Categorie: Changing Lives

Kate Wright, portfolio FD at the FD Centre
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Kate Wright, previously worked as Head of Finance and Operations for a NASDAQ-listed company, but moved to a more flexible role as a portfolio FD, later-on joining the FD Centre, the largest provider of part-time FDs in the UK.

She was wanted to leave the corporate world, to work with Entrepreneurs and was willing to take a pay cut to do so.  However, she’s been pleasantly surprised with the remuneration.

“Although part-time FDs aren’t eligible for bonuses or equity, they are well-paid for the work they do.”

The benefits far outweigh the negatives as Kate carefully structures her time.

“You do have to be very organised and very focused. I quite often spend half a day with one company and half a day with another. It’s very important to make every client feel as if they are the most important.”

Being a part-time FD enables Kate to earn well whilst maintaining control over her diary.

“It’s a long way towards the holy grail of work life balance. I feel it’s the future.”

We think so too.

If you’d like to find out more, we’d love to hear from you – https://www.thefdcentre.co.uk/join-the-team/

Caroline Dodds, portfolio FD at the FD Centre
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Caroline Dodds, used to work with FTSE-listed companies but threw in the towel to work with Scale-Up businesses for the FD Centre, the largest provider of part-time FDs in the UK.

Being in control of her time is one of the best things about being a part-time FD for Caroline.  It gives her the flexibility to strive for the illusive work-life balance we all crave.

Rather than work as a sole trader, there’s the added benefit of a network of experts to bounce ideas off. Being able to communicate with FDs from around the world is something Caroline finds very useful especially as she has clients in China and Hong Kong. “I love networking and working within a team. The FD Centre and the wider Liberti Group offer a massive network.”

“I wanted to have colleagues that I could bounce ideas off. You can’t be a master of everything by yourself. If there’s something I’m not sure about, I know there will be someone who will have come across that issue.”

So, Caroline is living proof that work-life is possible. Is it really possible? OK, without another few hours in the day, we all know it’s tricky but one step closer has got to be good, right?

Are you ready for an exploratory conversation? We’d love to hear from you – https://www.thefdcentre.co.uk/join-the-team/

Steve Wilden, portfolio FD at the FD Centre in the Thames Valley
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Steve Wilden has been with the FD Centre for 8 years. After a successful and eventful FD career with many tales to tell, Steve had amassed a considerable range of experience across many industries.

While his time in the Corporate world was extremely fulfilling, the pressure started to take its toll. Steve made the decision to move to portfolio working in the hope it would provide the change of lifestyle needed.

With portfolio working, there’s the buzz of tackling a wide variety of business situations.

Working with many owner-managed businesses allows Steve to share his commercial acumen far and wide – implementing fundamental changes that make the world of difference. In reality, having a number of businesses to help can be more rewarding than the full-time, traditional way of working.

And life is less stressful.

Principals are masters of their own destiny and they control their own portfolios. They are supported to seek out clients in the sectors they want to work in, using their areas of expertise and deciding how much work they want to commit to each month.

If you’re ready to consider a career in portfolio working, we’d love to hear from you – http://www.thefdcentre.co.uk/join-the-team/

Tony Lewis, portfolio FD at the FD Centre in the South East
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

With 30+ years’ experience in the corporate world, both in the UK and globally,  Tony has been there, done that, got the t-shirt. But by working for one of the top management consultants and supporting many US-listed companies, it’s very easy to be known for one particular type of situation.

Then there’s always the next client waiting for your support and advice.

Of course, it’s good work and he’s proud of what he achieved. But when the appeal wears off and there’s no time to really enjoy the important things in life, something’s got to change.

Tony was ready for a new challenge. He wanted more time and space to have input into family life – to reduce the time he was travelling and help to settle his children.

For this reason, he approached the FD Centre to become a part-time FD.

And he has never looked back to the big job in the City and the international travel.

For Tony, the flexibility the role provides has meant the world to him. He can enjoy a challenging & rewarding professional life balanced with time for family, friends, sports & hobbies.

He also finds the role extremely fulfilling. Good practice and insightful advice aren’t just expected, they’re really appreciated.

“Instead of spending my time worrying about multinationals, I’m now helping a family-run business improve profit & cash generation. We’re talking livelihoods and real people. And it’s so much more rewarding.”

If you’d like to think about how portfolio working could work for you, we’d love to hear from you – https://www.thefdcentre.co.uk/join-the-team/

Zara Merricks, portfolio FD at the FD Centre
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Zara works as a portfolio FD for between five and 10 clients at a time. She works for the FD Centre, the largest provider of part-time FDs in the UK and is delighted to see the rapid difference she makes to companies she works with. Since joining the FD Centre over two years ago, Zara is enjoying the opportunities that have come her way.

Although Zara’s keen to tell us that it’s the best career move she’s ever made, she’s also honest about the need to become extremely organised.

“I recently started doing virtual FD work as well as well as portfolio work. I might spend a day a month in a client’s office and the rest of the time working from home. The virtual FD work I plan six months in advance and the portfolio work I plan six weeks in advance. So, you do have to have time management skills.

Working with five clients at the same time, it can be a little challenging deciding who takes precedence. But that’s a minor downside.”

And apart from feeling like she’s making a difference… what are the other reasons for Zara’s happiness?

The flexibility of course. Being in control of her diary, not missing out on ‘the important things in life’ and making adjustments to support her own well being.

Surely, that’s worth getting organised for, isn’t it?

If you’d like to chat to us, we’d love to hear from you – https://www.thefdcentre.co.uk/join-the-team/