Tom Cantwell44 Arlington RoadEalingLondon W13 8PETel: 07789 874182tom.cantwell82@gmail.com

Objective/Profile

A confident, flexible and enthusiastic finance professional with over 12 years’ experience looking beyond purely finance for a new role embracing skills in management, administration, systems, and customer service.

Core Skills

Experienced Accountant Systems Management Strategic Planning Staff & Resource Management Report writing and Presentation Excellent Customer Service Skills Project Management Data Analysis

Excellent MS Office Skills Training Communications Experienced SUN (& Vision) user 7

yrs. Mentoring & Role Development Asset Management

Career Outline

The Royal British Legion. Dec 2009 – Jan 2017UK’s largest armed forces charity and membership organisation of around 275,000 members. Its membership base is distributed into approx. 2,300 branches in the UK and Overseas and is one important source of an annual income in excess of £160m.

Senior Branch & Trust Accountant

Key to this role is managing the accounting and support of volunteer branch treasurers in meeting all financial obligations and overseeing the consolidation of branch and county year- end accounts.

To lead on the participation and roll out of the online accounting system for volunteer branch treasurers and to take ownership of the setup of individual branches on to the system.

Write and deliver training material for electronic bookkeeping system to non-finance stakeholders. Project manage, design and implement the year-end financial statements for all branches ensuring

that each year they remain relevant, accurate and meet the requirements of all stakeholders. Line management of Branch & Trust Accountant position and various other ad-hoc staff. Maintenance and provision of support for electronic bookkeeping system. To monitor, research and recommend to the board modifications to the (treasurer) electronic

bookkeeping system. Building and maintaining relationships with software designer ensuring that any amendments to the

bookkeeping system are meeting the needs of all stakeholders whilst still being user-friendly. Management of funds centrally held, approximately £60m – including over £40m ‘in trust’. Responsible for engagement, communication and output to volunteer branch treasurers. Sign off responsibility and due diligence for journals and postings on to the accounting ledger up to

£250K. Manage and report on grant giving funds; providing ad-hoc reports, accounting support and year-end

financial statements. Oversee the running of various email groups ensuring an agreed SLA is met to support the customer

base of membership. Provision of reports and meetings with the Legions’ Board of Trustees assisting in strategy and

decision making.

Working with the Head of Legacies to write up and improve the process around administration of legacy funds for branches.

Key Achievements

- Implemented a support system to ensure users of our in-house accounting package were well assisted with solid backing to allow them account accurately and feel empowered in doing so.

- More than doubled the user number on our branch accounting system from 200 to 500.

Branch & Trust Accountant Administration of over 500 trust accounts managed centrally on behalf of other branches and areas of

The Royal British Legion. Posting of journals into books of prime entry and cashbook reconciliations as well as control account

reconciliations. Revaluation of investments annually (or upon adjustment to investment). Liaising with investment managers to withdraw/deposit funds for branches when required and

subsequently posting the correct cashbook and P & L journal. Distributing statements reflecting the balance of funds held on behalf of each branch on a quarterly

basis and annually for trust funds. Management of a banking initiative for branches of the Legion looking after £15m on their behalf

(approx. 900 branches); ensuring accurate reconciliation, making payments back to branches on a weekly basis.

To manage grant giving funds on behalf of delegated trustees (separate from those of the main charity); providing accounting services, reporting requirements including year-end financial statements, presenting to trustees and timely submission to The Charity Commission.

Coordinating and conducting the tender process for the audit/examination of two of the larger trusts with values of £3.5M and £500K ensuring a saving of around £5K annually for the two funds.

Transferred to work alongside a project manager in order to create a new online bookkeeping system for branch treasurers.

Make payments to branches wishing to use monies held on their behalf. Where ‘in trust’, confirming it is used in accordance with the wishes of the donor and does not contravene the Will nor Legion policy.

General office house-keeping and administration including record keeping and ensuring each trust was backed up with relevant Will, memo and correspondence.

Key Achievements- Through excellent management of the system increased the funding level held in the banking

initiative on behalf of branches from £8M to £18M over a 5 year period.- In recognition of my successful work in post thus far I was seconded on to the project to design and

implement an electronic accounting system for branch treasurers. The success of this led to my promotion.

Pemberton Greenish LLP. Feb 2007 – Nov 2009

A leading firm of solicitors based in Knightsbridge with specialisms in real estate, property law and private client and wealth management.

Trust & Charities Assistant Maintaining accurate records, updating of general ledgers; posting to cash book, accounting for losses

and gains in investments. Cash management of charitable trusts such as John Lyon’s Charity. Drawing cheques, liaising with

other charities and beneficiaries. Carrying out grant reconciliations and investment reconciliations. Producing trust accounts (financial year-end statements) to ensure that estates are compliant in tax

affairs and assisting clients and executors achieve desired investment returns. Communicating with trustees, executors, beneficiaries; releasing funds upon request. Liaising with

investment managers. Making ad-hoc payments on behalf of small charities and trusts to support its administration.

NCH (formerly Action for Children). Sep 2006 – Feb 2007

A leading charity in assisting through fostering and adoption. Aiming to alleviate the difficulties faced by neglect, abuse and poverty.

Finance / Treasury Assistant Making regular electronic payments to foster carers and support centres across the country. Carrying out bank reconciliations and credit card reconciliations on at least a monthly basis. Downloading and posting general ledger transactions to the charity’s books on a timely basis ensuring

that there is a sufficient cash-flow to meet commitments. Strong use of complex MS Excel worksheets, including manipulating macros, designed to ensure

smooth administration and communication. Ad-hoc office administration; filing etc.…

Sunrise Senior Living Jun – Sep 2006

Sunrise is a recent entrant to the market in developing and managing homes for the frail elderly.

Development Analyst Assessing the financial viability of development sites. Using complex sets of spread sheets to continually monitor rate of return on existing sites and where

potential new sites could be located.

Winterhalter Ltd Feb 2005 – Jun 2006

Winterhalter is one of the leading manufacturers of glass washers and dishwashers for the catering industry.

Trainee Accountant Authorising payment runs and expenses to suppliers. Cashbook entries, bank reconciliations and financial costings analysis. Some credit control and management accounts experience.

Education

University of Leicester. BA (Hons) Archaeology 2.2A Levels; History (D), Geography (C), German (D) and General Studies (D).GCSEs; English Language (B), English Literature (B), Maths (B), Statistics (B), Science (C,C), History (B), Geography (B), German (B), Design & Technology (B), Drama (B).

Achievements & Positions of Responsibility Foundation Course and Advanced Performance in Acting, (Questors Theatre, London), 2008. Various

performing and non-performing roles in the theatre community. Volunteer Marketing Assistant at Questors theatre, Ealing. Providing support, co-ordination and

implementation of marketing strategy for shows. I work for the Volunteer Link Scheme assisting socially isolated and lonely people by befriending those

who would otherwise have little or no interaction.

RefereesCan be provided upon request.