Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based CFO’ operating in the Consulting space. If you think a CFO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Graeme Bayley
Partner & Group CFO of GP Bullhound
Graeme joined GP Bullhound in 2009 and is responsible for GP Bullhound’s Finance, Compliance, IT, HR and Operations. He started his career at Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now PwC) where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant before working in corporate finance. He then moved to HSBC Investment Bank where he ran the Growth Companies Team, later joining Noble & Co as a Director in Corporate Finance before taking on the management of Noble’s finance, compliance and operations. Graeme is a Fellow of the ICAEW and holds their Corporate Finance qualification along with a BSc in Physics from Southampton University.
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About GP Bullhound: GP Bullhound is a technology advisory and investment firm that provides transaction advice and capital to entrepreneurs and founders.
Erin Cummins
Chief Financial Officer of Thoughtworks
She is the Chief Financial Officer at Thoughtworks.
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About Thoughtworks: Thoughtworks is a community of passionate individuals whose purpose is to revolutionize software design, creation, and delivery.
Dean Hartley
Chief Financial Officer of Webhelp
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About Webhelp: Webhelp is a business process outsourcer (BPO), specialising in customer experience and payment management.
Jonathan Hull
CFO of Third Bridge Group
Jonathan oversees Third Bridge’s financial strategy. He focuses his time on working with our business units, to understand how each is performing and to ensure resources are effectively allocated in order to achieve our strategic objectives. Jonathan is an experienced CFO, having held senior executive roles at Vodafone, Unite plc and Quadriga. Prior to joining Third Bridge in December 2015, Jonathan was CFO at AlertMe, a pioneer in the Internet of Things; the company was successfully sold in March 2015 to British Gas. Outside work, Jonathan enjoys the occasional round of golf, hillwalking and spending time with his family.
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About Third Bridge Group: Third Bridge Group is a provider of research services to private equity and hedge funds.
Stuart Ashman
Chief Financial Officer of Argus Media group
Stuart Ashman is the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of the Argus Media group of companies. He joined Argus in 1999 having previously worked in accounting and finance roles in practice and banking in Australia and retail in the UK. Stuart was educated at the University of Tasmania and has been a member of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants for over 20 years.
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About Argus Media group: Argus Media group is a global energy and commodity price reporting agency.
Alan Salomon
Chief Financial Officer of CapitalAppreciation Limited
Alan has more than 35 years’ experience as a senior executive in an array of financial services and industrial sectors. Most recently Alan served as the CEO of Bidvest Bank, a subsidiary of The Bidvest Group Limited, a position he held for 8 years. In addition to Banking and Financial Services, Alan has also held executive management positions in Waste Management and Waste Recycling, Stationery, Packaging, Catering Equipment, Services, Property, Import and Export and Distribution. He also has extensive experience in various manufacturing businesses. Other directorships held by Alan include Executive Director of The Bidvest Group Limited (from 1990 to 2012), CEO of AFCOM Group Limited, Non-Executive Director of Transpaco Limited, Non-Executive Director of Voltex Limited and Non-Executive Director of Enviroserv Holdings Limited.
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About CapitalAppreciation Limited: CapitalAppreciation Limited operates as a special purpose acquisition company.
Mike McLaren
Chief Financial Officer of FDM Group
Mike is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has been Chief Financial Officer at FDM since April 2011. Prior to joining FDM, Mike fulfilled the roles of Group Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer in a premium listed business in the Software and Services sector. In addition Mike has been an Independent non-executive chairman and non-executive director on the boards of a number of other companies. Overall Mike has more than thirty years’ experience of working within the technology sector in a range of senior roles. Mike has no external appointments.
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About FDM Group: FDM Group is a professional services provider with a focus on IT and business recruitment for graduates and veterans.
Suezann Holmes
CFO of techspert.io
Suezann holds an MA in International Relations, an MBA in Finance and a BPA. As former CFO for Moo.com and with experience working for Virgin Media and other commercially known companies, Suezann brings a skill set well versed in profit improvement, cost reduction, mergers, divestitures, acquisitions and budgets. Suezann enjoys cycling in her spare time and takes every opportunity to go sightseeing in London.
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About ScaleXP, techspert.io: techspert.io is an AI-driven technology for identifying and sourcing specialist expertise, globally.
Alex Calcutt
COO & CFO of The SR Group
Alex graduated from Durham University with a degree in Chemistry. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen and then worked at Prebon Marshall Yamane before joining The SR Group in August 2000 as Financial Director. Alex then became a Partner of the firm. As CFO & COO Alex has overall responsibility for the global finance team, the global IT Team and the Commercial Management team.
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About The SR Group: The SR Group consists of specialist recruitment consultancies.
Coram Williams
Chief Financial Officer of The Adecco Group
Coram joined Pearson in 2003 and has held a number of senior positions including Finance and Operations Director for Pearson’s English Language Teaching business in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Interim President of Pearson Education Italia and Head of Financial Planning and Analysis for Pearson. In 2008 Coram became CFO of The Penguin Group and was latterly appointed CFO of Penguin Random House in 2013. Coram began his professional career at Autocar, a British motoring magazine, as a news reporter and road tester. A graduate of Christ Church, Oxford, Coram also holds an MBA from the London Business School.
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About Penguin Random House, The Adecco Group: The Adecco Group is a provider of talent solutions and staffing services to automakers and aerospace companies.
Claire Webster
CFO of NTT DATA UK
Claire Webster is the Chief Financial Officer of NTT DATA UK.
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About NTT DATA UK: NTT DATA UK is a consulting and IT service provider to manufacturing, banking public sector, telecom, and financial services.
Richard McCann
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Kainos
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About Kainos: Kainos provide digital technology solutions that enable companies to work smarter, faster, better.
Brian Southward
CFO of Symphony Ventures
Brian is a chartered accountant with a history in commercial leadership with British Airways and American Express amongst others. Brian spent the last 10 years working with SMEs at Board level within high growth, turnaround and disruptive business models and gaining significant experience of building international businesses from the ground up – including his own successful data analytics start-up. Recently the focus has been commercial innovation, fundraising and M&A including ‘buy and builds’ and exits – both trade and IPOs. During this period, Brian has spent several years working with companies looking to drive digital transformation in their own verticals.
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About Symphony Ventures: Symphony is a professional services firm passionate about creating value for the world’s leading organizations.
Sebastian Shaw
Co-founder & CFO of Brainbroker
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About Brainbroker, Brainbroker: Brainbroker is a digital agency that uses data-driven marketing techniques to generate customers for its client.
Steve Robertson
Chief Financial Officer of Asset Control
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About Asset Control: Asset Control provides financial data management solutions to banks, insurers, investment managers and market infrastructure firms
Jim Fish
Chief Financial Officer of Frontier IP Group plc
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About Frontier IP Group plc: Frontier IP Group plc is a specialist asset management group.
Adrian Allen
Chief Financial Officer of Newable
Adrian Allen With a background in design for manufacture, Adrian has been involved in R&D and commercialisation for many years, including IP management, start-ups, incubators, product development services and access to finance. Adrian currently manages a team of Innovation Advisers providing fully-funded innovation support to companies as part of the national Innovate2Succeed programme.
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About Newable: Newable provides finance, consulting, and property services for start-ups, and small and medium-sized businesses in the UK.
Rohit Moudgil
Chief Financial Officer of 4C Associates
Rohit Moudgil is the CFO at 4C Associates.
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About 4C Associates: 4C Associates is a procurement consultancy firm that provides tailored solutions to help its clients meet their strategic goals.
Emmet Byrne
Chief Financial Officer of Access Partnership
Emmet Byrne is the Chief Financial Officer at Access Partnership.
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About Access Partnership: Access Partnership Ltd. provides consulting services in the areas of international ICT trade, regulation, and licensing.
Julie Merry
Portfolio Finance Director/CFO of The CFO Center Limited
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About The CFO Center Limited, Torstone Technology: The CFO Centre Group is now the Global No.1 provider of part-time FD and CFO services.
David McSweeney
Chief Financial Officer of BMT fluid mechanics
With over 27 years’ experience as a chartered accountant, David McSweeney was appointed Finance Director in 2001. David enjoyed a successful accountancy career as a senior audit and corporate finance partner at Baker Tilly. He has helped many different types of business and specialised in people businesses within the design, engineering and technology and property sectors, both as a trusted advisor and as a non-executive Director. His extensive experience of corporate finance and treasury matters has ranged from small owner managed businesses to large public listed companies in the FTSE 100 and on NASDAQ. David was a finalist in the Institute of Directors’ 2012 “Director of the Year – large company section” and is a 3rd Dan black belt in karate. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and served as a member of the Technical and Practical Auditing Committee providing guidance to the profession.
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About BMT fluid mechanics: BMT is a leading international multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy with services in defence, energy, environment and transport.
Simon Cole
Consultant, CFO, COO & Co-Founder of Molewood Consulting
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About Apparier, Molewood Consulting: Molewood Consulting is a private equity firm that provides management consulting and staffing services.
Ian Lindsay
Chief Financial Officer of Active Tree Services
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About Active Tree Services: Active Tree Services provide forestry services on a contract or fee basis.
Suzat Fernandes
Chief Financial Officer of Quickdesk Solutions
Experienced algorithmic trader and a digital marketing evangelist. She has myriad experience managing Software as a Service product development including in-depth target market research, competitor and strategic analysis, feature specifications, website design, wireframing and UI/UX, quality assurance. Her project management skills include planning, executing, controlling and closing the work of her development and design team to meet specific goals under strict software project deadlines.
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About MediLiVes, Quickdesk Solutions: Technology Consulting, Digital Marketing, Web & Mobile App Technologies, Blockchain, SaaS,
Mark Sinclair
Chief Financial Officer of The Miles Consultancy
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About The Miles Consultancy, Tusker: The Miles Consultancy provides fuel management and business mobility solutions.
Michael Lifford
Chief Financial Officer of Celerity
Michael Lifford is the Chief Financial Officer at Celerity Information Services and ORM.
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About Celerity: Celerity is a data-driven marketing agency specializing in helping brands to maximize value from marketing technology and customer data.
