Karlene Watson
@karlenewatson
Community-focused business entrepreneur with diverse sector experience.
What I'm looking for
I am a community-focused business entrepreneur with a wealth of experience across various sectors. My journey has been marked by a commitment to supporting educational initiatives, as evidenced by my role as a Volunteer School Librarian at Elderslie Primary School, where I successfully managed the re-opening of the school library. My analytical skills were honed during my tenure as a Financial Analyst at EnviroBuild Ltd, where I produced comprehensive financial and management reports that informed strategic decisions.
In addition to my professional roles, I have actively contributed to community organizations, serving on the Board of Management for CDS Housing Co-operative and as a Board of Trustee Member for the 1st Place Children and Parents Centre. These experiences have deepened my understanding of community needs and the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving shared goals. I am passionate about continuous learning and seek opportunities to expand my skills and experiences in wider roles.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Self Employed Tutor
Self Employed
Jul 2021 - Present (4 years)
Providing tutoring and homeschooling services in subjects including English, Mathematics, Black History, and Science.
Volunteer School Librarian
Elderslie Primary and Infant School
May 2024 - Present (1 year 2 months)
Supporting the school with planning and managing the re-opening of a previously closed school library. Responsibilities include managing cleaning and reorganizing of the library, cataloging books and materials, and creating and running library sessions for grades 1 to 6.
Financial Analyst
Envirobuild Materials
Jul 2019 - Jul 2021 (2 years)
Analyzed financial data using Xero accounting software, created credit control and forecasting reports, and reviewed financial information to support management decisions.
Self Employed Bookkeeper
Meanwhilespace CIC
Jan 2016 - Jul 2019 (3 years 6 months)
Responsible for reconciling sales and purchases ledgers, clearing suspense accounts, and producing management reports.
Operations Coordinator
Meanwhilespace CIC
Jun 2018 - Jul 2019 (1 year 1 month)
Managed sales ledger and intercompany accounting using Xero and Kashflow, produced management reports, and handled legal, HR, and office management tasks.
Community Involvement Administrator
Southwark Council
Jan 2000 - Jan 2006 (6 years)
Organized events and prepared reports and correspondences to enhance community involvement.
Board of Management Member
CDS Co-operatives
Mar 2014 - Jan 2016 (1 year 10 months)
Ensured that the Society’s aims and objectives, as well as financial and legal responsibilities, were fulfilled.
Finance Officer
Southwark Council
Jan 2006 - Mar 2014 (8 years 2 months)
Worked in sales and purchase ledgers using SAP finance package, monitored budgets, and prepared management reports.
Equalities Officer
Unison
Jan 2006 - Jan 2010 (4 years)
Provided support to members and stewards to tackle equalities rights issues.
Administrator
South London and Maudsley NHS Trust
Jan 1999 - Jan 2000 (1 year)
Provided support to the finance team by creating and updating monitoring reports.
Sales Assistant
Marks and Spencer Plc
Jan 1992 - Jan 1999 (7 years)
Delivered customer service across various departments and resolved customer queries.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Kaplan Financial Training Company
NVQ in Accounting, Accounting
2006 - 2009
Completed NVQ levels 2, 3, and 4 in Accounting, gaining a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices.
Bourneville School
GCSE, General Education
1987 - 1992
Studied core subjects including Mathematics, English Literature, English Language, Business Studies, and Information Studies, laying a strong foundation for future academic and professional pursuits.
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
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