Get ready to take control of your finances

Helping SMEs to define, diagnose and correct problems to increase the profits so that they can improve their cash flows and business value

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I am Frances Atherstone and I am moving back into serving the SME market after the last 5 years spent in private equity transformation work, where I have really honed/pulled together my skills learnt over my career as an MBA CIMA qualified accountant.

Being employed in many industries, responsible for Global teams, and in different size organisations (from £0.5m turnover to £2.8bn and many in- between) has taught me how to diagnose quickly, be able to shift perceptions and get buy-in to changes, and therefore improve processes really quickly.

“I will help you define and diagnose your problem and guide you to form your Blueprint for desired change”

– Frances A.

The Services

  • CEO support – Chief of Staff

    - Trusted advisor status for all areas of the business – cash flow, reporting and analytics, project management, manage Board meeting prep

    - Attend monthly Board and Strategy meetings and create reporting to support your current business analysis and future business trajectory

    - Adjust processes to support the business strategy and improve any areas of concern

  • CFO role

    - Number of days monthly agreed for a period with defined goals/tasks

    - “Hold the fort” while you look for someone permanent and offer insight on the core skillset you are looking for in someone permanent

    - Depending on your long-term strategy, whether it is preparing for an exit or building it will be a really important aspect in determining who you need in this role

Projects

Define the problem - 1 to 2 month


1st GATEWAY


- Gather data - conduct workshops and interviews with management and staff, review financial data, product purchasing and sales data/flow, and cash flow

- Define and prioritise the problem(s)

- Conduct external surveys, if necessary, such as customers, suppliers, and competitors

- Maintain a constant feedback loop with the client

- Produce a report with broad strategy and actionable steps for implementation and further investigation

- A Guarantee of X days per month in the office

Create Plan and Implement – 3 months


2nd GATEWAY


Includes 1 st Gateway

- Create a steering committee and an agile plan based on the diagnosis report

- Inform the business and mobilise the team.

- Implement changes/tackle the problem(s) with weekly progress meetings and steering committee meetings every two weeks.

- Conduct a month-end review at the board meeting where the client takes ownership and prepares a report with consultant's input.

Manage Process to Success/Implement - 12 months


Includes 1st and 2nd Gateway

- Manage Process to Success/Implementation

- 12 months Includes 1st and 2nd Gateway steps

- Attend board meetings and provide input for reports prepared by the client

- Conduct monthly accountability meetings with managers and teams

- Make corrections when required to initial plans

My Happy Clients

“Frankie was invaluable to us when selling my business - she streamlined processes within the company first and then dealt with all information requests timeously, as well as professionally managing the liaison with purchasers”

– Paul S - Sale of photocopier business

“Frankie’s superpower is getting ot the root cause of a problem and amazing insight into what stakeholders are looking for … in advance, and was creative in finding solutions to problems we encountered in a large Data Analytics project”

– David S. Partner in Big 4 Consulting practise

 FAQs

  • I rely mainly on referrals, so when you contact me you are probably already aware that my work is always result-driven and you already have an idea of how I can help you. However, if you have found me through a search I understand the importance of establishing a personal connection with my clients and would recommend an initial coffee meeting to get to know each other better.

    Once it has been established that there is a good fit between us, I have a defined process to discuss the intended work. In my experience, consultations are always more productive when having the major stakeholder in the room as it allows us both to determine whether the work is within your budget, my skill set, and whether we need to include other resources who can assist.

    We can then concentrate on clearly identifying the problem, and agreeing on what a good outcome would look like.

    It is also helpful when you have a budget in mind, and preferably pre-approved.

    This approach is conducive to establishing clear lines of communication and ensuring that everyone is on the same page before moving forward with deeper discussion and definition on the scope of the work.

  • After discussion with The business, they will finalise the definition of the problem and desired outcome for inclusion in a contract. We sign a contract that outlines these terms and appointing myself in a mutually agreed upon capacity, to ensure that the work undertaken will be fully supported by both parties. We agree on when work will begin and end ( subject to review on milestones) and how any additional resources required will be managed, especially if outsourced.

    We setting milestones in advance to measure progress and a clear payment schedule which helps to maintain a transparent working relationship.

    Delivering high-quality work within the agreed-upon timeframe is very important to me so taking the necessary steps upfront ensures that you know what you can expect and when.

    I work on a % retainer paid upfront in the agreed fee schedule, and prompt payment on receipt of a monthly invoice.

  • It is helpful to have a clear understanding of how services will be delivered, to ensure successful, efficient, and effective project delivery.

    Overall, outlining the preferred modes of communication, forms of reporting, progress updates, and meetings in the contract helps set expectations for both parties and contributes to a positive working relationship that prioritises open communication and transparency.

    We will Define specific days where I will be on-site and ensure that key stakeholders availability for face-to-face meetings and workshops is agreed. This provides structure and enables the client to know when I will be working.

    I will Complete other work at my home office and hold virtual support meetings whenever possible . I find this a good strategy to manage resources effectively, reduce time and expenses, and optimise working hours.