KATHLEEN PHANG

• Directed group reporting across NZ, US, and UK, delivering monthly consolidated reports, dashboards, analytics, and outlooks.
• Spearheaded the annual budgeting process and quarterly forecasting for all three regions.
• Implemented cost control measures and established KPI targets, including labor ratio optimization, OPEX reduction, and COS cost-cutting initiatives.
• Managed and developed a team of three, providing coaching, training, and ongoing support.

Key achievements

• Achieved a USD $500k reduction in overall OPEX within three months by setting clear targets, enforcing the use of POs, and enhancing financial literacy across the organization.

• Led and managed a team of six senior financial accountants, fostering collaboration and performance excellence.
• Developed and continuously enhanced Xero’s integrated reporting framework, aligning with NZ IFRS, GAAP, and non-GAAP measures.
• Oversaw the end-to-end month-end close process, driving efficiencies and process improvements.
• Managed the preparation of bi-annual external reporting, providing insightful commentary and analysis for investors.

Key achievements

• Reduced month-end close timelines from five days to four, enhancing reporting efficiency.
• Partnered with the broader finance and operations teams to successfully clear 1,200 legacy POs.

• Led finance operations across both NZ and US regions, ensuring seamless financial management and compliance.
• Delivered strategic, technical, and commercial financial insights to support the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
• Conducted weekly cash flow forecasting, quarterly projections, and annual budgeting processes.
• Prepared comprehensive quarterly investor reports and collaborated with lawyers and investors during capital raises, from Seed to Series B funding rounds.

Key achievements

• Designed and implemented Power BI dashboard reporting for enhanced data visualization and decision-making.
• Authored a detailed memo on Transfer Pricing strategies, successfully reducing the parent company’s overall tax burden.
• Automated the employee expense claims process, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency.

• Led a finance team of 22, partnering with the business to identify opportunities and provide actionable financial recommendations.
• Delivered strategic, analytical, and commercial expertise to effectively manage the organization’s key value drivers.
• Oversaw the annual audit process, ensuring compliance with IFRS standards and accurate financial representation.

Key Achievements

• Enhanced collaboration across the organization by restructuring business partnering, strengthening communication between the finance department and other business units.

• Directed all aspects of financial reporting and systems accounting to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• Oversaw key reporting deliverables, including quarterly board reports, monthly management reports, and project accounting updates.
• Led the development of Power BI dashboards, integrating data from the accounting system, HR platform, and Excel workbooks.
• Championed continuous improvement by automating workflows in expense management and integrating third-party payment platforms with the accounting system.
• Managed all forecasting and budgeting cycles, presenting monthly results, approved forecasts, and budgets to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

Key achievements

• Successfully developed new Power BI financial reports, project lifecycle reports, and KPI dashboards.
• Received widespread positive feedback from the organization on the value and usability of the Power BI dashboards.

• Coordinated the preparation of the company's annual budget and quarterly forecasts, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic goals.
• Collaborated with budget holders to generate detailed commentaries supporting forecast and budget figures.
• Conducted monthly project closures to recognize surpluses and losses promptly, providing insightful gross margin variance analysis.

Key Achievements

• Promoted to FP&A Manager after successfully transforming static reporting into dynamic, real-time insights through the implementation of Power BI, aligning reporting capabilities with evolving business needs.

• Performed monthly detailed profit and loss variance analysis against forecast and prior periods
• Analysed expenditures, attendance reports and raised concerns to XLT
• Prepared all tax compliances, including GST, FBT and tax returns
• Key Achievements:
• Involved in successfully creating a new financial model for kindergartens which was used as a successful business case for selected kindergartens to go live, which resulted in an increase in the overall bottom line by3.5%

• Oversaw the month-end close process, including maintaining the month-end timetable and reviewing monthly management accounts for five subsidiaries.
• Provided leadership, coaching, and management to a team of eight, fostering growth and collaboration.
• Maintained weekly cash flow forecasts, managed the overdraft facility, and optimized tax pooling across all subsidiaries to minimize tax liabilities.
• Managed the external audit process and prepared year-end statutory accounts, ensuring compliance and accuracy.

Key Achievements

• Successfully integrated the accounts of a newly acquired company into the existing accounting system, streamlining processes and ensuring a seamless transition.
• Reduced reporting timelines from eight days to five, significantly enhancing efficiency and timeliness.

• Managed month-end processes for the Saudi, Dubai, and Swedish entities, including tax compliance, operational matters, and internal audits.

• Played a key role in accelerating the audit process, resulting in faster completion compared to the previous year.

• Prepared statutory accounts for UK subsidiaries in accordance with UK GAAP and the Group consolidated statutory accounts under IFRS, ensuring timely and accurate completion.
• Drafted an accounting policy memorandum for revenue recognition of commissions received from Facebook, aligning with the principal-agent relationship as defined in IAS 18, for review by external auditors.

Key Achievements:

• Promoted to Company Accountant in under a year, demonstrating strong performance and leadership potential.
• Prepared the first set of consolidated financial statements for the New Zealand and Australian subsidiaries in compliance with IAS 1.
• Conducted internal controls and developed system documentation for purchasing, procurement, payroll, receivables, and inventory management for a newly acquired company, identifying key risks and implementing mitigations.

• Conducted internal controls testing through process reviews and client interviews, along with substantive testing.
• Reviewed financial statements, prepared management representation letters, and compiled close reports.
• Key clients : Woolworths, Lion Breweries, Dynasty Hotel Group