Meet Graham Bridgman

Graham Bridgman

Graham trained as a management accountant with BOC. WIP reduced by 50% through new control system and a pricing review boosted medical margins from 40% to 60%. He moved to Wilkinson Sword in 1976 and among other things was responsible for preparing the case to continue the fixed twin blade project, which had heavily overspent initial projections. The result: the product was available to compete with Gillette's launch.

Having been persuaded to spend an extra year at Wilkinson Sword Graham moved to Sussex where from 1980 to 1994 he undertook a number of short term projects to broaden his experience, including his first post as finance director for a tour operator. Then he set up two businesses of his own. During this time services included acting as finance director, management accounts, budgets, forecasts, audit, manuals and procedures.

Systems developments included a statutory company accounts package on Lotus Symphony for 25% of the cost of a proprietary package and projects for customers including The Times (payroll) British Gas (invoice and stock control) Channel Four (chart of accounts & programme budgets).

For Watermark plc, won the first repeat order from Virgin for 1M airline pouches by improving Virgins stock levels and eliminating stock-outs. Watermark have since become a leading supplier worldwide of airline pouches.

Involved with the sale of a tour operator, the management buyout of conference organiser, selling an indoor plant services company, and a Crown Post Office for others. He also developed The Accounting Centre Mid Sussex franchise and sold it himself to Neville Russell.

Eventually, in 1994, Graham's growing love of France persuaded him to move. At Disney he won a trip to the Mardi Gras Carnival in Rio de Janeiro for innovative ideas. A seminar on change and its implications improved effectiveness. He also introduced a new stores requisition system for Gold stores and a Lotus system for scheduling and hours worked.

In 2000 he moved to W H Smiths flagship bookshop in central Paris as Finance Manager and developed margin forecasting system producing 99% accuracy. Improved cash planning earned 20K€ interest pa. Comparative reporting against latest forecast, budget and prior year was introduced.

In 2004 following his parents' death Graham decided to return to the UK, learnt to sail, disposed of his property in France and reinvested in Spain, Greece and Cyprus

As you can see Graham has wide experience of business and project work so in May 2006 he started a new business

Financials Limited - progressing your game plans

with the aim of making his experience of achieving success available to you. Would you like your business achieving more of it's potential. Try a Financials Finance Director.

and call Graham on 01444 484732 Or email to graham@financials4u.co.uk