Senior finance leadership, two to six days a month. Face to face across Birmingham and the West Midlands, with remote support available nationally. Enough to own the numbers, the plan and the conversations that come with them, without the cost of a full-time hire.
West Mids Finance · Advisory in the room
Every engagement is shaped around the gap. These are the areas clients most often hand over, in the order they usually matter.
01
A monthly pack that explains what happened, why it happened, and what it means for the next quarter. Margin by customer, product and site.
02
A driver-based model refreshed every month: revenue, gross margin, headcount, cash. Three scenarios, no surprises.
03
13-week cash visibility, debtor and creditor discipline, stock and WIP control, and a clear view of the funding headroom.
04
KPI dashboards, covenant reporting and the narrative that sits alongside the numbers. Written for the reader, not the accountant.
05
Price architecture, discount control and contribution analysis.
06
The right accounting stack, clean integration with operations, and reporting people actually use. Usually a rationalisation, not a rebuild.
07
Structure the function, write the role, sit in the interviews, and manage the handover when a permanent FD or FC comes on board.
08
Relationship management, covenant negotiation, refinancing and the funding pack. The conversation is easier when the numbers are ready.
Start small if that feels right. Most clients begin with the diagnostic and move to a retainer once the priorities are clear.
A fast, forensic look at cash, margin and reporting, ending with a prioritised plan and a number for what each action is worth.
Best forA new problem, a board question, or a second opinion before committing to more support.
The core offer. I become the finance lead in the business: board attendance, monthly pack, forecast, cash control and the decisions in between.
Best forCompanies between £2m and £50m who need senior finance without a full-time salary.
A defined piece of work with a start and an end: a fundraise, a refinance, an acquisition, a systems migration, or a turnaround plan.
Best forA transaction or change programme that needs senior finance ownership for a defined period.
Predictable cadence, minimal meetings, everything documented so decisions do not live in someone's head.
A 45 minute leadership call. Cash position, decisions needed, blockers. Notes and actions sent the same day.
Management pack and board report. Forecast refreshed, variances explained, actions agreed.
Deeper review with the board or owners: strategy, pricing, funding position and the next quarter plan.
Budget, banking review, and a candid look at what the finance function should look like next year.
Your accountant reports history and keeps you compliant. A fractional CFO works forward: pricing, cash, funding, investment, hiring and the decisions that shape next year. Most clients keep their accountant and add CFO support alongside.
Most retainer clients start at two to four days a month. Turnarounds and transactions usually need more for a short period, then reduce. The diagnostic sprint is designed to answer this with evidence rather than guesswork.
Yes, and it is usually the best outcome. I set the standard and the reporting rhythm, then coach the team to run it. When the business is ready for a permanent finance director, I help hire and hand over.
Yes, face to face is my strong preference. I am in Birmingham and across the West Midlands regularly for board meetings, lender sessions and team workshops. For businesses elsewhere in the UK I work remotely, which keeps the cost down without losing the weekly rhythm.
Face-to-face work is concentrated in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley, with travel across the wider West Midlands for board meetings, lender sessions and team workshops. Businesses elsewhere in the UK are supported remotely, with the same reporting rhythm and a fixed weekly call.
A 30 minute intro, ideally face-to-face, no charge and no obligation. Bring the problem you are carrying and we will tell you plainly whether we can help.