Ellis & Everard plc Oct 1999 to March 2000 Regional Finance Manager

Practical Car and Van Rental Ltd/Rival Insurance Services Ltd
April 2000 to date
Finance Director and Company Secretary

Practical Car and Van Rental Ltd April 2000- to date

((Sector Distribution – Group Retail Turnover £40million)
I have been employed as a Finance Director to review and reinforce the Internal control and Finance functions to enable key Business Activities to perform to their optimum, and to add value to the Company. I also own Equity in this Company

My main duties are as follows
* Review and upgrade EPOS (Bespoke)system and capabilities within Franchise Network and HO
* Implementation of IT Systems within the Organisation to control 160 Franchise Sites .
* Review of Staffing levels, Finance needs and resource allocation on subsequent rationalisation.
* Introduce new working practices to upgrade existing MIS and re establish some basic Accounting and Administrative Disciplines
* Innovate training programmes and arrange skilling and de-skilling as necessary
* Refinance method of operations to cope with seasonal fluctuations in Working Capital. Liase with Funders and Manage Credit Lines
* Introduce and monitor Key performance indicators for Customer Service.

The specification for this job is wide ranging but primarily the priority is to support the main Board in rationalising Costs and developing e-commerce related activities especially around our Insurance product. 20 people report directly to me

Restructuring of Insurance Arm of business to accommodate new web based IT reporting and Insurance Validation system.

Managing Director and equity stakeholder new Insurance subsidiary, at present 200 sites and growing at the rate of one new site per week.

Negotiating with possible JV Partner to fund expansion of the Guernsey based Insurance Company (Offshore Captive)

I also act as the Compliance Officer and deal with the Regulatory issues of the FSA and our Insurance Products



Assignment Work

I have been employed in a number of roles ranging from assistant to FD, through to individual Project Management.
The Three main roles have had a common theme of Change Management and the Implementation of IT solutions to long established problems as well as ensuring that the usual monthly reporting routines are maintained.
The Management of Cultural and Organisational Growth following Corporate Restructuring and Group re- allocation of resources has also been a key element in these assignments

I have also been employed to attend to the Statutory reporting and Consolidation/Tax issues prior to External Audit.

I gained significant experience in the implementation of SAP and Baan systems and have a good working knowledge of ERP systems generally

My roles were specifically chosen so that they added to my experience in Managing people as well as upgrading my IT skills.


PARAMOUNT PLC 1993-1997
(Net Group Assets £14 million, Group Turnover £20 million)
Sector - Drinks and Restaurant
Paramount P.L.C. was a Publicly Quoted Company owning and managing an Estate of 300 public houses and hotels throughout the North West.
I was employed as Group FD for five years controlling a staff of 9 with various qualifications and reported directly to the Chief Executive. I took the Company's Accounts function from Start-up through to the rigours of due diligence and monthly reporting of key commercial data, and was responsible for the presentation of this data to the various Stakeholders.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Accounting and IT Business Solutions
Introduced and upgraded existing accounts production system to cope with the Company's Strategic decision to diversify into Tele-sales and Distribution, which included the installation of EPOS systems, and integration into Stock Control, and Product Margin information.
Introduced Accounting Commercial Management Information Systems to enhance Margin and profit streams on individual operating units on a timely and accurate basis.
* Treasury Management
Negotiated with Bankers for new Facilities with three Group Companies on non recourse basis, raising significant Finance and innovated Working capital controls.
Implemented Hedging Policies and gained experience in Derivatives, significantly reducing exposure to interest rate movements.
Hands on Management of daily Cash reporting and funds flow.
* Strategic/Commercial awareness
Resourced Accounts function to enhance Revenue earning opportunities
Participated in Board Meetings and implementation of Business Plans
Part of Float Team for USM
Overseen two Rights Issues and raised Capital for expansion.
Initiated and managed move from USM to main Market
Liased with external Stakeholders.(Labatts, Greenalls, Burtonwood)
Eliminated underperforming businesses.
Negotiated long term supply contracts and enhanced product awareness (Whitbread, Courage, Bass).
Key Retail and Service experience
* Regulatory Awareness
Compiled Annual Tax returns and implemented tax planning controls
Ensured high degree of compliance over technical issues
Company Secretarial and Responsibility skills acquired.
Attained Reporting Deadlines for external and internal purposes
Liased with Auditors, Analysts, Bankers and Corporate advisors

HALL LIVESEY BROWN (CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS) 1984-1993

* Joined 5 Partner firm specialising in General Practice for small to medium size Limited Companies and eventually left the firm ,having been involved in the retirement of three Senior Partners and the appointment of Junior Partners to its (then) size of 14 equity Partners. I was jointly responsible for the administration of the Chester Office.

* Became part of the Partnership Development team to drive the business and handled my own Portfolio of clients, being the Partner in Charge of Significant Assignments, bringing with me a good degree of Knowledge gained whilst employed at Deloittes.

* Practice Management skills acquired through my time on the Marketing Committees and developed a strategy within the firm to acquire new clients and retain and enhance the income stream from existing Customer base.

* Change Management skills within the Practice and overseeing the retirement of Senior Partners and being involved in Profit share negotiations and Pooling Issues.

* IT literate and versed in time recording systems, linked to Billing invoices and analyses of chargeable and recoverable time
* Financially literate, having experienced the growth needs of Professional Practices through Private Capital and Bank funding
* Versed in General Partnership issues of succession and Tax planning on retirement

* Experience gained in the following areas within the parameters of the Owner/Director Company
Formation of Companies and advice regarding the formulation of Business Plans and funding
Provision of MIS advice on latest Auditing Issues as part of the annual review.
Advice regarding tax strategies and the various ways value can be extracted from Limited Companies in an efficient manner to maximise owners returns. In depth Knowledge of negotiating with the Inland Revenue both Locally and with Enquiry Branch

Key Sector Experience-
Construction, with specialist knowledge of Long term Contracts and W.I.P.
Communications, with knowledge of handling Sector growth.
Leisure, having handled accounts for hotels and pubs
Service sectors, having handled Solicitor and FSA regulated clients.

 



Summary

During my time in Private Practice I enhanced my Communication and Interpersonal skills in handling people as well as established a basic grounding in the Owner/ manager incorporated environment.
I enhanced my own personal Commercial Awareness through Practice related issues and developed Robust Principles and Leadership Abilities.
I developed Technical Skills to maximise returns from a given Portfolio.
I have applied these skills in the world of Commerce and have successfully driven business forward through application of basic business techniques.
I have an eye for detail which helps me understand issues as well as the ability to have a broad perspective on key problems.
I am also keen to enhance my learning and I am currently studying for an MBA at Cranfield. I also sit on the Institute of Chartered Accountant’s Finance and Management Faculty Committee which enhances my professional development. I also participate in the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association Insurance Fraud Group and their Risk Management and Security Committee.