Background: A Business Facing a Shifting Market
A well-established UK manufacturer of printed materials and packaging was experiencing reduced sales and profits due to market decline from digitalisation and online purchasing trends.
The Underlying Issues
The company needed to address multiple challenges:
- Lack of strategic finance expertise and leadership.
- Limited appreciation of the importance of a skilled finance team.
- Finance processes in need of stabilisation and simplification.
- Unclear understanding of business costs and cost-saving opportunities.
- Uncertainty over where to find new market opportunities.
- Limited drive to improve profit margins and cash flow.
How Headstar Stepped In
A Headstar Fractional CFO worked closely with the business owners to understand the key issues and supported them to:
- Complete financial year-end processes.
- Develop the annual budget and realign the financial timetable.
- Simplify over-complicated finance processes.
- Review team structure and oversee the recruitment of a new Head of Finance.
- Identify cost reduction opportunities and ways to improve margins.
- Improve management information reporting for senior-level decisions.
- Provide strategic input into future opportunities, including a successful acquisition.
The Impact
- Finance structure redesign – Restructured the team so it was fit-for-purpose, which included recruiting and mentoring a new Head of Finance.
- Enhanced strategic insight – Directors supported with clear financial input on future plans.
- Stronger leadership – CFO quickly integrated into the senior leadership team.
- Cost and risk control – Detailed cost reduction exercises and future planning scenarios delivered.
In the Words of the Client
“It has been a pleasure to work with the Headstar Fractional CFO. It was a very easy decision at interview to bring them on as part of the senior management team. They are brilliant to work with and combine a pragmatic, hands-on approach with simple and direct strategic insight.” – Managing Director
Find Out More
To learn how a Headstar Fractional CFO could help your business strengthen leadership, improve decision-making and prepare for growth, visit our services page or get in touch with the Headstar team.
