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Paul Deehan

FD/CFO

I’m an experienced, commercially focused CFO with 25+ years in senior finance and board roles across professional services, education, housing, property, and utilities. UK-wide experience with a focus on the North West. I help business owners gain clarity, control, and momentum – improving cash flow, profitability, and decision-making.

Paul-Deehan-Fractional-CFO-Manchester

Track record highlights

  • I led a strategic cost reduction and cash preservation programme that successfully steered a professional services business through both the 2009 financial crisis and the 2020 Covid-19 period.
  • I delivered £3 million in working capital improvements by re-engineering management reporting and KPI frameworks to drive action on debtors and work-in-progress.
  • I implemented and led a programme of commercial contract reviews to manage significant areas of business risk, and managed relationships with PI brokers, insurers, and solicitors - successfully handling multiple notifications, claims, and disputes, including cases that progressed to court.
  • I implemented and ran medium-term incentive schemes (including EMI, CSOP, and deferred bonus schemes) to align employee reward with business growth targets.
  • I supported multiple organisations through critical leadership succession processes, including the appointment of new Chief Executives and Finance Directors. My role included advising on governance, risk management, and ensuring continuity during periods of change across businesses in the professional services, education, and housing sectors.
  • I managed the commercial, financial, and legal aspects of acquiring and integrating a subsidiary, including securing structured finance and overseeing post-acquisition integration.
  • I delivered £1 million in property cost savings by developing and implementing a strategy to relocate offices to smaller, more flexible, and shorter-term premises. In addition, I led a comprehensive procurement review across areas such as printing, communications, stationery, and travel, generating further significant operational savings.

Sector Experience

  • Services: Professional Services, Consultancy, Board Advisory for Owner-Managed Businesses
  • Not for Profit: Multi-Academy Education Trusts, Education Governance, Public Sector Education Funding
  • Property & Real Estate: Housing Associations, Planning Consultancy, Land Promotion, Mixed-Use Developments, Estate Management
  • Construction: Property Development, Infrastructure Projects, Commercial Real Estate Schemes
  • Hospitality & Tourism: Cultural Charities, Governance-Focused Organisations

Paul's specialist skills

Cash flow Improvement

Helping business owners quickly regain control of cash flow with a blend of immediate tactical fixes and longer-term sustainable forecasting models.

Profit Improvement

Redesigning KPIs and management reporting frameworks to drive action, sharpen decision-making, and deliver measurable improvements in profitability and working capital.

Managing Risk

Advising boards and leadership teams on reducing exposure through governance, contract reviews, and practical risk mitigation.

Leadership

Supporting business leaders through complex transitions - whether succession, restructuring, or rapid growth - by bringing calm, clarity, and challenge to help them lead with confidence and accountability.

Strategic Thinker

Helping business owners step back from day-to-day pressures to clarify long-term goals, make informed trade-offs, and align financial strategy with business ambition.

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