Meet five advisers who’ll help your business become ‘fit for finance’

Charlie Gilbert

Content Manager

Enterprise Nation 

In our previous post, we covered the topic of how to use any money you raise – with the services of advisers being a crucial area small businesses should consider investing in.

These services, however, are often needed before a business applies for funding. Take financial advisers and accountants, for example. Their job isn’t solely about helping you keep on top of your incomings and outgoings; it’s also about making you ‘fit for finance’ – in other words, helping position you as an attractive prospect to lenders or investors.

They do this in myriad ways – from increasing profitability by helping you run your business more efficiently, to improving cashflow by advising on, and helping you implement, processes that keep cash in your business (automated payment collections, for example, or credit control).

Some advisers will ensure you’re set up to scale by coaching you through each stage of growth. Others specialise in financial health, which gives lenders and investors assurance that businesses can pay their bills. Others still may act as your business’s finance function, giving you more time to focus on growing and improving your enterprise.

While it’s absolutely worth exploring the funding options suited to your business – and you can do this by trying Funding Xchange’s digital lending tool – it’s also worth exploring how the following advisers, each of whom specialises in advice for small businesses, can make your own enterprise ‘fit for finance’.

1. Nadia Hossen Mamode

ICAEW chartered accountant Nadia has worked with hundreds of businesses over the past decade – from FTSE 100-listed companies to start-ups. Her real passion lies in entrepreneurship, which is why, in 2011, she set up her own accountancy firm focusing on the needs of small businesses. Today, VCCA helps founders across the UK assess the future financial impact of their decisions, understand their business cash requirements, and put together compelling arguments to investors or lenders when raising funds.

2. Paula Tomlinson

With over 30 years in the accounting profession, ICAEW chartered accountant Paula founded On The Spot Tax in 2008 after stints at BDO (whom she trained and qualified with), KPMG and Palmer & Harvey. When the trend towards online filing began, Paula decided it was time to rethink the traditional tax service – while putting small businesses first. Part of her service is the management of her clients’ year-end accounts, in respect of how they’re viewed by potential funding providers or investors.

3. Pamela Phillips

After qualifying as a chartered accountant with PwC, and subsequently working at an investment bank, Pamela decided to move into the dynamic and exciting world inhabited by entrepreneurs. Seeing a need for close collaboration between business owners and their accountants, she went into practice committed to building a service where entrepreneurs have access to a dedicated accountant and business adviser alongside up-to-date, meaningful information about their business – information that equips small business owners with the knowledge they need to make important decisions around growth and funding.

4. Joanna Drinkwater

After completing her accountancy training with PwC, and having had 10 years’ experience in a variety of contract roles, ICAEW chartered accountant Joanna set up her own accountancy practice – Grant McKnight – in 2018. Helping everyone from sole traders and start-ups to limited companies, Joanna’s business specialises in accountancy and compliance, tax consultancy, business advisory services and virtual finance. In 2020, Joanna was named the Future Face of Finance by the Future Faces Chamber of Commerce.

Connect with Joanna >

5. Tony Seaton

With more than three decades of experience, ICAEW chartered accountant Tony specialises in helping new and early-stage businesses become attractive propositions for funders. Currently an associate director at corporate finance firm Jerroms, Tony – who’s also an accredited SFEDI business support adviser – has also held a series of mentoring positions, most notably with the University of Birmingham and the Worcestershire-based tech business accelerator, BetaDen, where he primarily advises on growth strategy.