Hey, my name is Leigh Cooke, I have worked in finance supporting small to medium sized companies since 2008. I am highly experienced with working with start-up companies and understand the trials and tribulations that all business go through. I have also worked in the finance function of a FTSE 100 company which provided me with a different perspective. 

I trained in accountancy practice where I worked in compliance, preparing year end accounts and undertaking audit work for 5 years. I have since worked as a Management Accountant and a Financial Controller for private companies. I have found that my experience in practice has enabled me to provide a better service in private companies. As I have an auditor’s perspective and know how to ensure the correct accounting systems and controls are in place to ensure a clean audit report. 

As a Financial Controller I have been able to make an impact on the day-to-day finances and ensure that the company's management have accurate useful data to make decisions in real time. I have worked closely with Managing Directors, as a sounding board, and to ensure that they know how decisions effect the financial performance and position of their businesses.

My key skills and experiences: 

• Bookkeeping, maintaining the sales ledger, purchase ledger, and cashbook
• Producing Monthly Management Accounts, and full balance sheet reconciliations
• Reviewing financial performance against budget, and variance analysis
• Reporting to overseas Head Office
• Corresponding with customers and suppliers and liaising with external auditors
• Preparing monthly payroll
• The production, review, and submission of HMRC reporting requirements; VAT, CIS, EC sales, intrastat and ONS. And dealing with HMRC enquires
• Managing foreign currency transactions
• Stock analysis and management
• Working capital management
• Making bank payments
• Human Recourse Management
• Company Secretary and responsibility for all company filings
• Joint responsible for Health & Safety and Quality Control Management
• Ad-hoc financial administration duties and supporting rest of the business