Alison Burnside | Partner

Department:
Corporate Recovery and Insolvency Team

Special Awards:
Represented Ireland at GFS World Council in New Zealand in 1993 as Junior Delegate.

Background:  
  • 1988-1991 BA 2.2 (Honours) Accounting, University of Ulster, Jordanstown
  • 1991-1994 DDA Training Services Ltd – Finance Officer operating JTP/YTP schemes
  • 1994 Diploma in Marketing, BIFHE
  • 1994-2007 Joined Cavanagh Kelly as Trainee Accountant
  • November 1996 Passed FAE Examination
  • February 1998 Qualified Chartered Accountant
  • December 2000 Promoted to Manager within the Recovery & Insolvency Department
  • February 2005 Promoted to Director
  • March 2006 Passed JIEB Examination
  • July 2007 Awarded ICAI Practising Certificate
  • July 2007 Awarded ICAI Auditing Certificate
  • August 2007 Awarded Insolvency Practitioner Licence
  • November 2007 Joined FPM as Director of Corporate Recovery & Restructuring Team
  • May 2009 Appointed Partner of Corporate Recovery & Insolvency Team
  • September 2010 Distinction in RoI Insolvency Diploma

Other:      
  • Member of Institute of Directors.
  • Regularly presents seminars on topical updates within insolvency to CAI and other professionals dealing with the financially distressed.
  • Director of DDA from 1994 – 2004.
  • Past Financial Controller of GFS in Ireland.
  • Extensive involvement in a number of local community and voluntary groups.

Relevant Experience 

Recovery & Restructuring: Corporate
 
  • Extensive experience of advising and managing directors and companies of the various corporate insolvency procedures i.e.  Creditor Voluntary Liquidations (CVL), Compulsory Liquidations Administrations, Receiverships together with informal solutions.
  • Extensive experience of restructuring and working out of building sites.
  • Advising on personal guarantees given in respect of business.
  • Advising on survival strategies for the businesses.
  • Advising businesses based in both NI, UK and RoI as to their options.
  • Extensive experience of chairing creditor’s meetings, liquidation committee meetings, realizing assets and corresponding with creditors.
  • Pre – insolvency advice to directors, shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders.
  • Advising directors personally on their rights and responsibilities.
  • Resolving creditor disputes.
  • Advising employees as to their rights and entitlements on the insolvency of their employer.
  • Advising on subcontractor claims.
  • Advising on Retention of Title claims.
  • Representing creditors at creditor meetings.
 
Solvent Companies:
 
  • Advising and managing solvent companies through the solvent Members Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) procedure.
  • Advising on non-statutory demergers.
  • Advising and supervising companies through trading Company Voluntary Arrangements.
  • Advising on the S 1003a Strike off procedure.
 
Recovery & Restructuring: Individual:
 
  • Extensive experience of advising individuals and partners on Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Bankruptcy, Debt Management Plans and, Refinancing.
  • Advising on Personal Guarantees.
  • Managing trading and non trading IVAs.
  • Advising on the matrimonial home.
  • Managing, realising and distributing the bankrupt’s estate.
  • Advices re Statutory Demands, CCJs, Distraint Orders, Attachment Orders and bankruptcy petitions – debtors and creditors.
 
Specific Sector experience includes:

Construction, property development, haulage, storage and distribution, farming, manufacturing food and machinery, engineering, retail – grocery, clothing and electrical retailers, IT, web based trading businesses, hairdressing, textiles, vehicle maintenance, hospitality sectors.
Breakdown of priorities and the allocation of assets. 
 
 
Training / Recruitment:
  • Responsibility for internal training and recruitment.
 
Consultancy:
  • Preparation of Financial Projections for a number of clients.
  • Assisted in the preparation of a number of Economic Appraisals.
  • Advices to directors and members re restructuring their businesses and the finances of the business.
  • Advices on charges and personal guarantees.
  • Advising on survival and growth strategies for businesses.
 
Other:
  • Grant assistance work for various clients including companies, sole traders and partnerships.
  • General advices in respect of credit control, terms and conditions of trading, and retention of title.