Jamie Stewart

Finance Manager for the Manpower Division (T/O $60M) The business supplies c17, 000 seafarers worldwide to Ship Management Companies across 1000 Vessels. Primary Responsibility was to introduce, manage and control a new Fixed Price Invoicing system/methodology for the “rebilling” of Manpower costs and associated Fees.

This role encompasses leading in the current process and system improvement projects - particularly in terms of improving efficiency of the invoicing process. Performing commercialisation studies/projects. This includes internal and external benchmarking. Review, Consolidation & Analysis of the monthly management accounts for all Manpower entities, including establishing good working relationships and communication links with the local financial controllers and other group personnel worldwide.

To manage the portfolio for the most important client in the UK branch - the St. Martin Group.

The role encompasses managing individual workload and the workload of the team to ensure that key client service level agreements are met. I also had to develop and support the team through staff management, recruitment, appraisals, training, performance management etc.

The role also encompasses providing quarterly reporting to the client including full financial P&L and Balance Sheet entries for properties allocated - income and expenditure, prepayments, accruals and journals. To provide a detailed variance analysis of actual expenditure to budget / forecast. Annual budgets to be completed after detailed meetings with the surveyors, property managers and the client. On a monthly basis ensure that all service charges are closed within the agreed KPI timescales. To liaise with the clients auditor’s external audit process. To collaborate with the Directors in the audit planning process and in the production of the annual accounts for the client.

Working for another public body the main focus was to ensure best value for money and achieve the three main areas of economy, efficiency and effectiveness within the organisation whilst ensuring that financial information is processed in accordance with the necessary procedures.

The role encompasses production of monthly budget statements, preparation of month-end journals and budget adjustments, analysis and explanation of financial information to non-financial budget holders and financial planning. The role also exposed me to producing payroll analysis and PAYE returns, quarter end VAT returns and the annual internal / external audit.

This role gave me exposure to the audit process and dealing with payroll and VAT returns. I was also able to further develop my management accounting skills with exposure to the whole operations of the company.

Responsibility for the day to day running of the Finance Function in a large Car Showroom / Repair Garage / MOT Centre which, as well as myself, included a purchase ledger clerk and a sales leger clerk who reported directly to me. I reported to the Regional Accountant who looked after branches in Dundee and Aberdeen.

The role encompasses production of monthly budget statements, preparation of month-end journals and budget adjustments, analysis and explanation of financial information to non-financial budget holders and financial planning. The role also encompassed daily banking and cash flow analysis, debtor analysis and collection, and creditor analysis and payment.
The main difference between this role and the NHS role was that there was more emphasis on the daily accounting / financial running of the business which I was not exposed to in my previous role.

I had ensure best value for money and achieve the three main areas of economy, efficiency and effectiveness within the organisation whilst ensuring that financial information is processed in accordance with the necessary procedures.

The role encompasses assistance with production of monthly budget statements, preparation of month-end journals and budget adjustments, analysis and explanation of financial information to budget holders, assisting in financial planning, and understanding and enforcement of corporate governance procedures.

I worked alongside the Management Accountant and Senior Management Accountant in learning about budgetary management and helping to support budget holders.