Ryan Sharkey
Operations & finance professional
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About
Finance-focused operations professional with 18 years of senior management experience, currently transitioning into accountancy and actively studying AAT Level 2. Throughout a career spanning multi-site hospitality businesses with combined revenues exceeding £10M, has held direct responsibility for budgeting, P&L management, cost control, payroll, financial reporting and cash flow forecasting. Brings a highly commercial, data-driven mindset, exceptional attention to detail and a thorough understanding of financial controls – now seeking an entry-level accountancy role to formalise deep practical finance experience into a professional qualification.
Experience
Operations Director at Aldrich Inns (2024-11 – 2026-07)
Fast-growing premium pub estate (6 sites with accommodation). Built the entire operational and financial infrastructure from inception.
- Designed and implemented all financial and operational frameworks from zero, including budgeting processes, cost control procedures, inventory management and payroll workflows
- Oversight of growing finance department including full onboarding and ownership of payroll function. Direct reports included Finance Director. Coordinated the outsourcing of the finance function to Bitesize Consulting.
- Responsible for financial reporting to ownership and stakeholders across a multi-site estate
- Implemented POS, payroll and supply chain systems across 6 sites, ensuring accurate financial data capture and reporting
- Sole accountability for procurement, supplier negotiations and contract management
Operations Manager at Nightcap PLC (2023-01 – 2024-05)
Listed hospitality group (AIM). Managed 10 venues across 5 brands, ~170 staff. Area revenue up to £500k per week.
- Drafted and managed budgets for 10 venues; monitored P&L performance and reported variances to senior leadership
- Improved gross profit margins above 80% through waste reduction and payroll optimisation, reducing payroll cost by 15% via a base-and-flex staffing model
- Led financial and systems integration following the merger of three companies (Barrio, The Cocktail Club, Adventure Bar) and acquisition of Dirty Martini, consolidating payroll, POS, inventory and reporting across four legacy platforms
Group Operations Manager at Barrio Familia Group (2018-09 – 2023-01)
Independent premium bar group. Full P&L accountability across 5 venues, £10M annual turnover, £2M EBITDA, 180 staff.
- Held full Group P&L accountability, reporting directly to owners and Managing Director
- Managed £10M revenue business to EBITDA of £2M; contributed to increasing company valuation from £4M to £5M between 2020–2021
- Oversaw all financial controls including stock auditing, cash management, cost of sales and payroll compliance
- Implemented comprehensive stock policy and stocktaking procedures across the group; drove compliance via training and monitoring
- Managed company-wide system administration including payroll, HR, POS, inventory and financial reporting platforms
- Prepared business for acquisition by Nightcap PLC; enhanced due diligence and compliance levels using Shield Safety suite
- Reduced management turnover by 50% through structured development programmes
General Manager at Balls Brothers (2017-09 – 2018-08)
General Manager at The Alchemist (2016-07 – 2017-06)
General Manager & Area Support Auditor at Pitcher & Piano (2008-01 – 2013-01)
Education
AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting (2026)
BSc (Hons) in Economics – University of Wales, Swansea (2007 – 2007)
A Levels in Mathematics, Philosophy & Ethics, Physics, History
GCSEs in 11 grades A*–B

