CFO & Strategic Finance | Dealwise Advisory
CFO & Strategic Finance

CFO-level thinking.
Without the full-time cost.

Growing businesses and portfolio owners need commercial financial leadership — but most don't need, or can't justify, a full-time CFO. That's exactly what this service is designed for.

This service includes
  • Strategic financial planning & forecasting
  • Board & investor reporting packs
  • KPI design & dashboard creation
  • Cash flow & working capital management
  • Group structure & tax efficiency
  • Acquisition financial modelling

Need CFO support? Let's talk →

What This Service Is

The financial leadership your business needs to grow

Most growing SMEs reach a point where the basic bookkeeping and annual accounts aren't enough — but they're not quite ready, or able to justify, a full-time CFO at £100,000+ a year. They need someone who can lead the financial strategy, build proper reporting, and bring commercial clarity to decisions — without the overhead.

Dealwise CFO Advisory provides exactly that. Part-time, retainer-based or project-based financial leadership — bringing the same thinking Steve applied as a PLC CFO to growing businesses that need proper financial guidance.

"The difference between a business that scales and one that struggles is usually the quality of financial thinking driving the decisions."

This isn't bookkeeping support or management accounts preparation. It's strategic financial leadership — the kind that helps you understand your business, plan with confidence, make better capital allocation decisions, and build the financial infrastructure you need as you grow.

It's also particularly valuable for acquisition entrepreneurs who've just completed a deal and need to build the reporting and control framework that protects their investment from Day 1.

Who typically uses this service

  • Post-acquisition owners building financial controls
  • Portfolio owners managing multiple businesses
  • Founders at £1m–£10m revenue needing financial leadership
  • Businesses preparing for growth or investment
  • Companies without a qualified senior financial lead

Engagement models

  • Monthly retainer — ongoing CFO support
  • Project-based — specific deliverable focus
  • Post-acquisition — first 90 days support
  • Flexible hours — scaled to your needs

Start with a financial health check

Not sure if you need this? A discovery call will tell us both. Book 30 minutes and we'll assess your current financial position and what support would make the biggest difference.

Book a call →
The Problem We Solve

What businesses typically look like
before and after CFO support

Without CFO-level financial leadership

  • Financial reporting is backwards-looking — you understand last month, not next quarter
  • Cash surprises the business — forecasting is guesswork rather than analysis
  • Board or investor meetings are reactive and defensive, not forward-looking
  • KPIs either don't exist, or no one agrees on what they mean
  • The business makes capital allocation decisions without a proper financial model
  • Group structure has grown by accident — tax inefficiency baked in
  • Post-acquisition, the financial controls you need aren't in place quickly enough

With Dealwise CFO & Strategic Finance

  • Reporting is structured to drive decisions — with clear forward visibility baked in
  • Cash flow is modelled and managed — no surprises, clear horizon planning
  • Board packs are professional, clear, and build confidence with stakeholders
  • KPIs are defined, understood, and tracked consistently across the business
  • Capital allocation decisions are backed by clear financial modelling
  • Group structure is reviewed and optimised — tax efficiency built deliberately
  • Post-acquisition financial controls and reporting in place from Day 1
Core Service Areas

Six areas of financial leadership

What a typical CFO Advisory engagement covers — tailored to the specific needs of your business.

📊

Strategic Financial Planning

Budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modelling — so you understand your financial options and can plan with confidence.

  • Annual budget and three-year financial plan
  • Rolling monthly forecast and reforecast
  • Scenario modelling (base, upside, downside)
  • Capital allocation and investment analysis
📋

Board & Investor Reporting

Professional, clear management packs that give directors and investors the information they need to make decisions — not just data.

  • Monthly management pack design and production
  • Board narrative and commentary
  • Investor and lender reporting
  • Trustee and governance pack design
🎯

KPI Design & Dashboards

Identifying the metrics that actually matter for your business model — and building a dashboard that tracks them clearly.

  • KPI framework design for your business model
  • Operational and financial metric identification
  • Dashboard build (Xero, Sage, Excel-based)
  • Leading indicator tracking and early warning systems
💷

Cash Flow & Working Capital

Cash is the oxygen of a growing business. We build the models and processes that keep you in control of it.

  • 13-week rolling cash flow model
  • Working capital optimisation and cycle improvement
  • Debtor and creditor management systems
  • Funding gap identification and planning
🏛️

Group Structure & Tax Efficiency

As businesses grow or acquire, the legal and ownership structure often needs to evolve. We provide commercial analysis — working alongside your tax adviser.

  • Group structure review and analysis
  • Holding company and SPV considerations
  • Inter-company trading and management charges
  • Family investment company and wealth planning context
⚙️

Post-Acquisition Financial Controls

After completing an acquisition, the financial infrastructure needs to be in place quickly. We build it alongside you.

  • Day 1 reporting and control framework
  • Chart of accounts and reporting structure
  • Integration of acquired business reporting
  • 100-day financial integration roadmap
How We Engage

Flexible engagement models — scaled to your needs

No long-term lock-in. No unnecessary overhead. The right level of support for where your business is now.

Right Fit

Is this the right service for your situation?

✓  This is for you if…

You're a good fit if

  • Your business is growing but your financial reporting hasn't kept up
  • You've just acquired a business and need financial controls in place fast
  • You manage multiple businesses and need consolidated financial oversight
  • Your board or investors want better quality financial reporting
  • You're making significant financial decisions without adequate modelling
  • You need someone who thinks commercially, not just technically
  • You want a qualified, experienced financial lead — not a bookkeeper
✕  This isn't for you if…

This won't work if

  • You need day-to-day bookkeeping or management accounts preparation — we can signpost you to the right support
  • You need a statutory audit — we're advisory, not an audit firm
  • You're looking for regulated tax advice — we work alongside your tax adviser
  • Your business is pre-revenue or very early stage with limited financial complexity
  • You want a rubber-stamp rather than genuine financial challenge and analysis
Client Result

"Having Steve as our part-time CFO transformed how we manage the business. We went from reactive monthly accounts to genuine forward visibility — and the board pack finally gives our investors the confidence they were asking for."

JR
James R.
Portfolio Owner — three business group

Ready for proper financial leadership
in your business?

Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll assess your current financial position and tell you exactly how we'd help.

Flexible engagement — project, retainer, or sprint.