Background: Scaling to Meet High Market Demand
A specialist defence engineering and technology company delivering safety-critical systems to aerospace, nuclear, and maritime sectors was entering a phase of accelerated growth. The business needed experienced leadership to manage this scale-up.
The Underlying Issues
Challenges included:
- Rapid scaling without sufficient internal structure.
- Appointment of a CSO and COO, but need for a CFO to complete the senior team.
- Board lacking confidence in financial information while needing to make strategic investment decisions.
- CEO stretched too thin to manage administrative functions.
- High staff turnover in admin teams.
How Headstar Stepped In
A Headstar Fractional CFO was embedded part-time to:
- Provide leadership across Finance, HR, Procurement, and Digital Transformation.
- Enhance monthly reporting, KPIs, and cash forecasting.
- Introduce scalable processes for recruitment, procurement, and financial decisions.
- Raise the profile of Finance and ensure input into major tenders.
The Impact
- Informed investment decisions – Board confident to recruit, acquire, and expand premises.
- Operational alignment – Leadership and structure brought to finance and admin functions.
- Growth trajectory supported – Clear path to doubling turnover in the year ahead.
- Major contract wins – Financial input directly supported high-value defence tender success.
In the Words of the Client
“The Headstar Fractional CFO joined us at a critical juncture in our growth journey, stepping in as interim CFO with calm precision, a sharp commercial eye, and an unwavering sense of balance. Despite operating within limited availability, he consistently brought clarity and structure to a fast-moving and high-pressure environment. His ability to cut through the noise and prioritise what truly matters was invaluable, particularly in navigating and successfully supporting one of the company’s most significant defence contracts to a successful conclusion. He combined a steady hand with professional acuity, making complex financial matters digestible and actionable for the wider team. In a dynamic and often intense period of growth, the Headstar Fractional CFO proved himself a trusted, dependable presence and a true asset to the business.”
Chief Executive Officer
Find Out More
To learn how a Headstar Fractional CFO could help your business scale with confidence, improve decision-making, and deliver on growth ambitions, visit our services page or get in touch with the Headstar team.
