Katharine, Director of Customer & Operations implements business infrastructure, collaborates with digital integration platforms and is implementing a customer strategy for W Executive and W Talent.
Katharine has 16 years recruitment expertise, primarily in placing interim marketers into the public sector, financial services and utilities arena. She made the transition from FTSE250 multinationals to a smaller start up firm, leading their interim recruitment strategy, establishing contract infrastructure, training consultants and managing the introduction of regulatory compliance procedures. This led to Katharine’s most recent role in customer engagement, where she facilitated client interactions in the UK and internationally, showcasing her expertise in streamlining contract management, account management, process escalation, PSL queries as well as providing diversity and inclusion consulting and advisory services.
Katharine holds a BSc in Business Administration from Aston University and spent many summers working at Wimbledon in the NBC and ESPN Production studios. She brings tenacity, fun and honest transparency to W Executive.
Key Responsibilities
- Take ownership of the monthly management accounts process, ensuring accurate and timely reporting
- Prepare and review profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, cash flow information and supporting schedules
- Manage month-end and year-end processes, ensuring financial information is complete, accurate and delivered to agreed deadlines
- Analyse financial performance against budget, forecast and prior periods, investigating variances and highlighting key areas of focus
- Monitor manufacturing costs, production expenditure, gross margins and operational performance
- Review inventory, stock valuations and work-in-progress balances, ensuring appropriate financial controls and accurate reporting
- Support product costing, cost allocation and analysis of material, labour and overhead variances
- Work closely with operational and production teams to understand cost drivers, improve financial visibility and support efficiency initiatives
- Maintain robust balance sheet reconciliations and ensure appropriate control over key financial accounts
- Oversee the integrity of the general ledger and ensure transactions are accurately recorded
- Support budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, providing reliable financial information to support business planning
- Monitor working capital, including stock, creditors and debtors, identifying opportunities to improve cash management
- Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, statutory requirements and internal financial policies
- Coordinate year-end audit requirements and liaise with external auditors and other professional advisers as required
- Oversee VAT reporting and other relevant financial compliance activities
- Review and improve finance processes, reporting procedures and internal controls
- Identify opportunities to improve the accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness of financial systems and processes
- Produce meaningful financial analysis and management information to support commercial and operational decision-making
- Provide day-to-day support to the Finance Director, taking ownership of financial matters and escalating significant issues appropriately
- Build effective working relationships across finance, operations and the wider business
- Support the development of a responsive, accurate and commercially focused finance function
