Thomas Smith
Finance Expert
Location
London, United Kingdom
Toptal Member Since
April 26, 2018
Thomas has executed numerous M&A transactions for FTSE 100 and private equity clients (KKR) while at major consulting firms, including Deloitte and L.E.K. Consulting. He has also led complex cross-border strategy projects at a leading global airline, such as acquiring aircraft valued at over £4.5 billion. Thomas enjoys freelancing as it enables him to advise clients on M&A, corporate finance, and strategy projects in a variety of sectors.
Thomas is available for hire
Hire ThomasCareer Highlights
Freelance Strategy Consultant
Freelance
Strategy Manager
easyJet
Corporate Finance Manager
Deloitte LLP
Education
Associate of the ICAEW (ACA) Degree
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
Case Studies
5-year Plan Financial Model
Three-statement ModelingFinancial ModelingSensitivity AnalysisStress TestingFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Business Planning
Market Assessment
Market InsightsMarket TrendsCompetitive IntelligenceMicrosoft PowerPointPresentationsBoard Presentations+ 3 more
Industry Expertise
AgricultureManagement ConsultingFinanceBankingInvestment BankingVenture Capital & Private EquityHealthcare ServicesHospitalityOther Expertise
Business StrategyDue DiligenceFinancial ModelingFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)ValuationWork Experience
2017 - PRESENT
Freelance Strategy Consultant
Freelance
- Developed the three-year M&A plan, established a framework for assessing potential targets, and produced detailed business cases (including due diligence and valuation models) for identified targets for a PE-owned aviation intelligence business.
- Managed a commercial due diligence engagement on behalf of L.E.K. Consulting in connection with the sale of Riviera Travel by Phoenix Equity Partners to Silverfleet Capital.
- Performed a detailed review of the customer base of an FTSE 250 company's logistics division. Large data sets were analyzed to identify key trends and drivers of profitability, with recommendations made on areas for focus and improvement.
- Led a project for a PE-owned travel software business to assess the market size and attractiveness of existing and adjacent verticals and to identify and validate new product opportunities. Developed a framework for screening potential M&A targets.
- Led two buy-side M&A deals for an FTSE 250 technology company. Services included the development of financial models, business cases, and the execution of due diligence.
- Advised a range of internal and external Airbus Consulting clients on projects covering business transformations, MRO facilities, airlines, and airports.
- Conducted expert interviews with senior stakeholders at Amex GBT's key suppliers and customers as part of its annual strategic planning process.
- Led commercial due diligence engagements in the travel, telecommunications, and healthcare sectors for private equity clients on behalf of L.E.K. Consulting and Altman Solon.
- Developed the business plan and investor presentation for a market-leading Agritech business.
- Led strategy and corporate finance (including M&A and due diligence) projects for PE-owned Rimes Technologies.
Focus areas: Business Cases, Investor Presentations, Market Research, Market Sizing, Private Equity, Transformational Leadership, Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, Business Advisory, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Advisory, Corporate Finance, Valuation, Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Strategy, M&A (Buy-side), Cross-border M&A, Financial Analysis
2020 - 2021
Interim Strategy and Pricing Director
RIMES Technologies
- Oversaw organic strategy development, M&A, and pricing optimization following recent private equity investment.
- Developed an M&A playbook and target screening framework.
- Led due diligence and developed business cases for potential acquisitions.
- Established the annual strategy development process.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Growth Strategy, M&A Strategy, Financials, M&A (Buy-side), Cross-border M&A, Financial Analysis
2017 - 2019
Freelance Business Advisor
Virgin Start Up
- Advised and supported numerous startup entrepreneurs applying for funding for their businesses. Virgin Start Up is a part of the Virgin Group of companies and provides startup loans, business advice, and mentoring support to entrepreneurs.
- Reviewed client business plans and worked with entrepreneurs to ensure that their business cases and financial forecasts were investment ready before submitting funding applications.
- Provided one-on-one business mentoring to startup entrepreneurs.
Focus areas: Startup Funding, Financial Advisory, Business Advisory, Business Planning, Financial Analysis
2017 - 2019
Trustee
AzuKo
- Established new financial management and reporting systems for AzuKo, a new international development charity.
- Oversaw the restructuring of the charity into a financially sustainable standalone social enterprise.
- Designed and implemented the governance and internal control framework.
- Strengthened the entity's strategic capabilities by recruiting additional trustees to the Board to fill identified skills gaps.
Focus areas: Financial System Implementation, Cash Flow Forecasting, Financial Regulations, Financial Reporting, Financial Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Analysis
2017 - 2018
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Position Group
- Secured debt and equity funding for Position, a Financial Times featured impact investment startup funding an innovative economic strategy to benefit low-income agricultural producers in developing countries.
- Developed investor materials and presentations that were used in pitching to potential investors.
- Led collaborations with international development partners to produce business plans for specific joint ventures.
- Carried out market research underpinning the growth assumptions in the detailed business plan.
Focus areas: Three-statement Modeling, Startup Funding, Market Research, Valuation, Business Planning, Financial Management, Investor Presentations, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Analysis
2015 - 2017
Finance Director
The Airline Group
- Managed the finances of the Airline Group, a company owned by the major airlines in the UK. The Airline Group is the controlling shareholder of NATS, the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services.
- Led an internal, cross-functional review of easyJet's indirect investment in the company (via its Airline Group shareholding) to assess whether it was still of significant strategic and financial value to easyJet.
- Represented easyJet during discussions and negotiations with other Airline Group shareholders and the Government as part of the proposed NATS sales process.
- Managed the repayment of capital and interest to debt holders of the company as well as the distribution of dividends to shareholders. These payments usually exceeded £10 million.
Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Regulations, External Financial Reporting, Financial Management, Management Accounting, Corporate Finance, Valuation, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis
2014 - 2017
Strategy Manager
easyJet
- Managed two cross-functional projects that evaluated organic growth initiatives' strategic and financial feasibility, resulting in placing orders for 63 Airbus aircrafts, valued at £4.5 billion.
- Led engagements to evaluate M&A opportunities which involved the development of business cases, valuations, due diligence, and assessing transaction structures.
- Led corporate finance projects such as the development and review of the 5-year business plan, capital structure reviews, and dividend policy assessments.
- Managed a project to align the strategic plans of business functions to the overall company strategy, working with department heads to develop and implement new KPIs.
- Developed and automated a multifaceted competitor database from scratch, which is now used to provide timely competitor insight and benchmarking analysis. This process was previously outsourced, resulting in large savings.
- Developed a corporate finance and valuation training workshop which was regularly delivered.
Focus areas: Business Cases, Market Sizing, Financial Benchmarking, Three-statement Modeling, Capital Structuring, Dividend Policy, Financial Modeling, Market Models, Business Planning, Due Diligence, Investor Presentations, Valuation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), M&A (Buy-side), Cross-border M&A, Financial Analysis
2011 - 2014
Corporate Finance Manager
Deloitte LLP
- Led teams involved in the provision of buy and sell side financial due diligence and M&A services to private equity and corporate clients across a range of industries, including financial services, TMT, aviation, infrastructure, and agriculture.
- Managed the due diligence engagement for KKR’s $200 million acquisition of Afriflora in Ethiopia, the global private equity firm’s first African investment.
- Led a cross-border engagement team responsible for the production of a Vendor Due Diligence report in connection with Friends Life Group’s $500 million sale of Lombard International Assurance to Blackstone.
- Managed teams involved in the provision of Vendor Due Diligence and Vendor Assist services relating to Nokia Siemens Networks’ disposal of its Business Support Systems (BSS) business to Redknee.
- Worked as an Assistant Manager on an engagement supporting Barclays' disposal of its Africa operations to ABSA for $2 billion.
- Managed market research and business development activities, including proposal writing, recruitment, staff training, and the development of performance targets for the financial services department.
- Managed or worked on PE deals, including KKR’s acquisitions of Afriflora & LCI Helicopters, RCapital’s purchase of Shopacheck Financial Services, various undisclosed deals for Cinven, and Bregal Capital’s (partial) disposal of Cognita to KKR.
- Managed or worked on corporate deals, including Transport Scotland’s purchase of Prestwick Airport, GKN Aerospace’s acquisition of Volvo Aero, Virgin Money’s acquisition of Northern Rock bank, and IBM’s acquisition of Green Hat.
Focus areas: Financial Services, Valuation, Three-statement Modeling, Private Equity, Financial Modeling, M&A Reporting, Investment Memoranda, Financial Advisory, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Corporate Finance, Due Diligence, M&A (Buy-side), Cross-border M&A, Financial Analysis
2008 - 2011
Assistant Manager, Banking and Capital Markets Audit
Deloitte LLP
- Planned, coordinated, and managed financial statement, internal and regulatory (FSA and Sarbanes Oxley) assurance engagements for a variety of clients in the financial services sector.
- Managed an internal review of Visa Europe's budgeting process, ensuring that appropriate controls and procedures were in place and providing advice on the development of suitable KPIs for performance measurement.
- Managed a high-risk SEC regulatory engagement for Santander UK in which I introduced a new approach that was commended for significantly enhancing the quality of the annual deliverable.
- Executed a regulatory engagement that was used as the basis for a template adopted by the Banking and Capital Markets Department for future engagements.
- Performed engagements for clients including Santander, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, Visa, Alliance & Leicester, Chuo Mitsui Trust International, Paragon Mortgages, Personal Touch Financial Services, H&R Building Society, and Loughborough Building Society.
Focus areas: Financial Services, Financial Model Auditing, Financial Regulations, External Audits, Financial Advisory, Control Audits, Internal Audits, Management, Audits, Financial Analysis
2006 - 2008
Senior Associate
KPMG
- Managed assurance and advisory engagements for local and regional organizations, predominantly in the financial services and international development sector.
- Conducted a review of a European Union-funded development project in the Cook Islands.
- Discovered two separate fraud cases, one of which was at a major international bank.
- Prepared a successful proposal for KPMG that resulted in the awarding of a contract to provide financial assurance services for Our Telekom in the Solomon Islands.
- Carried out engagements for clients including Reserve Bank of Fiji, ANZ Bank, Colonial National Bank, Credit Corporation, Home Finance Company, Bank of Kiribati, European Union, United Nations, Forum Secretariat, Red Cross, and Global Fund.
Focus areas: Financial Services, Financial Regulations, External Audits, Financial Advisory, Control Audits, Internal Audits, Taxation, External Financial Reporting, Management, Audits, Financial Analysis
2002 - 2007
Finance Director
Maroi Flowers
- Successfully managed a family-owned company while also completing a bachelor's degree. The company consisted of more than ten employees in four different locations.
- Installed new accounting software and set up a financial reporting system.
- Managed all business financial matters, including bookkeeping, budgeting, processing payments, and preparing annual financial statements.
- Liaised with tax and customs authorities and international suppliers.
- Supervised and worked alongside employees on farms and in retail outlets.
Focus areas: Cost Management, Tax Planning, Management Accounting, Pricing Strategy, Budgeting, Financial Management, Financial Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Analysis
Education
2008 - 2010
Associate of the ICAEW (ACA) Degree in Finance
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales - London, United Kingdom
2003 - 2005
Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Financial Management
University of the South Pacific - Suva, Fiji