About

Simon Pickup – Director of Bluline Ltd

I have worked as a finance professional for nearly 40 years here in the north west of England and I have hands on experience in a wide range of industries from PLC’s to owner/manager SME’s.

I’m a good strategic thinker and have successfully operated at Board level for over 15 years and my employers and clients have told me that I have brought valuable outside the box opinions and meaningful financial reporting to Board meetings and assisted greatly in the forward planning of the Company.

My strengths are:-

• Cash control skills gained through working for businesses surviving rapid growth, businesses reliant on large project work and also for businesses trading in difficult geographic regions. Also micro managing the cash for businesses going through difficult trading conditions.
• Company restructuring and turnarounds, creating and implementing new financial business models, which have led to sustainable and profitable growth to the satisfaction of all parties.
• Motivating and managing a finance team as well as interacting with staff of all levels in all departments and I’m always keen to roll up my sleeves and walk the shop floor.
• Experience of acquisitions and mergers from both sides of the fence. Working closely with due diligence accountants and corporate solicitors to enable the sale to complete on time and at the agreed sale value.
• Successfully project managing ERP installations, including SAP B1,Sage X3 and Pegasus Opera. I am a passionate believer in ERP software and consider it almost essential for a modern Company to use ERP to manage their business process.
• Accurate and timely commercial reporting. Keeping the Directors and management team informed of the health of the entire business process from sales lead generation to cash in the bank.

My experience of industry includes:-

• Heavy and light engineering.
• Chemical manufacturing
• Wholesale/Distribution
• I.T software, hardware and maintenance.
• Supplying downstream to the Oil & Gas industry
• Retail.
• New media and live events
• Financial services

I have lived all my life in Saddleworth. A group of rural villages on the west facing slopes of the Pennines to the east of Manchester.

Having played for and managed 11-a-side football teams for Uppermill FC, I now turn out once a week for 5-a-side football in the local school sports hall. I play golf at Saddleworth Golf Club I also enjoy the gym and the fitness classes they hold.