Your Questions, My Answers
These are the most common things business owners ask me before we start working together. If you're wondering whether I can help you, your business, and your team, you'll likely find the answer below and if not, please just ask and I'll be happy to run through your questions.
What kinds of businesses do you work with?
I typically work with Directors or senior leaders of UK-based small to medium-sized businesses, with a turnover of between £3-£10 million and employing 15 - 50 people. The sectors vary, but the common thread is this: they’re facing financial, operational, or people-related challenges, whether that’s messy records, stalled projects, time-critical inspections, slow or broken processes, or business change that isn’t landing. My role is to help you make sense of what’s really happening, through both the data and the people, and then design and deliver solutions that work and stick.
What kinds of business problems do you help solve; could you give examples?
The problems I solve tend to be those that feel overwhelming, persistent, or quietly damaging beneath the surface. They’re often the things that have been left for too long, that no one quite knows how to fix, or that keep reappearing in different forms. Here are some real-world examples of challenges I've fixed, backed by client references and in some cases, public records: • A business owed high-value, longstanding debts, with no clear recovery route. I methodically reviewed the debts; some were over 3 years old and tied to multiple projects or invoices. I rebuilt the supporting evidence and successfully recovered funds without the need for legal intervention, significantly improving cashflow and enabling longer-term business expansion. • Another had unknowingly overpaid suppliers and struggled to prove it. I identified the exact errors with supporting evidence, recovered the overpayments, and created internal audit processes to prevent recurrence. • I’ve helped transform loss-making projects into profitable ones by uncovering costing errors and redesigning the financial controls that underpin them. • I’ve rebuilt clear, structured accounts and supporting data from incomplete or messy records, enabling businesses to confidently meet funder reporting deadlines, be inspection ready, and prepare for acquisition. • In one case, an internal longstanding project had stalled for years, and was considered a write off. I reassessed the approach, found a compliant path forward, and helped the business complete it successfully at a fraction of the original estimated cost. • Alongside these practical changes, I’ve helped teams navigate the ripple effects, such as adapting to new processes, improved technology, and growth, whilst also improving motivation and collaboration. • And I also support businesses through standalone challenges like cultural shifts, leadership transitions, structural changes, and role and responsibility changes, making sure people feel informed, involved, and confident as change happens. Sometimes it’s about clarity, sometimes it’s about systems, sometimes it’s about people and trust, and often, it’s all three. My job is to bring calm, structure, and solutions that last.
How do I know if my problem is ‘big enough’ to need your support?
If it’s keeping you awake at night, distracting you from core priorities, causing stress amongst your team, it’s too messy to tackle alone, or it’s been left for too long, then it’s big enough. I work on challenges large and small, and sometimes it’s the ‘small’ ones that end up having the biggest impact once solved.
We’ve already tried to fix this problem before; can you still help?
Absolutely. Clients generally come to me after they’ve already tried to resolve things internally, but problems often sit behind day-to-day priorities and don’t get the time they need. With over 15 years of direct senior management level experience, I bring structure, calm objectivity, and a cross-disciplinary approach that combines finance, operations, analysis, projects, change, and coaching to get things unstuck.
Do you only work on financial problems?
While finance is one of my core strengths, I also work across operations, project recovery, leadership, process improvement, change management, and people alignment. Often, the numbers point to deeper operational or cultural issues, issues that I also help resolve.
What does ongoing support actually look like in practice?
It varies. For some clients, it’s a few days each month focused on financial oversight. For others, it’s improving day-to-day systems, mentoring team members, or maintaining clarity and structure as things evolve. We tailor everything to your business’s needs, pace, and direction.
What makes you different from other consultants?
Clients often tell me I bring calm to complexity. I’ve spent 25+ years in end-to-end finance, with over a decade in operational leadership, and business transformation, not just advising, but doing. I’m hands-on, people-first, and quietly effective. I don’t deliver generic reports then leave. I work alongside you to provide answers and implement solutions that are practical, embedded, and right for you, your business, and your people.
How quickly can you start, and how long do you usually work with clients?
If capacity allows, I can usually begin within a few days to a couple of weeks. If your project is urgent - let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate it. Some projects are short-term and specific, while others evolve into longer-term support. We always begin with a conversation to understand what’s needed and what will work best.
Can you help if I don’t have clean or complete records?
Yes, that’s exactly the kind of situation I specialise in. Whether it’s building clarity from messy records or breaking down tangled operational issues, I’ll work with you to create a clear, evidenced-based picture that supports confident decision making.
Will you work with my team directly, or just with me?
Often both. I typically work closely with business owners and senior leaders, but I also engage directly with teams where needed, whether to build trust, gather insights, or embed change. The level of team involvement depends on your challenge and what success requires.
What does it cost to work with you?
My pricing is transparent and shaped around the scope of support, whether that’s a one-off project, a deeper involvement, or ongoing fractional support. As a guide, day rates start from £275, and ongoing support from £650/month. Everything is clearly scoped and agreed upfront, so there are no surprises. I always offer a complimentary initial conversation to explore what you need and whether we’re the right fit to work together.