Susan Hennessy

Founding member of ReachOut.com Ireland, an award winning youth mental health organisation. Responsible for effective delivery of multi-million euro budget, and all financial reporting to board of directors and investors. Established and implemented financial, operational and HR procedures. Managed recruitment processes, and oversaw development of national volunteering programme. Strategically involved in development of communications campaign. Managed team of four. Appointed Acting CEO for three months.

Rural Ghanian school development project. Facilitated planning sessions with community leaders, school management, local government & key stakeholders to develop a 5-year development plan. Secured school a place on Dept. of Education’s 3-year pilot management & teachers training programme. Negotiated to have the community added to the District Assembly’s 2008 electrification schedule, and the provision of classroom furniture. Raised €30k+ to build a 3-classroom block & teachers’ quarters. 2 evaluation trips

Facilitated strategic & marketing planning with new Directors, with aim to set SMART goals & objectives for organisation and personnel. Designed staff appraisal system. Conducted various sales analyses to identify trends, gaps and potential areas of growth. Diplomatically worked with staff to understand and assess organisation & current processes, facilitated improvements for more effective management & operations. Successfully project managed the ISO 9001 Certification process.

Working with all levels of the organisation, assessed the current practices of various locally-run NGOs. Developed strategic plans with management. Conducted needs assessment with women’s micro credit groups, to both train and plan with the women for their 2008-2010 programme. Introduced & trained management and beneficiaries on cost analysis, financial processed, reporting, marketing, and production management for women’s income generating activities. Conducted value chain analysis.

Reviewed, redeveloped and implemented finance, administration, and HR policies & procedures. Systems approved during intensive due-diligence assessments by international venture capital companies and multinational mobile operators. Finance function included cashflow management, preparation of accounts for audit, budget prep & analysis, debtor/credit control, payroll, investor reporting. Successfully managed ISO 9001 certification process. Strategically involved in company re-brand.