About
About me
Achieving financial sustainability is tough for small charities and businesses; with the constant challenge of rising costs and fierce competition for limited funding, leaders need to keep a tight control on costs whilst ensuring that they have a skilled, qualified and experienced team to lead and develop the organisation.
An experienced finance professional is a key element to financial success, but for many smaller organisations, a full-time Finance Director is cost prohibitive and not an option.
My Portfolio Finance Director service could be the answer, providing the skills, expertise and time to meet your organisation’s requirements each week/month at a cost that is proportionate to its size and needs.
A cost-effective, scalable and flexible solution ensuring your organisation, whatever the size, has a qualified, skilled and experienced Finance Director on the team.
Lesley Frearson FCCA
I am a qualified (FCCA) finance professional with extensive experience at senior leadership level specialising in the charity sector.
Starting my finance career with a small accountancy practice, I moved to more commercial roles working for two multi-national manufacturing organisations both within the UK and in France where I progressed to executive team level.
In 2000 I took the decision to offer part-time Finance Director services to SMEs that could not afford a full-time Finance Director; now referred to as a Portfolio/Fractional Finance Director.
One of my early clients was a charity, the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD), whom I joined for two to three days per week, initially for a five-month period to reshape the finance function of the organisation. My relationship with the organisation endured way beyond the five months to 23 years! Having developed a strong understanding of charities, I have held other Finance Director and independent examination roles within the sector along with a trustee role.
During the last four years of my time with RAD, I was part of a unique joint CEO team sharing the CEO responsibilities with two other colleagues whilst leading the finance and resources functions of the organisation.
This varied career brings strong technical and analytical skills combined with significant experience in strategic and leadership roles; enabling me to work at both an operational and strategic level.
I have a supportive and collaborative style, adapting the presentation of financial information to engage with my target audience and always with an aim of simplifying complex financial information to ensure a clear understanding.
I have led multi-disciplinary teams and functions and can support your organisation’s governance, systems and resources management.
I am very comfortable with being hands-on when needed, but I’m also able to step back to see the bigger picture and take a strategic and creative approach.
If you’d like to engage my services or require more information, contact me today.