Career Profile

A focused, energetic, professional leader with broad ranging commercial, financial and business skills gained in a number of industries. Highly developed communication skills with an ability to build relationships with key stakeholders.
 
Key Skills
 
Strategic finance and reporting – skills obtained from presenting to key stakeholders with diverse backgrounds to assist organisations achieve financial outcomes.
Strategic leadership – skills developed by managing the business planning and budgeting process and from leading teams to align systems and processes to meet objectives.
Commercial acumen – skills acquired by participating in complex business negotiations, undertaking financial analysis and assessing alternatives to maximise results.
Communication – superior written and verbal communication skills developed through presenting to management and boards, writing policies, preparing business cases, reports and board papers.
Stakeholder engagement – skills attained by business partnering with a broad range of people including boards, committees, executive, staff, consultants and subject matter experts.
Lateral thinker – skills gained whilst managing various functions including HR, IT, property, legal, and from participating in many whole of organisation projects and initiatives.
Governance skills – acquired by serving as a director for Circus Oz, as CFO & Company Secretary of the Australian Human Resources Institute, and currently as a board member and audit committee chair of the Adelaide Film Festival.
 
Board/Committee Experience
 
2020 – Present         Adelaide Film Festival – Board Member and Audit Committee Chair
2009 - 2018              Australian Human Resources Institute Ltd - Company Secretary
2006 - 2009              Circus Oz Ltd - Board Director, Finance Committee Chair, Company Secretary
 
Employment History
 
Chief Financial Officer – contract (reporting to the Chief Executive Officer)
Adelaide Film Festival
June 2019 – November 2019 (contract role)
 
Adelaide Film Festival is a government corporation that produces a biennial eleven?day celebration and exploration of Australian and international screen culture with a unique program of screenings, forums and special events.
 
Key Responsibilities:
Overhaul of the finance function and implementation of significant change management initiatives.
 

Major Achievements:
Preparation of annual accounts and management of the 2019 audit process in consultation with the Auditor-General's Department.

• Review and implementation of new finance team structure to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of financial services and reporting to the business.
• Implementation of a cloud based, paperless accounting software system - Quickbooks Online (QBO).
• Review and establishment of improved financial and board reports to ensure stakeholder expectations are met.
• Review of organisational policies and establishment of procedures for the finance department.
• Establishment of an internal audit program.

 
Finance Manager (reporting to the Chief Executive Officer)
YMCA South Australia
January 2019 – April 2019
 
YMCA South Australia is one of Australia's oldest and most respected community organisations which provides a range of programs and services to build strong people, strong families and strong communities.
 
Key Responsibilities:
Overall responsibility for effectively managing the YMCA South Australia’s finance function, which provides finance support services to YMCA South Australia and YMCA Northern Territory.
 
Major Achievements:
Review of finance team processes and structure.
 
CFO & Company Secretary (reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board)
Australian Human Resources Institute Limited
July 2009 – December 2018
 
The Australian HR Institute (AHRI) is the national association representing human resource and people management professionals with around 20,000 members from Australia and across the globe. It is a public company limited by guarantee with revenues of approximately $13m and 45 staff.
 
Key Responsibilities:
As part of the executive team and as a business partner to the CEO, I had overall responsibility for the business and financial performance, commercial, risk management, insurance, contract, legal, and company secretarial functions, including:

• Financial oversight of the business including tax, cash management, budgeting, cost modelling, pricing, forecasting, annual statutory reporting and KPI assessment.
• Provision of company secretarial services, support and advice to the Board, Council and Audit and Risk Committee.
• Business partner and coach the executive and management teams in financial, business and project analysis and improve competency in this area.  
• Led the company’s risk management, internal and external audit and compliance programs.
• Reviewed and managed all contractual, lease arrangements, tender processes and insurances.
• Led significant change management projects and initiatives across the business, including the implementation of IT systems, changes to policies and implementation of key initiatives.
• Member of the HR Committee, particularly providing advice on remuneration, policy changes and the legal implications of decisions.

Major Achievements:

• Led AHRI’s annual budgeting process, including the financial management of a $13m revenue base resulting in returns of between 5%-8% each year.
• Improved cash position from $3m as at June 2010 to $12m.
• Improved debt recovery procedures and reduced average receivables by 75%. 
• Successful implementation of significant change management projects such as the Sage 300 ERP and iMIS20 member engagement system at a cost of $0.7m, on time and on budget.
• Significantly improved financial and KPI reporting that resulted in more timely and relevant information being provided to assist with decision making.
• Oversight and implementation of significant re-writes of AHRI’s Constitution resulting in more modern and streamlined governance practices. 
• Developed and implemented a risk management and compliance framework that assists in identifying and mitigating key risks through improved business practices.
• Project managed the organisation’s accommodation relocation within the CBD. This included the sourcing, negotiation and management of all aspects of the move in an efficient manner, on time and on budget.
• Managed the transition of the business from a for-profit entity to a not-for-profit. This resulted in tax savings for both the business and staff, via FBT, GST and income tax concessions.

Finance Manager (reporting to the General Manager)
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Ltd
September 2001 – June 2009

 
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is an independent dispute resolution service for small business and residential customers who have a complaint about their telephone or internet service in Australia. It is an industry funded, public company limited by guarantee with revenues of approximately $30m and 250 staff.
 
Key Responsibilities:

• Responsibility for the entire finance function including: financial reporting, management accounting, tax, audit, cash and investments
• Systems implementation and business process improvement initiatives
• Staff management, business partnering and stakeholder engagement
• Management of the human resources function

 
Major Achievements:

• Management of a $30m revenue base, with surpluses achieved each year.
• Supported the business during a phase of exponential growth - from a $5m to a $30m budget and 30 to 250 staff in just over 7 years. This included the modelling of costing and fee structures to support growth, adapting systems, and managing the commercial and contractual aspects of relocating the office on two occasions.
• Improved debt recovery procedures and increased the turnover of receivables by 30%. 
• Project managed the implementation of SAP Business One and Sage Meridian Micropay. This significantly improved reporting, streamlined processing and with the introduction of cost centres, assisted the business with decision making.
• Created dashboards to assist the business in understanding its performance real time.
• Introduced a salary packaging and non-cash benefits scheme to improve staff retention.

Earlier Positions

Aug 00 - Aug 01               Finance Manager, Roger David Stores Pty Ltd
Mar 99 - Aug 00               Senior Financial Project Accountant, Attorney-General’s Department
Aug 96 - Mar 99               Project Accountant, Office of Consumer & Business Affairs
Dec 94 - Jul 96                 Budget Analyst, Department of Treasury and Finance
Apr 94 - Dec 94                Project Accountant, Dept. for Education & Children’s Services
Jan 94 - Apr 94                 Finance Assistant, Attorney-General’s Department
 
Education

2006                                 Company Directors Course Diploma, AICD
2002-2004                        Master of Business Administration, Deakin University 
1993-1997                        Certified Practising Accountant Program, CPA Australia 
1989-1992                        Bachelor of Commerce, Flinders University of South Australia

 

Professional Memberships
CPA Australia
AICD