At Last - an Easy Business Decision?
A. Accounting that can hamper your business's survival or...
B. Accounting that helps your business grow and thrive
To choose B... or Not to choose B.... Where is the question?
B. Accounting that helps your business grow and thrive
To choose B... or Not to choose B.... Where is the question?
Back from holiday full of fresh ideas and good intentions to be on top of your business? Are you ready to seize the opportunities, meet the challenges, and overcome the threats? Ready to work on the business as well as in it?
To make sure you don’t miss out, take time to ensure that your accounting and management information systems will give you what you need when you need it. Make sure that your data is up to date and accurate. Sort out those issues put on the back burner before your holiday. Ensure that you get on the Option B track to realise the maximum benefits of aligning good financial management with business objectives.
Don’t be put off; think of the potential benefits. It is not as daunting as it might seem, with the right support and advice from someone who understands the issues of what works and why. Someone who will work with you to improve performance by bringing real value and in the way that best suits your business.
Have you considered using the services of an Interim Manager? Either for ‘hands on’ support to allow you time to think about and plan the future of your business or/and to bring fresh ideas to your business planning process? Whatever benefits you most. E.g.: part time or full time.
The right Interim Managers bring years of practical experience. They will have a track record of experience of other businesses where they have helped improve performance. They will work as part of the team to provide a safe pair of hands you can rely on. They can help resolve issues that can hold a business back from achieving its potential. They bring a different approach and expertise to other professional advisers.
This is what I do. I am a Chartered Accountant who enjoys bringing imaginatively to each new project or client 30+ years practical experience (and a wide range of contacts) of working in businesses large and
small. I aim to help businesses make the most of their resources and ‘Keep It Simple’. Comprehensive does not have to mean complicated.
I stress the importance of getting the basics right, to ensure reliable data and analysis. How different parts of a system, and not just the financial aspects, can be used to verify each other. I stress the importance of continuously monitoring results against budgets based on clear assumptions, thence identifying the impact of variances on forecast and year end accounts and highlighting issues to be addressed.
Projects vary widely. Recent ones include being asked to enhance internal controls, budgeting, forecasting and reporting procedures for a multi-tasked Government employment initiative and also for a rapidly growing charity keen to develop systems to meet their ambitious plans. I have acted as interim FD for a Sector Skills Council during its reorganisation. I have undertaken a large property portfolio reconciliation.
Where to find an Interim Manager? Many people use personal reference, there are in my view many excellent agencies, e.g. Ashton Penney and Balanced People with whom I work. The ICAEW has an Interim Managers Special Interest Group together with the newly created Non Executive Director Special Interest Group. There are other Interim Management Bodies, not all are focused on finance.
AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT. Please ensure that your interim is properly qualified, accredited, has PII cover and the track record you need. Please don’t risk your business just on someone’s plausibility. I’ve seen what can happen - you don’t want to ask. What a way to lose a business.
To make sure you don’t miss out, take time to ensure that your accounting and management information systems will give you what you need when you need it. Make sure that your data is up to date and accurate. Sort out those issues put on the back burner before your holiday. Ensure that you get on the Option B track to realise the maximum benefits of aligning good financial management with business objectives.
Don’t be put off; think of the potential benefits. It is not as daunting as it might seem, with the right support and advice from someone who understands the issues of what works and why. Someone who will work with you to improve performance by bringing real value and in the way that best suits your business.
Have you considered using the services of an Interim Manager? Either for ‘hands on’ support to allow you time to think about and plan the future of your business or/and to bring fresh ideas to your business planning process? Whatever benefits you most. E.g.: part time or full time.
The right Interim Managers bring years of practical experience. They will have a track record of experience of other businesses where they have helped improve performance. They will work as part of the team to provide a safe pair of hands you can rely on. They can help resolve issues that can hold a business back from achieving its potential. They bring a different approach and expertise to other professional advisers.
This is what I do. I am a Chartered Accountant who enjoys bringing imaginatively to each new project or client 30+ years practical experience (and a wide range of contacts) of working in businesses large and
small. I aim to help businesses make the most of their resources and ‘Keep It Simple’. Comprehensive does not have to mean complicated.
I stress the importance of getting the basics right, to ensure reliable data and analysis. How different parts of a system, and not just the financial aspects, can be used to verify each other. I stress the importance of continuously monitoring results against budgets based on clear assumptions, thence identifying the impact of variances on forecast and year end accounts and highlighting issues to be addressed.
Projects vary widely. Recent ones include being asked to enhance internal controls, budgeting, forecasting and reporting procedures for a multi-tasked Government employment initiative and also for a rapidly growing charity keen to develop systems to meet their ambitious plans. I have acted as interim FD for a Sector Skills Council during its reorganisation. I have undertaken a large property portfolio reconciliation.
Where to find an Interim Manager? Many people use personal reference, there are in my view many excellent agencies, e.g. Ashton Penney and Balanced People with whom I work. The ICAEW has an Interim Managers Special Interest Group together with the newly created Non Executive Director Special Interest Group. There are other Interim Management Bodies, not all are focused on finance.
AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT. Please ensure that your interim is properly qualified, accredited, has PII cover and the track record you need. Please don’t risk your business just on someone’s plausibility. I’ve seen what can happen - you don’t want to ask. What a way to lose a business.
