John Howarth

Areas of expertise

Audit and other assurance services, controls assurance/optimisation, accounting advice under IFRS, FRS 102 and US GAAP, finance team leadership, IPO readiness assessment and M&A.

Experience

John has extensive audit experience having spent 8 years at EY as an audit partner and prior to that he worked at PwC for 15 years. Most recently he was Director of Group Finance at Future in Bath.

John’s main focus during his career has been working with dynamic mid-market businesses across a range sectors - manufacturing, retail, technology and renewable energy. He also has international experience having been based in New Zealand for 6 years of his time at PwC.

This industry experience provides John with commercial acumen and a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face, and importantly, how to alleviate them.

Notable achievements

Specific transaction experience, including:

• Led IPO work of a global eyewear company onto the AIM market - leading working capital and IFRS conversion work.
• A £2bn PE acquisition of a carved out waste management group
• The £700m acquisition of a UK legal practice

Provided strategic advice to PE, private and family companies by using observations from the audit.

International experience - worked and lived in New Zealand for six years and Houston for one year. Led a number of international group audits.

Leadership experience - worked as CFO for a UK Audit practice and led the development of data audit techniques as part of Audit Transformation.

Strong people leader - led an Audit practice of 130 staff, developed a number of people through to partner and championed recruitment and diversity initiatives.

Recently worked within industry as Director of Group Finance at a FTSE 250 publishing group. Group consolidation, tax, treasury and internal controls directly reported to me. Led special projects to consider group acquisitions and divestments.

Supported local charities by being Chairman of Action for Children South West group and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on behalf of charity.

Professional qualifications/memberships

ICAEW Chartered Accountant