Portfolio FD assisting client

What Happens When You Start Working With Us?

BUSINESS

We’re big believers in embedding robust processes into the businesses we work with. They bring clarity, accountability, and peace of mind! 

We of course take that advice in-house and run our business in the same way, making your experience working with us as smooth and rewarding as possible. From your first call with us to working alongside one of our experienced fractional finance directors, we’re here to guide you through each step of the journey. 

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Book an Initial Consultation

Your journey begins with a friendly, no-obligation consultation call. This is our chance to get to know you and your business: your goals, challenges, and what’s most important to you. We’ll talk through your specific needs and how we might be able to help.

Booking the call

We send you our hassle free booking link and you select the date and time that’s best for you. 

How to prepare and get the most out of the call

To make the most of this initial consultation, a little preparation goes a long way.  Here are some top tips to help you get ready.

Clarify your goals: Think about what you want to achieve with the help of a fractional FD. Are you looking to streamline cash flow management, prepare for growth, or address specific financial challenges? Having clear objectives will help guide the conversation and give your FD a solid understanding of your priorities.

Review your current financial situation: Gather some key documents and data that give an overview of your business’s financial status if you can.  This doesn’t need to be in great detail.

Prepare your questions: An initial consultation is a two-way street. Use this time to get to know Wainwright Consulting as much as we’re getting to know you.

Think about your preferred working style: Consider how you’d like to work with an FD, how often you’d need their input, what kind of communication works best for you, and whether you prefer hands-on or advisory support. Sharing this upfront helps ensure a smooth collaboration.

By preparing for your consultation in these ways, you’ll set the stage for a productive and meaningful discussion that can lay the groundwork for transforming your business finances.

Step 2: Finding the Right Fit

After understanding your requirements, we’ll discuss how we can match you with one of our experienced portfolio finance directors. This step is all about ensuring that we’re the right fit for you. If you’re happy to move forward, you’ll ask us to begin the matching process.

Finding the perfect match takes time – and for good reason. We’re committed to selecting the right person who not only has the expertise to help your business thrive but also aligns with your values and vision. This thorough process ensures a partnership that is built on trust and understanding.

What matching criteria do we use?

  1. Your values and how you envision your FD fitting into your team.
  2. Your physical location and any preferences for in-person or remote support.
  3. Your commitment level, we determine the number of days per month you’ll need your FD to work with you.
  4. Your sector, ensuring your FD understands the specific challenges and nuances of your field.
  5. Your key challenges, or areas where you need help, such as cash flow management, strategic planning, or preparing for growth.
  6. Your objectives, both short-term and long-term, to ensure your FD aligns with your vision for success.
  7. Your current financial situation, such as recent reports or data, to understand where you’re starting from.

Step 3: Introduction to your FD

Once we’ve found the ideal FD for you, we’ll send you their bio and if you’re happy, we’ll make the introduction.  You can then arrange to meet with each other, which will be the perfect opportunity for you to get to know each other, discuss your business needs in more detail, and ensure you’re both comfortable moving forward.

How to get the most out of the first meeting with your FD

  1. Come prepared with key financial documents: Bring relevant reports such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow summaries, and any budgets or forecasts.
  2. Be clear about your goals: Outline what you hope to achieve with the FD’s help, whether it’s managing growth, improving cash flow, or planning for the future.
  3. Highlight your biggest challenges: Share the pain points or obstacles you’re facing so your FD can prioritise their support effectively.
  4. Ask for their perspective: Use this opportunity to gain fresh insights into your financial situation and how their expertise can address your needs.
  5. Discuss your working style preferences: Communicate how you’d like to collaborate, the frequency of updates, and how involved you want them to be in day-to-day operations.
  6. Set expectations: Clarify roles, timelines, and your FD’s initial focus areas to align on a clear path forward.
  7. Be open and transparent: Honesty about your business’s strengths and weaknesses will enable your FD to provide tailored and practical advice.
  8. Ask about next steps: End the meeting with a clear understanding of what actions your FD will take and what they need from you to get started.
  9. Take notes and ask questions: Keep a record of key points discussed and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on anything unclear.

Step 5: Onboarding and Planning

After the introduction, if you’re happy to proceed, we’ll onboard you and your new FD to set the stage for a successful partnership.  All FDs working for Wainwright Consulting’s clients, complete either a monthly or weekly timesheet, which we require to be signed off by you on completion.

How will we onboard you?

  1. Complete identity verification: You’ll receive a link for ID and anti-money laundering checks.
  2. Review and sign engagement letter: We’ll send you a digital engagement letter to sign, along with a form to complete key details (e.g., invoice information and timesheet sign-off contacts).
  3. AML checks on beneficial owners: We’ll run AML checks on your company’s beneficial owners as part of our onboarding process.
  4. Risk assessment: Our team will conduct a risk assessment of your company for compliance and due diligence.
  5. Submit signed documents: Once you’ve electronically signed the engagement letter and completed the client information form, the system will send them back to us to finalise the setup.
  6. Complete direct debit mandate: To streamline the invoicing process we ask all clients to complete a direct debit mandate to ensure prompt payment of our invoices and to minimise administrative tasks at both sides.  Invoices will only be raised once you’ve signed off the timesheet, ensuring everyone is happy with the value.

This simple process ensures everything is in place for a smooth start to your partnership with us.

Step 6: Building your Future Together

From here, it’s all about collaboration. Your FD will become an integral part of your team, offering strategic insights and hands-on expertise to help your business achieve its goals.

We believe in fostering ongoing relationships, so we’ll check in with you every couple of months to see how things are progressing. These regular catch-ups are an opportunity to discuss how you’re getting on with your FD, address any challenges, and explore areas for tweaking or improvement.

This ongoing support ensures that your FD’s work continues to align with your evolving needs, helping you navigate new opportunities or overcome unexpected hurdles. Together, we’ll adapt and refine the approach to ensure your business is always moving forward.

We pride ourselves on making the entire process personal, professional, and tailored to your needs. If you’re ready to start your journey with us, book your consultation today.

CONTACT DETAILS

Wainwright Consulting Limited
Company Number: 12778152

Registered Office:
26 Wynmore Avenue
Leeds
LS16 9DE

Phone: 07802 445680

Email: info@wainwrightconsulting.co.uk

 

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