Michelle Hawkins |
 Partner
m.hawkins@fpmca.com

Department:
Consultancy

Professional Qualifications:
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, Associate Member of Institute of Management Consultants.


Other:
Chair of the Southern Regions Business in the Community’s Business Leadership Team,  Member of BITC Community Leadership Team.


Background:  
1987 - 1989:             Diploma HE (Accounting), Magee College, University of Ulster, Londonderry, Diploma with Distinctions
1989 - 1991:                BA (Accounting) - University of Ulster, Jordanstown,  2:1 Honours Degree
March 1995:              Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with BDO Stoy Hayward, Belfast
September 1995:       Joined FPM Chartered Accountants
May 2000:                 Promoted to Partner in FPM in FPM Chartered Accountants

Relevant Experience

 

Private Sector Assignments:

 

    • Assisted numerous start-up companies, involving:-
    • Establishing appropriate structures;
    • Preparation of a Business Plan;
    • Preparation of grant applications
    • Development of Accounting systems and controls
    • Through the FPM Business Advisory Services (BAS) Department, I have carried out the following assignments for client companies;
    • Strategic overview of business
    • Establishment of Key Performance Indicators
    • Preparation of financial projections
    • Preparation of management accounts
    • Attendance at Board / Management Meetings on a monthly basis to monitor performance against KPI’s
    • Assistance in identifying opportunities and securing grant assistance
    • Assisted various growth companies in obtaining grant assistance from Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland.
    • Assisted numerous sporting/charitable organisations by preparing Business Plans and completing applications to secure funding from the Sports /Charities and Heritage Lottery Funds.
    • Involved in the preparation of Business Plans for a number of manufacturing and service industry clients, including where necessary detailed marketing assessments, product review and action plans for change in organisational/ management structures as well as Financial Projections and sensitivity analysis.
    • Preparation of several Business Plans for numerous food, meat and fish processors wishing to extend their existing facilities to comply with EU regulations and diversify into new product ranges.  This involved submitting applications to DARD’s FEOGA and FIFG Programmes.
    • Preparation of a Business Plan for a large packaging company which proposed to expand operations and introduce new technologies to the province through the establishment of a dedicated R&D facility.
    • Preparation of a Business Plan to set up a Call Centre in Northern Irelandwhich formed part of a £15m London based PLC facilitating Business-to-Business (B 2 B) transactions across a wide spectrum of industries.
    • Preparation of Business Plan to establish a Business-to-Consumer (B 2 C) e-commerce company to specifically target European markets through the provision of nutritional / dietary advice.
    • Preparation of a Business Plan for a Telecommunications Company to set up in Northern Ireland and introduce new value added ITC skills to the Province.
    • Preparation of numerous Business Plans for joint venture projects across a wide range of industries.
    • Preparation of a Business Plan for a £5 million inward investment company seeking to establish a recycling business in Northern Ireland.
    • Preparation of a Business Plan to establish a community based IT Centre in the Warrenpoint area.
    • Carried out several due diligence exercises prior to the acquisition of businesses.
    • Evaluation of accounting systems of numerous clients.

Tourism:

    • Assessment of the viability of a €60m leisure complex in the Louth region.
    • Secured funding for the development of a hotel in South Down.
    • Prepared a feasibility study on a potential hotel project also in South Down.
    • Appraisal of a four star hotel and Championship golf course in County Fermanagh.
    • Business Plan to consider the feasibility of a new hotel development in Co Down.
    • Business Plan for the establishment of an outdoor pursuits holiday centre in County Louth
    •  Preparation of Business Plan to develop an equestrian centre, self catering accommodation and promote the natural amenities of County Louth.
    • Assisted in the preparation of a Feasibility Study for an Equestrian Centre, restaurant and self catering accommodation project in South Down.
    • Business Plan for the establishment of a luxury cruiser to be based in the Newry & Mourne area.
    • Involved in securing the funding for a Hospitality and Cultural Centre to be located in South Down.
    •  Prepared a Business Plan to assess the market and viability of an Inn in the Warrenpoint area.

 

Evaluations/Economic & Financial Appraisals:

 

    •  Lead consultant on an economic appraisal completed for ITI on their Acumen Programme.
    • Leading role in the completion of a number of economic appraisals on Modernisation funding applications for Co-Operation Ireland on behalf of the Department of Social Development.
    • Lead consultant in a number of economic appraisals and value for money assessments prepared for The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure on Peace II applications
    • Project manager during the completion of Interreg IIIA Value for Money Appraisals.
    • Lead consultant on an economic appraisal completed for the Training and Employment Centre on NIPPA
    • Numerous economic appraisals for The Community Foundation forNorthern Ireland.
    • Numerous Economic Appraisals carried out on behalf of Co-Operation Ireland on  Peace II applications for funding
    • Ex Ante Evaluation on the impact of Measure 1.1a of Peace II, carried out on behalf of DETI.
    • Evaluation of a suite of programmes funded by the Department of Employment & Learning (DEL), the Management Development Programme.
    •  Evaluation of a joint QUB/UU project, the TEI Programme which aimed to encourage entrepreneurship and help bring innovative ideas to the market.
    • Carried out a Post Project Evaluation of a Peace II funded expansion project at Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners for submission to DARD.
    •  Lead Consultant on numerous economic appraisals on behalf of DARD in respect of applications outlining schemes to support the NI Fishing Industry.
    • Appointed lead Consultant in carrying out Economic Appraisals on projects seeking ESF assistance on behalf of the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL).
    • Lead Consultant on a number of Economic Appraisals carried out on behalf of SEUPB on projects seeking Interreg IIIA assistance.
    •  Financial/Commercial Appraisals carried out on behalf of a major Building Society.
    •  Preparation of numerous Appraisals on businesses and companies seeking assistance from the Emerging Business Trust (formerly IFI Pilot Loan).
    • Carried out numerous Compete Finance Appraisals on behalf of Invest NI’s Corporate Appraisal Division.

 

 

 

Audit and Accounts Preparation:

 

    •   Lead auditor on a 3 year programme awarded by the European Commission to audit research and development grant claims to universities and the private sector.
    •   Audit Senior on a range of assignments where responsibilities included planning, budgeting and co-ordinating of the audit work, in addition to the supervision of the audit team.
    •  Responsible for carrying out external audits on behalf of European Commission to assess systems and management controls.
    •  Involved in internal audit assignments carried out on Government Departments.
    • Preparation of Sole Trader / Partnership / Solicitor / Club Accounts.

 

 

Voluntary and Community Sector

 

    •  Extensive experience of voluntary and community sector in terms of working with social enterprise projects in terms of economic appraisals, training, mentoring and advising on financial and management costings.

 

Training:

 

    •  Project Manager of Invest NI’s Fit for Business Programme. Responsible for the design and delivery of the Programme.  This comprised of workshops and one to one mentoring.
    •  Part of the delivery team on Invest NI / Enterprise Ireland’s Transform Programme which worked with entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland, helping them to bring their concept to market.
    • Involved in preparing and presenting presentations on Strategic Management, Grants and Financial Incentives available in Northern Ireland and Practical Working Capital Management to a broad range of business groups.
    • Co-ordinated the delivery of two PLATO programmes aimed at assisting SME’s effectively manage their business – Advanced Financial Management. This involved one-to-one visits, workshop sessions and follow up visits.
    •  Involved in the design and delivery of a further PLATO programme to plan for Family Succession.
    • Commissioned by DKIT to deliver one-to-one mentoring for the Female Entrepreneurs Programme
    •  Provision of mentoring to many companies in respect of necessary financial and management controls required within their business.
    • Participated in the Cultural Cross Sectoral Working Group set up to assist in the preparation of the Strategy 2010 document.
    •  Participated in numerous Prohelp assignments which were co-ordinated by Business in the Community to counsel companies in areas such as cashflow difficulties, the development of an effective costing system etc.

 

Corporate Finance:

 

    •  Advised several M&A transactions of companies operating with the recycling sector.
    • Highly experience in raising finance from a range of providers throughout NI / RoI.
    •  Over ten years experience in project appraisal for the public sector, banks and private investors.
    • Carried out numerous due diligence assignments and fit for purpose reviews.