Available to hire
Hi, I’m Michael Clayworth, a experienced Financial Controller and Senior Finance Partner with 15+ years leading multi-million pound transformation programmes across financial services, utilities, and energy sectors. I specialise in strategic forecasting, cost control, and turning complex data into actionable insights that support investment decisions.
I build finance frameworks that align with business strategy, collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive performance, manage risk, and enable high-quality reporting. My hands-on approach has delivered significant savings and improved governance across global, regulatory and IT programmes.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Finance Consultant (Contract) at Protiviti
July 1, 2024 - March 1, 2025Provided consultancy to a Global Asset Management Group (US$400B AUM) during SAP S/4HANA ERP implementation under a Finance Transformation Programme. Developed global reporting strategy, identified 75% redundant reports and secured sign-off from senior leadership across 8 Global Centres of Excellence. Produced reporting & analytics strategy document for a $30M RFP for System Integrator vendor selection. Partnered with CoE Finance Heads to create Target Operating Model (TOM) for month-end reporting, transitioned from regional reporting to global reporting by Q1. Documented future-state reporting requirements defining accounting processes and reporting data flows across Revenue, Expenses, and Compensation CoEs, aligned with SAP S/4HANA best practice and SOX compliance.
Senior Finance Project Accountant (Contract) at Great British Nuclear (GBN)
May 1, 2024 - July 1, 2024Evaluated and enhanced financial controls, reporting accuracy, and cost oversight for the Next-gen Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Nuclear Technologies Programme, underpinned by £58M public funding. Reviewed SMR programme financial controls framework, identified material control gaps and implemented new cost procedures and controls, improved reporting accuracy by 36%. Investigated milestone variances across 4 commercial contracts covering 60% of £58M funding. Validated and prepared Xero legacy finance system migration-ready datasets with full audit trail.
Senior Finance Business Partner (Contract) at HSBC
October 1, 2021 - August 1, 2022Appointed to support the Head of Transformation Finance and Regulatory Change Director to improve cost visibility, enhance financial control, and drive performance across a critical global regulatory change programme. Delivered £75M global regulatory change programme within budget, despite 10% funding cut, by redesigning global financial governance framework. Simplified IFRS-compliant models across UK, APAC, EMEA and Americas reducing lead time for investment approvals by 40%. Automated global cost reporting using Qlik Sense dashboards, improving stakeholder access, enabling self-service insights, reduced manual reporting cycles by 90% and errors by 30%. Mentored and upskilled PMO analysts, increasing forecast accuracy by 50% and P2P efficiency by 20%. Instigated £3M legal cost recovery process for syndicated loans from 40+ external financial institutions, directly improving P&L.
Senior Project Financial Controller (Contract) at Lloyds Banking Group
January 1, 2015 - October 1, 2021Headed financial governance, assurance and compliance across transformation programmes c£280M including pensions, insurance, GDPR compliance, and the Schroders Joint Venture. Oversaw end-to-end cost control, financial reporting framework, budgeting, forecasting, general ledger (GL) integrity, and IFRS compliance. Directed end-to-end financial governance for £195M Joint Venture with Schroders, including consolidated financial reporting, GL reconciliations, and audit readiness. Chaired top-level finance presentations to the Executive Steering Group and senior stakeholders on JV performance, risks, opportunities, and KPIs. Established joint venture recharge and implemented Transition Service Agreement (TSA) process. Rolled out Clarity Project & Portfolio Management (PPM), automated resource cost management and improved reporting accuracy and efficiency by 30%. Records Management GDPR Compliance and Insurance Customer Delivery Transformation initiatives also supported within this period.
Records Management GDPR Compliance at Lloyds Banking Group
January 1, 2018 - March 1, 2019Reformed systems to align with GDPR legislation, delivering financial governance and controls. Secured £55M phased investment through business case development and financial impact analysis. Built cost tracking framework that delivered £2.1M savings and improved CapEx/RevEx/Opex visibility. Investigated and aligned £15M Group IT programme funding into CapEx/RevEx under IFRS, improving reporting integrity and compliance. Rolled out Clarity Project & Portfolio Management (PPM), automated resource cost management and improved reporting accuracy and efficiency by 30%.
Insurance Customer Delivery Transformation at Lloyds Banking Group
July 1, 2015 - December 1, 2017External audit highlighted critical operational deficiencies in Insurance Operations; joined Senior Leadership team to address FCA risks. Delivered £21M programme with rigorous cost governance, change control tracking, and reporting structures to support turnaround delivery. Negotiated IFRS CapEx treatment for data infrastructure costs (£2M) with Finance. Supported Internal Audit and maintained top internal audit rating for programme governance.
Corporate Pensions Transformation at Lloyds Banking Group
January 1, 2015 - June 1, 2015Enabled stabilisation of corporate pensions operations and auto-enrolment backlog reduction; delivered programme closure. Settled complex £13M funding arrangement between Scottish Widows and Lloyds Banking Group resulting in Corporate Pensions NPS increasing from 1* to 5* and gaining industry awards.
Project Accountant (Contract) at Tesco Bank
October 1, 2013 - August 1, 2014Project Accountant supporting £66M Personal Current Account launch; managed cost governance and reporting; collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver milestones on a high-profile initiative.
Project Accountant (Contract) at Lloyds TSB
May 1, 2009 - December 1, 2011Project Accountant supporting £179M HBOS integration; end-to-end cost governance, budgeting, forecasting and reporting; ensured IFRS compliance and smooth transition.
Project Accountant (Contract) at HSBC
May 1, 2008 - April 1, 2009Project Accountant for $2B Global Finance Transformation; led project accounting across multi-national streams, ensuring governance and timely reporting.
Deputy FC at Scottish & Southern Energy
June 1, 2007 - April 1, 2008Deputy Finance Controller for Home Services startup; led cost controls and financial governance for a growing division within energy services.
Project Accountant (Contract) at Scotia Gas Networks
March 1, 2007 - May 1, 2007Project accounting and commercial analysis for £25M initiatives; supported budget control and reporting.
Project Accountant (Contract) at Scottish Water Solutions
November 1, 2006 - March 1, 2007Project reporting for £100M projects; strengthening governance and financial control.
Career Break
September 1, 2022 - April 1, 2024Took time off due to family medical emergency.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Finance at Griffith University, Australia
January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1996Griffith University ranks in the top 2 percent of universities globally with 50000 students spanning six campuses in South East Queensland, Australia.
Certificate in International Reporting Standards (IFRS) at ACCA
June 1, 2018 - May 31, 2019Qualifications
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)
July 3, 2007 - December 5, 2035CPA Australia has an extensive global reach with more than 174,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, supported by 20 offices around the world.
The CPA designation is recognised and respected across the globe. It signifies financial, accounting and business advisory professionals of the highest training and expertise.
A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) is a finance, accounting and business professional with a specific qualification. Being a CPA is a mark of high professional competence. It indicates a soundness in depth, breadth and quality of accountancy knowledge.
Industry Experience
Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Professional Services
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Hire a Project Manager
We have the best project manager experts on Twine. Hire a project manager in London today.