Sam Howell

ACA-qualified senior finance professional with experience leading finance functions across high-growth, owner managed and private equity backed businesses. Experienced in financial control, management and statutory reporting, cashflow and working capital management, budgeting and forecasting and finance process improvement. Strong track record of partnering with CEOs, boards and senior stakeholders, leading finance teams and strengthening financial controls and reporting to support business growth.

Hands-on experience building finance functions, improving systems and processes, and developing financial models and reporting that provide clear commercial insight.

Associate Director at Hazlewoods LLP (2025-03 – Present)

• Lead outsourced finance teams supporting private equity-backed clients, providing senior finance leadership and financial insight.
• Lead management reporting and ad hoc financial analysis for senior stakeholders, ensuring timely and accurate information for decision making.
• Oversee month-end and year-end financial close processes, including financial reporting and review.
• Oversee preparation of financial statements, statutory reporting and tax compliance deliverables.

Head of Finance at Mutt Motorcycles Limited (2023-03 – 2025-03)

• Led the finance function, reporting directly to the CEO and providing financial insight and challenge to senior stakeholders.
• Prepared and presented management reporting, forecasts and financial analysis to support commercial and operational decision making.
• Improved finance systems, controls and budgeting processes, strengthening financial governance and reporting.
• Built and maintained financial forecast models, including detailed cash flow forecasting.
• Led budgeting and financial analysis for new motorcycle models, supplier decisions and B2B and B2C sales initiatives, partnering with sales, operations and senior management.

Head of Finance at Lounge Underwear Limited (2019-12 – 2023-03)

• Established and led the finance function as the first finance hire in the business.
• Built and developed the finance team and finance processes during a period of rapid growth, including 300% revenue growth from 2020 to 2021.
• Introduced robust monthly management reporting, forecasting and cash flow reporting to support senior management decision making.
• Strengthened financial controls, reporting processes and compliance as the business scaled.
• Led budgeting and financial analysis for new product launches, supplier decisions and wider business initiatives, partnering with commercial and operational teams.

Finance Manager - Cash and Working Capital at Specialist Computer Centres PLC (2019-04 – 2019-12)

• Managed group cash forecasting and reporting, including rolling 12-month cash flow modelling.
• Refined and implemented cash flow forecasting in IBM TM1, improving visibility of group liquidity and future cash requirements.
• Managed reporting relating to invoice discounting and supported FX forecasting.
• Reported cash performance and working capital information to senior finance stakeholders.

Audit and Accounts Senior at MHA MacIntyre Hudson (Birmingham) LLP (2017-10 – 2019-04)

• Prepared statutory accounts, tax computations, and statutory returns.
• Managed audits across multiple sectors.
• Supported clients in improving controls and year-end reporting.

Trainee Accountant / Consultant at UHY Hacker Young (Birmingham) LLP (2014-09 – 2017-10)

• Prepared accounts, tax computations, and statutory returns.
• Supported audit delivery and financial reporting improvements.
• Completed NHS consultancy work covering reporting, forecasting, and statutory reporting.

BSc (Hons) in Financial Mathematics – University of Surrey (2014-06)