30+ Years of Executive Finance Experience
Strategic Financial Leadership for Ambitious UK & European SMEs
Scaling a business demands more than bookkeeping and compliance — it requires strategic financial leadership that connects numbers to business outcomes. As a UK Chartered Accountant based in Portugal, with over three decades of senior finance experience, I provide fractional Financial Controller services that give growing businesses access to C-suite financial expertise without the cost and commitment of permanent employment.
Whether you're based in London, Lisbon, or anywhere across the UK and EU, I deliver the high-level oversight, strategic planning, and financial control that transforms ambitious SMEs into market leaders — all delivered remotely, with complete flexibility.
Why Choose a Chartered Accountant as Your Fractional Financial Controller?
Not all financial professionals are created equal. My combination of professional qualification, executive experience, and specialised expertise in financial control sets me apart.
Chartered Professional Standards
As a UK Chartered Accountant, I adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards in the industry. This isn't just a credential — it's your guarantee of technical excellence, regulatory knowledge, and confidential handling of your most sensitive financial data. Every recommendation I make, every system I design, and every report I deliver meets the rigorous standards expected of Chartered professionals.
Three Decades of Real-World Financial Leadership
Thirty years in executive finance means I've navigated virtually every challenge a growing SME encounters: rapid expansion, cash flow crises, funding rounds, regulatory changes, system failures, and economic turbulence. When unexpected situations arise — and they will — you're working with someone who's solved similar problems dozens of times before. No panic, no learning curves, just proven solutions deployed quickly.
Specialist Expertise in Financial Control & Risk
My background extends beyond standard accounting into forensic accounting and internal audit, giving me a unique perspective on financial systems and controls. I don't just process transactions — I design fraud-resistant systems, identify control weaknesses before they become problems, and build financial infrastructure that scales securely.
My Approach
Strategic, Personalised, Results-Focused
Understanding Your Business, Not Just Your Books
Cookie-cutter financial advice delivers cookie-cutter results. I invest time understanding your industry dynamics, competitive position, operational challenges, and growth ambitions before recommending solutions. My role extends beyond producing management accounts — I translate complex financial data into clear strategic insights aligned with your business vision.
Proactive Planning, Not Reactive Firefighting
Too many businesses treat finance as a rearview mirror — useful for seeing where they've been, useless for navigating where they're going. I flip that model. Through robust forecasting, scenario planning, and KPI tracking, we stay ahead of challenges and capitalise on opportunities before your competitors spot them.
Measurable Outcomes That Drive Business Value
My success is measured by your results: improved profitability, optimised cash flow, successful funding rounds, clean audits, confident decision-making, and sustainable growth. I focus relentlessly on the financial metrics that matter to your business stage and objectives.
The Fractional Advantage
Senior Expertise Without Senior Cost
Hiring a full-time Financial Controller with my experience and credentials typically requires significant salary investment plus benefits, pension contributions, office space, and recruitment costs — plus the risk of a hire that isn't the right fit.
- Cost-Effective Access — pay only for the expertise you need, when you need it
- Immediate Availability — no recruitment delays, notice periods, or onboarding time
- Flexible Engagement — scale my involvement up during growth, down during stable periods
- Broader Perspective — cross-industry experience and best practices from dozens of businesses
- Zero Administrative Burden — no payroll, benefits, performance reviews, or employment legislation concerns
- Remote Delivery — seamless collaboration through secure cloud platforms, across the UK, EU, and beyond
Protecting Your Business
Financial Control Excellence
My forensic accounting background fundamentally shapes how I approach financial systems and processes. Where most accountants focus on recording transactions accurately, I'm constantly evaluating: where could this system fail? What behaviours could this process enable? How would I detect irregularities here?
This mindset translates into robust, fraud-resistant financial infrastructure that protects your business as it scales:
- Segregation of duties that prevent a single person controlling entire transaction cycles
- Approval workflows with appropriate authority levels and audit trails
- Reconciliation processes that catch errors and irregularities quickly
- System access controls that limit exposure to sensitive financial data
- Regular control testing that identifies weaknesses before they're exploited
Experience Across Industries
Focused on Your Success
Over 30 years, I've provided financial leadership to businesses across diverse sectors — bringing proven solutions from adjacent industries to your specific challenges, often spotting opportunities and risks that sector-specialists miss.
Professional Services
Scaling from boutique to national presence.
E-commerce & Retail
Inventory, cash flow, and multi-channel complexity.
Technology & SaaS
Rapid growth and investor expectations.
Manufacturing & Distribution
Working capital and supply chain finance.
Hospitality & Leisure
Seasonal volatility and cash intensity.
Cross-Border SMEs
UK-owned businesses operating from Portugal and the EU.