Paul Millward FCCA

Financial Analyst

Financial Management and Accounting Solutions for your Business

As a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and having worked within industry for many years , I am qualified by both experience and training to provide you with the information you need to improve business performance , maintain solvency and achieve growth . Accountants today are deluged with ever more complex amounts of compliance work which revolves around the financial year end . As a result companies do not always get the advice they need at crucial moments .Many businesses fail because they remain unaware of the danger signs before it is too late . What is needed is relevant information at the right time to enable directors to take action early enough to avoid such situations . My role is to provide management reports for decision - making purposes - a service which concentrates on your business needs and not red tape . What I can do is give you the ability to ask yourself the right questions and direct your attention to the issues which need to be resolved .

My approach is to gain a knowledge and understanding of the business rather than merely crunch masses of numbers . In this way the advice I give can be grounded in the reality of the business and not just a superficial interpretation of financial statements .All the reports I produce can be explained in non - technical english on a face - to - face basis .They will include narrative explanations to enable you to fully appreciate the significance of the numbers and what they are telling you about the business . .

I provide a flexible service specifically designed for your business including :

Free initial consultation and review
Full Financial Health Check
Solving Accounting problems and Ledger Reconciliations
Designing Management Accounts
Financial Planning , Budgeting and Forecasting
Cash Flow Analysis and Cash Management
Sales and Product Profitability Analysis

A Flexible Approach at Reasonable Rates

My services are designed for businesses of all sizes . Smaller entities may require a general financial overhaul at an affordable cost while large companies may want more specialised assistance in specific areas . The length of time I spend in the company will be at your discretion depending upon your budget and the extent of the problems which  need resolving .The service can be restricted to small scale projects . Alternativeley a wide - ranging remit may be appropriate where I would carry out a comprehensive financial health check , identifying key problem areas and creating management reports to help you tackle the issues raised .

You may be concerned about the cost of this work so I have developed a flexible approach to fee charges which are very competitive and which allows you to monitor the cost of the work as it progresses . If at any stage you are not happy with the work I am carrying out then we can discuss the situation and we can either change the programme to suit your requirements or we can agree to close the relationship . If my work programme is terminated before completion you will only be charged for the work done up to that point .

A Full Financial Health Check

Beginning with an analysis of the business and its financial position information is gathered to identify the key problem areas .Depending on the seriousness of the problems identified work is prioritised to focus on the most urgent issues first . The programme will vary according to the needs of the business but can involve the following :

• Analysis of liquidity and Debt levels to determine the level of solvency
• Analysis of working capital and its components
  Analysis of profitability and overall financial position to help determine the future viability of the company
  Review of the accounting system and records
  Solving accounting problems and putting  financial controls in place
  Ensure the accounting system and records are producing accurate and useful information
  Analysis of Business Performance and identifying problem areas

Designing Management Accounts

Accurate and detailed Management Accounts are an essential part of management reporting . Management Accounts can be designed ( or re designed) to tell you the truth about the financial reality underlying the business . The accounts will be moulded around the business giving you the  insights you need into its performance at both a micro and global level . The Management Accounts will raise more issues requiring attention and I can provide a range of reports based on whatever questions need to be answered . Common areas requiring analysis include :

• Sales Analysis including Variance Analysis
  Product Profitability Analysis
  Gross Profit and Margin Analysis
  Analysis and Control of Overhead Expenditure
  Review of Costings and Costing Methods
  Direct Cost variance analysis
  Working Capital Management
  The importance of stock valuation in accurately measuring performance

Financial Planning , Budgeting and Forecasting

I can provide a variety of approaches depending upon the particular needs of the business . Services available include :

Creating a framework for planning , controlling and developing the business
Preparation of a Profit Plan based on the future objectives of the company and to be used as a tool to unlock the potential of the business
Fully detailed budget for the whole business which can be incorperated into the management accounts to provide actual versus budget analysis . The budgeting process can be an opportunity to question why expenditure is being incurred in the way it is and so divert resources into activities which will add value to the business
What - if projections for decision - making
Financial appraisals for new product launches , capital expenditure projects , assessing the financial viability of business segments etc

Cash Flow Anaysis and Cash Management

Cash is the lifeblood of the business and ensuring it does not dry up is essential for the survival of any company .I can provide an analysis of cashflow and also show its effect on Debt levels and Funds . The reports  will reveal where the cash is going and allow you to gain control over expenditure  . I will also produce  reports which will show you where the profit is disappearing to and how profit relates to the  cash position . Understanding the relationship between Profit and Cash can save  companies from insolvency .Profit and Cash often move in opposite directions in the short run which means companoies can remain unaware of danger until it is too late . Managing working capital and understanding the cash cycles is vital . The reports I produce will help you get to grips with this sometimes difficuilt area .

Sales Analysis and Product Profitability Statements

I can provide Sales Analysis reports to show  performance across the product range linked to product profitability . I can produce reports which will indicate if new products need to be developed to replace ones reaching the end of their life - cycle or if the current range needs to be extended . Other reports will show the effects of changes in the sales mix and the effect this is having on Turnover and the Gross Profit Margin . A clear picture will emerge of which products may be unprofitable and which products are major profit generators . Detailed variance reports can be designed comparing actual sales with target/budget across the product range giving you essential information on Sales Volume , Net Selling Prices and Discounts .

Product Profitability statements can be produced to show the profitability of products and business sectors . The reports can show gross profit margin , contribution or net profit for each product depending upon which costing methods are most appropriate for your business. It is vital that product costs are accurate in order to make the right decisions . I can produce the financial information you need to assess the profitability of new products .