1. DEBBIE MCDONALD FCCA, MBA
17 Lavender Walk, Coleorton, Leicestershire, LE67 8FA
07968 057877
debbie.mcdonald@hotmail.co.uk
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
I am a qualified accountant with in excess of fifteen years’ post qualified experience and first class
financial accounting and reporting skills. I have experience in change management, systems
upgrades/implementations, developing and implementing financial controls, staff management and
development, together with the post-acquisition integration of finance staff. I am customer focussed
with strong interpersonal skills.
CAREER HISTORY
BALFOUR BEATTY - MARCH 2006 TO PRESENT
Head of Finance
Balfour Beatty Plant and Fleet Services, Derby February 2014 to present
Head of Finance
Balfour Beatty Fleet Services, Derby July 2012 to February 2014
Deputy Finance Director
Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services, Derby June 2011 to July 2012
Financial Controller
Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services, Derby March 2006 to June 2011
Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services Limited provides strategic plant and fleet on a contract hire basis
to the Balfour Beatty Group of companies, together with a number of preferred strategic external
customers. During the last ten years my main responsibilities have included:-
 Consolidation of the monthly management accounts (six divisions), and reporting to Balfour
Beatty Group;
 Review of the monthly results, comparison of results to budget and forecast, identification of
variances and taking any necessary action;
 Production of the monthly Finance commentary for inclusion in the Managing Director’s
monthly report;
 Production of half & full year fiscal packs in accordance with IFRS;
 Ensuring the management accounts and fiscals are prepared in accordance with relevant
standards, the Group timetable and Balfour Beatty Group finance manual;
 Production of the statutory accounts;
 Liaison with internal and external auditors;
 Leading the annual budget and 3 year strategic business planning process;
 Ensuring the business managers are provided with the business performance information to
enable them to efficiently manage their business areas;
 Leading, appraising and developing the finance team (maximum 12 staff);
 Review of annual tax packs;
 Providing financial and commercial support (including the review of customer and supplier
contracts) to my fellow members of the leadership team and other operational staff;
 Regular cash flow forecasting and monitoring;
 Review of the quarterly VAT Return;
 Review of the annual PSA Return;
 Continuous improvement in financial processes, systems and controls;
 Implementation of new systems/involvement in upgrades of current systems;
 Organising new leasing arrangements with financial institutions;
 Reporting on ethics and compliance;
 Production of the six monthly risk assessment return.
Main achievements whilst at Balfour Beatty have included:-
 Significant improvement in internal financial controls and processes;

2.  Reduction in lead time to produce monthly accounts;
 Reorganisation of Finance Team to upgrade staff capabilities and to improve quality of service
to internal business customers;
 2009 onwards year end close graded as Excellent by Balfour Beatty Group plc;
 Arrangement of a new master lease with a financial institution in order to reduce the capital
requirements of the organisation;
 Project Management of the identification of a preferred supplier for a Salary Sacrifice scheme.
 Involvement in the outsourcing of all cars and LCVs to Lex Autolease, generating circa £10m
cash.
3i plc, BIRMINGHAM - MARCH 1998 TO JUNE 2005
3i plc - Accountant, Nominal Ledger Team Aug 2001 – 30 June 2005
3i plc - Assistant Accountant, Acquisition Team Nov 2000 – Aug 2001
3i plc - Assistant Accountant, Nominal Ledger Team Mar 1998 – Nov 2000
3i is a world leader in private equity and venture capital, investing approximately £1 billion each year
across Europe, the United States and in Asia Pacific. Main responsibilities and achievements were:-
 Management of the Group consolidation system (Lawson Financials) for approximately 200
companies;
 Development and ongoing management of key control and reconciliation processes;
 Development and on-going maintenance of the Group Chart of Accounts and the creation and
maintenance of accounting units and accounts;
 Production of quarterly, half-yearly and annual accounts for 20 statutory companies including
the review and analysis of key accounting information and financial trends for these
companies, preparing full commentaries to provide valuable insight for Directors, and
ensuring that all relevant accounting standards were adhered to;
 Planning and management of the Group’s half-year and year-end processes, including liaising
with external auditors and internal executive stakeholders to ensure that information and
reporting deadlines were met;
 Management, coaching and objective setting for direct reports (six);
 Liaison with internationally located accounting teams and other finance functions (eg. Tax) to
provide guidance on centralised accounting matters and to enforce centralised standards and
timetables;
 Involvement in the implementation of a new Treasury and Cash Management system;
 Assessment, testing and building of a new financial accounting system (Agresso).
 Supporting the integration of a number of European acquisitions which involved relocating to
Munich for 6 months to identify and resolve complex integration issues;
 Verification of German accounting information prior to the migration of data to UK systems;
 Management of effective relationships with acquired finance staff, playing a key role in
managing their personal transitions;
PRIOR TO MARCH 1998
Parkland Group plc, Nottingham Mar 1997 – Mar 1998
Assistant Accountant in two start up companies
Various Accounts/Administrative Roles July 1987 – Mar 1997
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants -2000
 Association of Accounting Technicians - 1995
 Certificate in International Financial Reporting - 2005
 Introduction to US GAAP - 2005
 MBA at Aston University - Final Dissertation Subject - Staff Motivation - 2015
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
Learning to play the piano and guitar, sewing, boxing, running, swimming, tap dancing and reading.