Michelle Dent

Access Hardware is a national leader in architectural hardware and security solutions.

• Process Overhaul: Transformed legacy manual workflows into automated Excel-based tools, reducing tasks and reporting cycles from multiple days to under one hour.
• Recruited and onboarded an entirely new finance team with zero handover, while simultaneously managing audit, year-end, and ongoing business operations.
• Supervised the team of finance professionals, fostering a collaborative work environment focused on continuous improvement and professional development.
• Acquisition Integration: Seamlessly onboarded 64 employees overnight as part of a major acquisition, managing payroll, systems setup, and compliance with minimal disruption.
• Learning & Delivery: Took ownership of complex systems and reconciliations while pursuing a Master of Business Analytics—demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and commitment to growth.
• Backlog Clearance: Cleared significant inherited backlog across payroll, reconciliations, and reporting, restoring confidence in financial data and processes.
• Strategic Leadership: Provided structure, clarity, and emotional intelligence during a period of major transition, earning trust across departments.
• Oversaw compliance with regulatory requirements, enhancing risk management frameworks.

Independent brewery and hospitality group with multiple venues across Victoria.

• Redesigned reporting frameworks to support operations with reduced staffing.
• Developed Excel-based tools to reconcile restaurant data efficiently and accurately.
• Strengthened team capability through mentoring and cross-training, mitigating operational risk.
• Streamlined reporting processes, improving accuracy and timeliness of financial statements.
• Supported owner with special projects and additional job duties.
• Analysed business processes to identify cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Prepared cash flow projections, and weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
• Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making.

Hospitality group with venues across NZ and Australia.

• Led finance operations during CFO absence and staff shortages, maintaining reporting continuity.
• Implemented outsourced payroll solution, improving accuracy and reducing internal workload.
• Motivated and retained team through COVID disruptions and high-pressure periods.
• Delivered consolidated reporting across multiple entities with commentary for executive review.
• Initiated process improvements that increased efficiency in month-end closing activities.
• Provided valuable insights to senior management through in-depth monthly performance analysis and variance reporting.

Talent agency, production company specialising in comedy and documentary content.

• Created royalty reporting templates that improved consolidation and accuracy.
• Introduced new audit documentation procedures, enhancing transparency and compliance.
• Trained and supervised junior staff, increasing team efficiency and capability.
• Delivered weekly/monthly cash flow forecasts and variance analysis for senior leadership.
• Collected and reported monthly expense variances and explanations.

Hospitality group managing premier dining venues in Melbourne CBD

• Managed finance operations during extended absence of Financial Controller.
• Developed payroll budget tracking tools to identify overspend by department.
• Delivered end-to-end payroll for 150+ staff across Australia and New Zealand.
• Consolidated related entity accounts and maintained fixed asset registers.

CIPS is a membership-based organisation that assists with the procurement and supply profession.

• Analysed financial data trends to support informed decision-making at the managerial level.
• Collaborated with external auditors to complete annual audits in a timely manner, ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Reduced outstanding accounts receivable balances through diligent follow-up on overdue invoices.
• Provided journal entries and performed accounting on accrual basis.
• Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.

• Company Overview: Fine dining restaurants owned by renowned chef Teage Ezard.
• Promoted from Assistant Accountant to Finance Manager within 3 months.
• Saved $6k/month in external accounting fees by insourcing key tasks.
• Implemented cross-training to ensure business continuity during absences.
• Reviewed documentation and identified financial discrepancies where applicable.
• Streamlined month-end close process, reducing time spent on manual tasks and improving data accuracy.
• Ensured compliance with local, state, federal tax regulations; timely filing of all required documents, mitigating potential penalties or fines.
• Checked payroll, vendor payments, commissions and other accounting disbursements for accuracy and compliance.
• Prepared internal and regulatory financial reports, balance sheets and income statements.

• Producing sales reports as required for the sales team

• Maintaining the books for a resort

• Producing sales reports as required for the sales team