Key Skills and Abilities

MARK ALLAN COURTIS FCMA

190 Diane Road Worsley

Manchester M28 2GF

Tel: 0161 728 4186

Mobile: 0467 780 177

PROFILE

Finance Director with substantial board level success in subsidiaries of Cottons Textiles plc. Noted for playing a key role in the turnaround of medium sized companies, by refocusing the businesses on major customer accounts e.g. Marks and Spencer. Style is recognised as ‘hands on’ and includes developing subordinates.

KEY SKILLS

1. Formulating and selling business recovery strategies

2. Managing the changes in the business caused by the new strategies

3. Setting up and managing financial control systems and training the people involved

4. Specifying and implementing business-wide IT systems. (2006: Integrated 30-user system from Berkeley Computer Systems on Windows NT platform using networked micros; 2004: Accounting package from Ampersand on Unix platform; 1998/9: Integrated 40-user package from Sanderson Computers on Pick platform)

5. Cash and credit management

CAREER HISTORY

SIR THOMAS AND ARTHUR WARDLE 2004 to date

£12m turnover autonomous subsidiary of Cottons Textiles plc, employing 150, dyers of apparel fabrics, based in Leek, Staffordshire

FINANCE DIRECTOR - Staff of 11, 8 accounting and IT staff (including 1 certified finalist)

(Brought in as part of new management team to turn around a loss-making business.)

Achievements

6. My initial financial analysis showed a ‘quick fix’ solution for reducing losses by increasing volume through price changes - successfully implemented.

Then as part of the management team, helped prepare and sell to HQ a strategy to:

7. Reduce losses

8. Move market focus for the converting part of the business to Europe. (I prepared the business case identifying the new break-even level. Profit was achieved within a year.)

9. Develop a more upmarket UK product, targeted on M&S. (I resisted the arguments for pulling out of the UK entirely and provided cost...