Flexible Financial Management

Optimising Financial Performance and Driving Improvements

I am a "hands-on" FD/CFO/FC providing financial management services on a continuous, part-time, and, therefore low-cost basis. I communicate directly and am a “no nonsense” advisor.

I provide business advisory services and I know you have a vision for your business. I take care of the numbers and financials so that you can focus on the vision and growth of the business. I work on the numbers, IN the business, freeing you up to work ON the business. I identify the pain spots, manage the financial risk and maximise the financial wellbeing of your business.

Accounting systems are tools for management to make their business profitable. Financial professionals and entrepreneurs embrace the importance of strategic management accounting because it allows more emphasis on future achievements and challenges. I look forward, not back.

Whilst accounting is the language of business, it has some limitations. Compared to other categories of accounting, however, strategic management accounting is flexible. This does not dilute it’s importance, in fact, it reinforces how it gives a different dimension to viewing and reporting on financial information. Strategic management accounting acts as a bridge between the finance function and other parts of the business. In fact, it helps management control the entity.

Every client is unique which is why I offer a selection of services which can be tailored to your specific needs. The following is an indication of the types of services I provide, but ultimately, we will work on a package that is best for your business -

Part Time Services

• Diagnostic review of financial performance. Using key accounting ratios, I analyse performance identifying trends and the key drivers. I then highlight the financial benefit of growth in activity and changes in business focus. I work with you to understand and break down your vision into more regular targets. 

• Leadership. I can take overall control of the accounting function whilst working in partnership with existing employees and external providers.

• Financial Strategy. Together we will identify the strategy to achieve the vision and I will monitor, track and report against progress, providing a balance of support and challenge. I will devise a financial strategy that supports business success, expansion, supports borrowing and brings peace of mind. SWOT analysis will develop strategic paths to success. I will identifying & address cost & process efficiencies. I will introduce contingency planning, and turnaround strategies where appropriate.

• Forecasting. I create dynamic forecasting tools to assist with securing external funding, track future performance and plan for the future.

• Due diligence on target acquisitions, expansion or rationalisation of activities.

• Strategic management accounting. I evaluate external information regarding competitors, political influences, trends in prices, market share and costs. I then apply it to the available resources of the business so management can determine what is needed to achieve the objectives in support of the vision. I focus on quality, cost and time.

• Managing “pain points”. For example – costing and pricing of products and services, working capital management, debt chasing, profit by customer and product. I review current financial management practices and propose improvements to financial wellbeing. These will improve profit and prevent bad debt.

• Partnership working. Participation in meetings, holding the management team accountable and proactively challenging assumptions and decision-making. 

• Reporting. Recurring financial analysis and guidance on financial plans, highlighting variances and areas where action is required. I produce reports that have a high visual impact. I may be the expert on numbers but I recognise that not everyone else is. I don’t just do numbers, I do words and pictures – graphs, charts, whatever is needed to explain the issue – not just numbers!

• Manage external relationships with bankers, lawyers, auditors and insurance companies. Rearranging financial funding and insurance ensuring best value and management of the whole audit or year-end process, minimising the impact on business owners.

• Reduce time taken to publish monthly numbers. 

• Financial records health check. Tie in of ledger to statutory accounts, review of Trial Balance to identify non-recoverable debts or incorrectly stated liabilities. Statutory liabilities. VAT, HMRC, PAYE. Audit of control procedures to minimise penalties.

• Minimise bad debt. Reporting and control of debt recovery. Review of largest overdue balances. Specialist recovery of problem debts. 

• Supply chain. Review of aged balances, resolution of disputes.

• Work-in-progress. Review of ageing and make up by customer to maximise recoverability and throughput.

In addition to the above, through my personal network I can also organise year-end accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, company secretarial, tax returns and tax planning. I am equally happy to liaise with those already providing these services if that is the case. 

Service Levels

We will work together on finding a service level that is appropriate to your business - find out more.