Lynda Sherwin

Immediately available , I’m a Senior Office/Business  Manager who has the ability to take on multiple workstreams in busy and complex environments. Have a  solution orientated mindset with the ability to get resolutions quickly and ensure processes rolled out.

August 2024 – May 2025 Interim Head of Finance/Office Manager

Pivotal role in overseeing the financial operations and office management functions of Bartech Marine Engineering with a £10m turnover. 

• Primarily accountable for stabilising the financial systems to ensure accurate financial records post a challenging audit before my tenure, this included working with banks, auditors, HMRC, legal and  technology to find previous errors, correct and roll out correct processes for the future 
• Other duties:
  • Prepare and analyse financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts. 
  • Review Invoice Finance procedures after a failed audit.
  • Monitor cash flow, budget variances, and financial performance against targets. 
  • Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and financial forecasts for the company and its subsidiaries. 
  • Oversee day-to-day office operations, including facilities management, procurement, and vendor management. 
  • Implement and maintain office policies and procedures to ensure compliance mindset along with  efficiency. 
  • Manage, develop and support the finance team 
  • Leadership of all Payroll and HR Administration tasks.
  • Systems used – Sage 50,Sage 200, Xero and CRM system .

Oct 2003-August 2024   Business Manager JTS Partnership LLP

Working for a large Surveying practice I was accountable for running the business to ensure that the Partners were focused on business generation and delivery.  I had 2 main remits: Operational leadership (projects , people, finance) and supporting a key Client (complex Charitable organisation with care homes, schools and other operations). This is alongside people leadership for my own team 

Operational leadership

Key Projects in last year 

• Disaster management of a cyber attack, that locked all system, recover involved restoring all payroll including all HMRC implications over 72 hours to ensure over 300 employees paid.
• Merging 17 paye codes into 1 and HMRC issuing new tax codes for 300 employees .Work alongside HMRC to rectify. Our Client had grown over the years and issued new paye codes to each new site.M
• Implementation of new credit control system keeping aged debtors under 100k
• Implementation of monthly management reporting packs 
• Closed down a facility for Client which including 40 redundancies. 

Finance

• Own the delivery of the financials for the company working alongside external accountancy practice. 

• Ensuring contracts are in place and signed with all Clients 
• Control and payment of; Client Account procedures supplier account, expenses claims. Sales invoice procedures 
• Supervision and reconciliation of all bank accounts.
• Credit control and management of Cash flow.
• Report: Provide monthly management reporting and tracking; Preparation of draft annual accounts.
• All VAT matters including queries from HMRC inspector.
• Ownership of payroll process, including HMRC co-ordination .
• Using Sage 50 and zero.

People

Generalist HR 

• Managing recruitment and induction of new members of staff. Including financial, security and DBS checks when required 
• Monitoring salary structures and making proposals for salary reviews, liaising with the Partners, and notifying staff members of reviews.
• Ensuring all Policies and Procedures are kept up to date and are followed correctly. Liaising with the external counsel when needed to ensure in line with current legislation.
• Supporting all formal People processes, including disciplinary procedures  
• Full reporting cadence on all people matters to Partners and team members 

Staff Development, Wellness and Inclusion 

• Build an environment that is collaborative and people are able to feel safe and bring their true self into our office 
• Ensure staff have access to learning and development and have the appropriate workloads so they are able to fulfil their roles to their full potential ,  
• Managing training for entire workforce, including in-house training that I have written
• Ensure wellbeing of staff Members – whilst in the office, absent on long term sick leave.

Team Leadership 

• Line Manager duties for Support Staff.
• Carrying out staff appraisals and putting measures in place for staff development as appropriate.

Operational Overview

• Delivery of management information packs and chairing key meetings.  
• Management and Insurance for Fleet cars
• Health and Safety Officer, including organising statutory training.
• Money Laundering officer including  training employees
• Responsible facilities management

Professional Qualifications

Finance: AAT, IAB Book keeping level 2, ILM Level 3 August 2011 Member

HR: CIPD Level 3 Oct 2021 Member