Karen Holland

ADDRESS: 4 Erica Close TEL: 07487 816932West EndSurrey EMAIL: karenholland1@gmail.comGU24 9PE

PERSONAL PROFILE: A hard working, well-educated business manager with skills encompassing business administration, project management, financial management, customer & client service and leadership.

___________________________________________________________________________

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:Nov 2012 to Apr 2015: Clerk to the Council and Responsible Financial Officer

Windlesham Parish Council (Bagshot, Lightwater & Windlesham)Responsible for the efficient management of all the council’s affairs including the day-to-day running of the council:Finance – recommending budgets, ensuring sound budgetary management and compliance with strict financial regulations, improving internal control processes, day-to-day management of the accounts, preparing the annual return, administrating VAT claims, managing the monthly payroll and pension systems, and controlling and improving financial reserves;Property – responsibility for managing council owned land and buildings, including substantial cemeteries, whilst also working with local voluntary organisations to improve the management of other open spaces and community centres in the parish; Legal – responsibility for ensuring that the council operates within a strict legal and statutory framework;Leadership & Interpersonal Skills – overall responsibility for a team of 6 employees whilst reporting to a team of 18 councillors as body corporate whilst resolving queries from residents (including the recently bereaved), and with voluntary organisations and other local authorities.

Key Achievements: Significantly improved the council’s financial position by improving non-precept income by more than 50% and reducing administrative costs by 30%.Modernised the legal & statutory framework of the Council;Implemented an organisational system for managing the ground staff’s day to day work schedule;Improved working relationships with local voluntary organisations;Successfully applied for ~£80k of financial grants for property development;Improved the appearance of the villages by initiating a ‘villages in bloom’ project;Improved communication with residents and improved the profile of the council through the local media, social media feeds and community events.

Jan 2009 to Nov 2012: Director - Caxton Properties LimitedProperty Investment (Southampton area)Board level responsibility for a wide range of functions: Finance – managing accounts, arranging bank finance and profit & loss responsibility;Legal – researching and defending legal actions;Customer relations – main point of contact for customers/tenants;Business Development – managing planning permission applications; negotiating with prospective tenants;Property Maintenance – ensuring that all properties are properly maintained; and managing the work of sub-contractors.

Key Achievements: Renegotiated bank financing ensuring the long term future of the company;Successfully defended legal actions;

pg. 1

Successfully managed assignment of leases to new tenants during property down-turn and improved business terms.

Jan 1997 to 2008: Director/Owner – Juniper Media Projects LimitedService Provider to the Publishing IndustryOwner of a consultancy specialising in research and business analysis on behalf of magazine and newspaper publishers.

Key Achievements: Established and developed a freelance business consultancy for the magazine and newspaper publishing industry undertaking numerous research and business analysis projects on behalf of major publishers, media consultants and industry bodies.

Jan 1991 to 1996: Head of Marketing – COMAG Magazine MarketingService Provider to the Publishing IndustryDepartment manager of 15 with 4 direct reports (retail marketing, sector marketing, corporate marketing and information development). Responsible for providing high quality marketing support to COMAG’s 100+ client base; building new disciplines and best practices.

Key Achievements: Running corporate seminars; development of sales forecasting systems; new IT systems development; successful new business pitches; continual high client service provision.

EDUCATION:

UNIVERSITY OF BATH: 1986 – 1990 BSc BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (2i):

Strategic Marketing, Strategic Management, International Marketing, International Business, Human Resource Management, Business Ethics, Computing, Business Economics, Statistics, Industrial Relations, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour, Marketing, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, English Law.

2nd year placement at Rank Xerox, Uxbridge - Marketing Assistant – Market research department.

3rd yr. placement at Barclays Premier - promotion of value added services to the Barclays Premier brand.

4th yr. exchange at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Netherlands (IMScEC Diploma in International Business)

COLLINGWOOD SCHOOL CAMBERLEY 1980-1986:

3 ‘A’ LEVELS – Economics (A), Statistics (A), History (A)

10 ‘O’ LEVELS – Maths, English Language, English Literature, Economics, Statistics, Biology, Additional Statistics, History, Chemistry, Fine Art plus RSA Typing.

__________________________________________________________________________________

INTERESTS & HOBBIES: Actively involved in the local community – was a founding member of the Deepcut Neighbourhood Forum

and am currently a Local Authority Governor at Holy Trinity Church of England School, West End. Mother of three children, aged 11 to 17 Voluntary work e.g. Windsor Twilight Walk in aid of the Children’s Trust. Keeping fit – Gym, yoga, skiing, cycling, and dog walks

__________________________________________________________________________________

SKILLS: Intermediate/Advanced user of Excel, Word, Access Payroll Manager Quick Books Pro & AdvantEDGE accounting systems Full, clean driving licence Problem solving

pg. 2

Interpersonal & organisational skills Research & strategic planning

pg. 3