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Sam Higgs (FCMA/CGMA)
59 Bramble Gardens, Burgess Hill
07796272613 • sam.higgs34@gmail.com
Personal statement
I am a team-orientated Qualified CIMA adept at creating clear and comprehensive financial reports
and Management Information to present to Board of Directors and senior management.
I enjoy being part of a dynamic team, I am focused and driven to achieve. I enjoy motivating
others and leading by example. Natural soft skills combined with FCMA technical and strategic
experience ensure I can add value to a business Recent achievements with my current employer
include the implementation of a new ERP ( Netsuite ) from 3 different legacy systems including GP
Dynamics and the hiving up of 6 subsidiaries into one trading subsidiary.
Key Skills
Budgeting and Financial Management
Financial and reporting analysis.
General Reporting and GAAP compliance.
Cash Flow Analysis and working capital control
People Management
Management Accounts
Annual Audit compliance
Strong communication skills
Organised and efficient
CIMA 1st time passes
Employment History
Head of Finance, Friday Media Group, Nr Brighton
(May 2010 – Present)
FMG is a diverse group of businesses and subsidiaries in digital media, classified advertising, print
publications, e-commerce, investment properties, jobs boards, and market leading niche websites.
Turnover £20m, 300 employees, 3 UK offices, 1 European and 1 USA.
Achievements and responsibilities:
 I put together a proposal for the Board to consider hiving up six of the businesses into one to
simplify processes, reduce admin and audit work and thus make financial savings. The
proposal had to cover the effect on the balance sheet and the reduction in the net worth of the
group as a result of writing off intercompany loans. The proposal was accepted and in FY15
the group was reduced to five subsidiaries and has allowed the business to focus on building
its success and make savings.
 I was charged with a mid-year acquisition of a subsidiary which included pre and post
acquisition accounts along with technical issues on its integration into our ERP and CRM.
 In February 2015 I put a proposal to the Board to outsource its payroll with the aim of
reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. This proposal was accepted and I was charged

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with ensuring the technical issues were all covered with regards to transfer of data and
subsequent integration into our ERP. The payroll was successfully outsourced in June 2015
 During my employment at Friday Media Group I have grown from leading a team of five to a
reporting line of twelve. I have developed and motivated the team to ensure the operations
within the finance function are accurate and timely.
 At Friday Media Group I have over six years developed and improved the accuracy of the
rolling cash forecasts by capturing timely data, understanding the business and developing
spreadsheets and flows which enables the Board to make strategic decisions on growth and
efficiencies.
 When I started at Friday Media Group the auditing visit lasted six weeks. Within the first year
I reduced this to four weeks and in subsequent years down to two weeks. This came about
as a result of simplifying processes, providing meaningful data, and ensuring the accuracy
and neatness of the files we provided enabled the Auditors to work quickly and efficiently.
The auditing bill therefore has also reduced by half.
 Friday Media Group had through acquisition of businesses and companies inherited
numerous ERP and CRM’s. A one year project team was put in place to source, configure
and implement a one stop one place system. My role was to ensure the system was
technically correct in its GL postings as well as creating a new chart of accounts and mapping
financial data from one system to another. The new system went live in September 2015 and
its continuous improvement is ongoing .
 During my six years at Friday Media Group I have taken the annual budgeting process and
evolved it into a quicker, more meaningful and sales driven budget. The senior sales
managers are now involved and easily able to contribute and make relevant business
decisions as a result of this. The budgets are now bought into and drive the senior managers
to fulfil thereby increasing the success of the business.
 I started at Friday Media Group in June 2010 as Financial Reporting Manager, in June 2011 I
was promoted to Group Financial Controller and in February 2016 promoted again to Head of
Finance.
 Main duties include Group Consolidation work, Audit preparation, Presentation of MA and
commentary, Cash Forecasting, Leading a team of AR/AP/GL, Annual Budgets
Regional Financial Controller, Benson Group Limited, Reigate
(December 2000 - April 2002)
Benson was a privately owned SME in Construction industry in construction, special works, internal
design and office fit out. Turnover £100m with 240 employees and 5 UK based offices.
Achievements and responsibilities:
 During my employment at Benson Construction I carried out an investigation into the balance
sheet which resulted in a proposal report submitted to the Board regarding cash flow
analysis of the business, detailed 2 year cash forecast with a suggestion to meet with
the bank and re-structure its debt. This was approved, bank meetings held and the re-
structure implemented.
 Being part of a 5 person senior management team we worked on continuous improvement of
processes and procedures to ensure consistency of information and create business strategy
that benefited the business.
 I carried out business evaluations and review of accounts of organisations to summarise their
performance for potential clients and sub-contractors
 I worked closely with the tendering department on product costing.
 I had a direct reporting line of 5 covering AR/AP/GL.
 Cash Forecasting and Working capital were paramount as was handling the payments of our
sub contractors and invoicing to our clients based on the QS’s valuations.
 Main duties included Group Consolidation work, Audit preparation, Presentation of MA and
commentary, Cash Forecasting, and Annual Budgets with rolling forecasts.
 Reason for Leaving : To bring up my family and work part-time.

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Financial Controller, Telegan Gas Monitoring, Crawley
(September 1997 - May 2000)
Telegan was a manufacturer and distributer of gas analysis instrumentation . Turnover £4m, 44
employees – wholly owned subsidiary of Halma PLC
Achievements and responsibilities:
:
 During my employment at Telegan Gas Monitoring I carried out internal and external SWOT
analysis as part of a project team which analysed financial and business options, resourcing
and skills. The project team submitted suggestions to the Board to re-structure its workforce
to make savings and build a stronger more focused team. These were implemented which
enabled the business to grow.
 I moved the manual cashbooks into a fully integrated one and controlled its implementation to
ensure a smooth change over.
 I had sole responsibility for the monthly MA to the board and Head Office
 I had a direct reporting line of 4 covering AR/AP/GL and payroll.
 Main duties included Audit preparation, MA, Cash Reporting, Product Costing, Stock Takes
and valuations, VAT returns and HR.
 Reason for Leaving : To take 6 months out to study for my CIMA finals.
.
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Management Accountant, Independent Aviation Group, Nr Brighton
(March 1993 – September 1997)
IAG was an aircraft leaser and seat broker with a £40m turnover and 33 employees.
Achievements and responsibilities:
:
 I started working at IAG as Accounts Assistant as part of a 2 person accounts team. As the
company grew from 6 employees to 60 so did my role. I was promoted to Accounts Manager
leading a team of 5 covering AR and AP. I then commenced my CIMA studies and within a
year was also preparing the MA.
 I was involved in the migration of a Sage based System to a bespoke Travel solution.
 I learnt the budgeting process and became more involved in forecasting and financial
planning.
 Airline and Passenger Tax reconciliations were a large part of the balance sheet control..
 Main duties included Audit preparation, MA, VAT Returns, Maintaining accounting records..
 Reason for Leaving : To take my first Financial Controller role.
Accounts Assistant, Schools Abroad/Neilson Leisure, Brighton
(September 1988 – October 1991)
Achievements and responsibilities:
:
 Posting receipts to customer accounts.
 Credit Control
 Reconciled differences between AR ledger and Debtors control.
 Bank Reconciliations
 I started working at Schools Abroad as a Sales Ledger Assistant. I moved onto Credit
Control. The company moved offices from Haywards Heath to Brighton and I was moved into
the sister subsidiary of Neilson Leisure in the costings department.
 Holiday Costings for the twice yearly ski brochures.

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 Ad hoc holiday costings
 Close liaison with the flight broking department for passenger tax and airline duties.
 Reason for Leaving : Redundancy as ILG was bought out.
Education
Westminster Hotel School, London
Higher National Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management
Haywards Heath Sixth Form College, Haywards Heath
A Level History and French , O level Business Studies.
Plymouth High School for Girls, Plymouth – Oathall Community College ,
Haywards Heath
8 O Levels A-C in English Language, English Literature, Maths, French, German, History, Physics
and Commerce
Hobbies & Interests
I am a mum to 2 teenage boys who I enjoy spending time with and helping them evolve into young
men. I enjoy walking and have a Border Collie who keeps me out in the fields ! I keep fit by
swimming a mile 3-4 times a week. I also enjoy cooking for friends and family and socialising.
References
References are available upon request.