Financial Management Review
When the issue is in the numbers.
Most finance problems that owners bring to me turn out to have roots elsewhere in the business. But not all of them. Sometimes the issue really is in the numbers, the management accounts aren't reliable, the cash position is a mystery, or the finance function has simply been held together with goodwill and a bookkeeper who does their best. When that's the case, a focused assessment of the finance function is the right starting point.
The Financial Management Review works through the finance function across eight areas:
Management accounts — accuracy, timeliness, and whether they're actually useful for decisions
Cash flow visibility — what's in the bank, what's coming in, what's going out, and whether anyone has a view beyond the next few weeks
Budget and forecasting — whether the business plans its year with any rigour and tracks against it
Sales ledger and creditors — who owes the business money, who the business owes, and what risks sit in those positions
Control account reconciliations — whether the bookkeeping underneath the accounts is actually reliable
Finance team and systems — whether the people and tools in place are right for where the business is
Banking and lender relationships — the state of those relationships and whether they're being managed actively
Statutory and compliance obligations — VAT, PAYE, corporation tax, Companies House — whether everything is in order and on time
What Happens
A preparation call first, to understand the business and what prompted you to get in touch. Then a day on site, working through the relevant areas, talking to you and the finance team, reviewing the data and the documents, asking the questions that don't usually get asked. A written report within a week setting out what I found, what to address first, and what good looks like. Clear, practical, no jargon.
The right choice when
You know the issue is in the numbers.
You want someone experienced to look at the finance function properly and tell you what needs fixing.
You're not sure whether your bookkeeper or finance team is giving you what you need.
Your management accounts exist but you don't quite trust them or understand them.
You're preparing for growth, investment, or a sale and need the finance function to be solid first.
Ready to start?
The output has value whether we work together beyond that point or not.
The Financial Management Review is £2,250. No retainer, no commitment beyond the diagnostic itself.
Get in touch: Start a conversation →
Have a question? Read the FAQs →
If you're not sure whether the issue is in the finance function or somewhere else in the business, the Business Mapping Review looks across all six dimensions. Learn more →