Alison Woods

QLS is incorporated under the Legal Profession Act 200 and is the peak representative body for more than 13,000 members in Queensland. The society empowers good lawyers, advocates for good law and serves the public good by providing a clear and passionate voice for solicitors and the legal profession.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Resolved longstanding management items with QAO subcontracted auditor to ensure a clean management report under strict deadlines
• Implemented consistent balance sheet reconciliations with automation to the trial balance via Jet reports for six entities and remapping of the CRM to the accounting system
• Strengthened the relationship with entities under Service Level Agreements to preserve the revenue stream
• Led ERP implementation for new accounting system and remediated go-live issues
• Developed suite of Finance policies and procedures
• Improved month end processes and subsequent turnaround of monthly financial reports from WD20 to WD3
• Supported and guided the Financial Accountant to implement BI reporting for empowered decision making
• Integrated best practice cash flow management processes
• Restructured and cross-skilled team members to develop staff and empower them to make decisions and take accountability for their roles
• Prepared complex consolidated financial statements for the group (four entities including QLS parent) within strict deadlines in addition to two other entities under an SLA
• Subject matter expert (Finance) for the new CRM project and the subsequent integration with Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Delivered service excellence for internal and external customers, supported by efficient work practices and a service delivery attitude

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the CFO in providing the Finance and Risk Committee (FRC), Council and ELT with advice and analysis of financial data including trend and variance analysis and risk assessment
• Prepare the Financial statements (including consolidation) in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards
• Manage the delivery of high quality, timely and accurate financial and management reports to budget managers, Council, FRC, ELT and Lexon Insurance in accordance with agreed timeframes and applicable statutory reporting requirements
• Provide support and training to QLS budget managers in understanding budgeting, reporting and accounting requirement and lead business partnering
• Assist with the annual budgeting and quarterly forecast processes, including monitoring and reporting on performance against budget/forecast with commentary
• Oversee the maintenance of effective financial management systems and lead the delivery of day-to-day processing functions (including accounts payable, accounts receivable and cash management)
• Manage the annual membership and practicing certificate renewals process for Finance
• Manage the review of all monthly ledger account reconciliations (six entities)
• Manage the annual external audit program
• Coach, develop and mentor the finance team within a productive and supportive team environment, including day-to-day supervision, setting and measuring priorities and work flows, and managing individual performance within the QLS performance management framework
• Ensure compliance with all relevant taxation legislation (including GST, FBT and GST)

TEQ is a statutory body of the Queensland Government is the lead marketing, experience development and major events agency, representing the state's tourism and events industries.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Rapidly promoted from Governance Accountant to Manager, Financial Governance (maternity backfill)
• Led mapping of natural accounts in finance package to Tridata (WOGfir level) and automated end of month timetable
• Promoted cross-skilling of long standing team members to develop the team and provide relief in periods of leave
• Implemented new hedging process to align with the revised program minimising exposure to foreign currency volatility
• Improved end of month processes and subsequent turnaround of monthly financial reports from WD3 to WD2
• Reviewed the FBT return and identified opportunities for improvement to minimise the tax obligations for the company
• Negotiated the annual insurance renewal and presented case for introducing cyber liability policy and educated the business on public liability insurance
• Improved the BAS reconciliation between the module and the GL extract and simplified GST selection markers for the business
• Rebooted team culture through backfilling vacant roles, onboarding, training and mentoring new staff and managing contract support staff
• Prepared high quality consolidated financial statements
• Re-profiled the grant funding arrangement with the Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games (DTESB)
• Managed both internal and external auditing programs with multiple audit firms, including the development of the 2017/18 internal audit program (7 internal audits)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provided accountable management of $117m budget Liaising with key government stakeholders including Queensland Treasury and DTESB Preparing annual statutory financial statements for TEQ, TEQEO and consolidated financial statements including subsidiary
• Delivering on regulatory compliance requirements (GST, FBT, PAYG and international tax)
• Managing foreign exchange exposure of the organisation
• Coordinating and preparing Audit and Remuneration and relevant Board papers
• Providing high level financial business partnering support to all management units, including identifying and mitigating any risks
• Leading head office governance team to ensure international teams were provided support and advice around optimising financial processes and statutory compliance
• Managing the development, maintenance and implementation of all accounting and finance related policies and procedures
• Overseeing balance sheet management within the financial governance framework
• Ensuring cash provisions are adequate and aligned with cash-flow forecasts
• Overseeing month-end processes, through preparing and analysing monthly financial reports for management units and TEQ as a whole
• Coordinating financial reporting component of quarterly conversations including detailed variance analysis and advice
• Providing high level financial, risk and governance advice
• Administering the insurance obligations including claims processing and support to the business
• Leading and managing the Financial Governance team including mentoring, developing achievement plans and conducting performance appraisals

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Streamlined the daily cash calculation process by reducing double-handling and replacing manual processes with electronic processing options
• Re-engineered the overseas salary reconciliation in collaboration with the Payroll Officer
• Reviewed the asset and portable and attractive registers, identifying control opportunities and process improvements to resolve long-standing discrepancies
• Mentored non-finance personnel across the business to understand financial controls and reporting
• Quickly built strong relationships with the Finance team, business partners (management units) and insurers

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Providing high level financial advice to directors and managers to support good financial management
• Preparing and analysing balance sheet reconciliations including follow up and resolution of outstanding items
• Undertaking the daily review of cash requirements for the organisation, preparing cash flow forecasts and managing the investments with Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC)
• Maintaining the fixed asset register, preparing asset reconciliations and depreciation journals
• Preparing and analysing month end financial reports including preparing commentary analysis for variances or any changes to forecast
• Providing advice on TEQ’s insurance program and processing claims
• Ensuring adequate systems and procedures are in place to safeguard and protect TEQ’s assets

QTAC is a not for profit organisation which operates an equitable, centralised tertiary entrance system on behalf of member and participating institutions. It provides comprehensive information for prospective applicants and modularised services to other customers in the highly regulated tertiary sector.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Promoted from Management Accountant to Financial Controller
• Asked to take on Corporate Service Manager and Company Secretary portfolios in addition to my core role for nine months and relieve Chief Executive Officer for short periods
• Overhauled position descriptions companywide to reduce duplication of effort and launched staff satisfaction survey allowing for linking to management KPIs
• Improved turnaround of monthly financial statements by introducing monthly reporting timetable
• Launched detailed budget pack including templates and annotated chart of accounts for Executives
• Managed capital works budget for facility renovations
• Led team to deliver more service-oriented finance function, including mentoring Customer Service and Administration Assistants to complete formal certifications
• Training Payroll Officer to rollout company-wide electronic timesheets
• Developed new asset policy with analysis of financial impact of changes
• Reworked model and process for developing financial statements well ahead of FY deadlines
• Partnered with Executive team in relation to reforecasting and implemented enhanced process for accurate end of year results
• Built productive relationships with financiers, insurers and auditors

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Overseeing financial policies and processes
• Ensuring compliance with legal and financial reporting obligations, in accordance with the Corporations Act, applicable Australian Accounting Standards and other relevant legislation
• Preparing monthly management reports for CEO and management team, with variance analysis and full commentary of material discrepancies between actual vs budgeted figures
• Preparing quarterly management financial reports for Board and annual statutory financial statements
• Managing staff (accounting and payroll functions) including supervision, training and performance appraisals
• Contributing to achievement of corporate strategies through provision of quality financial advice

Undertook short-term Group Management Accountant roles, for diverse organisations, including:

• Periodical Publishers Association Contractor (trade body)
• Addleisure Plc (national leisure and fitness services provider)
• L’Auberge Restaurants (mid-sized hospitality business)

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Established management reporting package for Board reporting and governance, comprising individual Profit & Loss spreadsheets, Balance Sheets for each subsidiary and consolidated accounts for Group
• Implemented bespoke accounting system for L'Auberge, allowing accounting to be brought in-house
• Led training for Accounts Payable Clerk to build internal accounts capacity
• Remediated overdue accounting tasks, through mentoring Directors with no financial background to understand the basics of accounting
• Created streamlined management accounting packages

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Promoted from Assistant Accountant to Management Accountant
• Partnered with Executive team in relation to reforecasting and developed enhanced process for accurate end of year results
• Managed audit preparation
• Automated accruals template and prepayment schedule

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensuring compliance with legal and financial reporting obligations, in accordance with the Corporations Act, applicable Australian Accounting Standards and other relevant legislation
• Preparing monthly management reports for CEO and management team
• Expenditure reviews against budget
• Assisting with the annual budget process
• Assisting with the annual statutory financial statements
• Supporting AP, AR and Payroll functions (back up payroll officer during periods of leave)

Various Brisbane clients in the legal and health industry