Hire a CFO Call us 0800 169 1499
Hire a CFO Call us 0800 169 1499

Gary McDonald In 60 Seconds

I am a Finance Director with over 30 years’ experience, mainly in the retail sector but also in transport and distribution, waste management, full maintenance leasing, food product manufacturing and consulting. I have experience in turning around challenged businesses, finance functions and driving major cost savings. I empower decision making through improving accessibility and reliability of management information, overcoming customer satisfaction issues, driving operational transformation, and implementing effective controls. I have many attributes of value for an organisation, including the ability to lead through my persuasiveness and positive attitude. I am naturally assertive and motivated by challenging situations and likes a variety of challenging assignments. I am curious about the world around me and I love to travel with friends and family embracing new sites and experiences. In my free time I love to be outdoors, that can be hiking up a mountain or braaiing with friends and family under the stars in the bush.

Specialist Skills

Management information

Harvey's Furniture - Enhanced management information quality and consistency through improved weekly reporting and implemented a product profitability analysis.

Business Planning & Change Management

Steinhoff UK - Program Director for Customer Satisfaction Programme - Identified and dealt with the root causes of dissatisfied customers and introduced process and system improvements. Improved NPS scores for the business and reduced customer care costs by £7mil over 3 years. Achieved £3.5mil to date in 2020.

Profit improvement and Cost Savings

Responsible for the Steinhoff UK Retail goods not for resale cost saving program. Achieved £0.5mil savings in 2018 and a further £0.3mil in 2019. This included restructuring the company car fleet.

Governance & Compliance

Trustee of the Dean Close Foundation – Member for the Finance & General Purpose Committee – Chair of the Remuneration Committee - Chair of the Steinhoff UK Group Defined Contribution Pension Fund Governance Committee.

Financial Operations

Harvey's - Restructured the Finance function to enhance governance and risk management, recruited to address skills gaps and increased reconciliation standard and frequency.

Track Record Highlights

  • An experienced finance director bringing a diplomatic and involved approach, turning around challenged businesses, finance functions and driving major cost savings including businesses in distress.
  • Joined The CFO Centre in October 2020 to provide freelance finance director services for SME businesses.
  • Industry experience includes retail, transport & distribution, car fleet management, waste management, chemical manufacturing and consulting.
  • Founder and director of a successful financial management consultancy.
  • Finance Director for Avis Fleet Services, NCP Food Products division and Waste-Tech ltd.
  • Various finance director roles in the Steinhoff UK Group – furniture & beds.
  • BCOMM & BACC – University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg South Africa.
  • Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants.
  • Empowers decision making through improving accessibility and reliability of management information, overcoming customer satisfaction issues, driving operational transformation, implementing effective controls, enhancing audit functions, and ensuring robust corporate governance.
  • Ability to lead through persuasiveness and positive attitude. Naturally assertiveness and desire to win, will result in adding value to an organisation's bottom line.

Sector Experience

  • Retail & Consumer Products
  • Transport and distribution
  • Waste Management
  • Not for Profit: Charity
  • Full maintenance Leasing
  • Food Product Manufacturing
  • Consulting
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