David Ward

FD/CFO

Guildford & Kingston Upon Thames

David Ward In 60 Seconds

Versatile, personable and positive, I have worked in many entrepreneurial businesses in varied industries. With The CFO Centre since 2017, I help owner managers to define and implement plans to realise their personal ambitions, fostering teamwork, creating planning opportunities and making best use of technology. I work with inspiring business leaders around the region from Guildford to Kingston upon Thames.

Specialist Skills

Exit Planning

Advised stakeholders in preparation for and through 7 sale processes.

Strategic Thinker

For example, earn out plan maximised advantage - profit target beaten by £950k.

Profit Improvement

Changing systems and processes, making significant savings.

Management Information

Delivering systems to give clarity and single view to board.

Budgeting & Forecasting

Informing decisions - in one case pre-emptive action added £650k to profit.

Track Record Highlights

As part of the management team achieved £25m exit from £11m MBO. We achieved a 70% return for private equity backer in under 2 years and grew profit per employee to 10 times industry average.

Led share restructuring and devised EMI scheme to create £1.6m tax saving opportunity for company and shareholders.

Engaged with HMRC to agree R&D claim methodology. Have since submitted claims valued at over £7m (the largest single claim was £2.1m), worth £1.4m in cash/post tax reserves, all agreed without query.

Optimised exit value - change in capitalisation policy enhanced headline valuation by £7m at due diligence. Change in revenue recognition policy led to Queens Award for Exports.

Boosted annualised revenue from £8.7m to £18.8m, profit from £0.8m to £3.9m, in manufacturing company, working with CEO to revitalise business and its operations.

Managed key group relationships with advisers, investors and lenders in highly leveraged, £100m turnover, 3i backed business.

Designed ERP structure and reporting, to create real time visibility of production output and profitability - adopted as implementation model for other subsidiaries in listed FMCG group.

Sector Experience

Technology, Media & Telecoms: Software, Exhibitions.

Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: FMCG, Distribution.

Services

Construction

Hospitality & Tourism

Government & Defence

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