Ihtishaam Mehmood

AAT part qualified Management Accountant with over 6 years' experience specialising in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and strategic business support. Proven ability to improve planning efficiency by 40% and boost cash flow performance by 30% through process redesign and robust financial modelling. Highly skilled in translating complex data into clear insights that drive cost control, profitability, and growth.

Expert in management reporting, financial modelling, board pack preparation, and delivering actionable recommendations to senior leadership. Proficient in Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite, Advanced Excel, and Power BI. Strong business partnering experience — working closely with operational teams to align finance and business goals.

Combines strong operational knowledge with analytical rigour to support decision making and long term business objectives.

Interim Finance and Accountant Director - Howard Gray - Birmingham, UK

(2025-11)

• Provide strategic financial oversight and guidance to leadership, reviewing performance against budgets and forecasts to ensure financial health.
• Approve financial plans, budgets, and strategic investments, ensuring alignment with company goals and regulatory requirements.
• Lead financial governance; ensure robust internal controls are in place to protect assets and ensure accurate, timely management information.
• Interpret financial results and present clear recommendations to stakeholders to support operational and strategic decisions.

Senior Accountant - Ingeus - Birmingham, UK

(2023-03 - 2025-03)

• Led the end to end annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting process, redesigning workflows and models to improve planning efficiency by 40% and deliver more accurate, timely projections.
• Produced detailed monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statements, and variance analysis against budget/forecast, highlighting key trends and risks.
• Prepared comprehensive board reports and management packs, translating complex data into clear insights for senior leadership and non financial stakeholders.
• Delivered strategic financial insights and risk assessments to senior management, identifying inefficiencies and cost saving opportunities that directly supported profitability targets.
• Built financial models to support scenario planning and decision making, enabling the business to test the impact of new initiatives and market changes.
• Partnered closely with operational teams (business partnering) to analyse departmental performance, understand variances, and implement corrective actions to keep spending within budget.

Semi-Senior Accountant - CCTV Focus - Birmingham, UK

(2021-11 - 2022-11)

• Assisted in the preparation of annual budgets and rolling forecasts, tracking performance and reporting variances to management on a monthly basis.
• Conducted detailed analysis of costs, revenue streams, and margins, providing insights that helped identify areas for cost control and revenue improvement.
• Prepared management reports and KPI dashboards, translating financial data into clear, actionable information for non financial stakeholders.
• Maintained accurate cost accounting records, analysed overhead allocation, supported inventory valuation, and reviewed product/service profitability.
• Supported internal audits and ensured all management information was accurate, complete, and reliable for decision making.

Accountant - Jobcentre Plus - Birmingham, UK

(2018-06 - 2020-06)

• Designed and implemented improved cash flow forecasting and management procedures, increasing cash flow efficiency by 30% and optimising working capital.
• Developed detailed budgets aligned with operational objectives, monitoring spend and providing regular analysis to ensure targets were met.
• Provided financial analysis and recommendations to project managers, helping them control costs and maximise resource utilisation.
• Analysed customer and supplier data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improved credit control and payment terms.
• Prepared regular financial performance reports, highlighting key metrics and explaining variances to help management understand business performance.

AAT Part-Qualified, Level 2 Accounting - Accounting - Holte School and Training Providers, UK (2011 - 2013)

BA (Hons) - Film and Television Studies - University of Nottingham, UK (2016 - 2019)