Stuart Wilson, ACMA CGMA Fractional CFO & Controller · AICPA Member
Monthly management accounts by the 5th. MTD VAT and MTD ITSA compliance handled. Companies House confirmation statements and statutory accounts on time. FRS 102 board packs your bank manager, investors, and auditor will actually trust. Whether you call it a part-time finance director, interim FD, or fractional CFO — it's the same role: senior finance leadership without the £150K full-time salary. Group Finance Director for a portfolio of SMEs in London for seven years, ACMA CGMA chartered since 2013.
No long contracts · ACMA CGMA chartered · From £2,995/month
ACMA (Associate Chartered Management Accountant) is the membership designation of CIMA — the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. CGMA is the global designation jointly awarded by CIMA and the AICPA. Both require degree-level examinations, three years of supervised practice, and continuing professional development. It is not the same as "QBE" (qualified by experience) or "AAT-trained" bookkeepers. When investors, banks, or auditors see ACMA CGMA on your board pack signature, they read a specific commitment to professional standards.
The CIMA / management-accounting tradition is built around producing information that helps directors make better decisions — not just satisfy filing requirements. Where many UK bookkeepers stop at the trial balance, a CGMA continues: variance analysis, contribution margin, scenario modelling, capital allocation, working capital optimisation, investment appraisal. Your board pack should make next month's decisions easier — not just tell you what last month already happened.
Stuart spent seven years as Group Finance Director for a portfolio of small and mid-sized businesses under private ownership in London, with earlier roles at Arle Capital Partners and Bancroft Private Equity (private equity portfolio company oversight) and earlier-career fund accounting at the ABN AMRO Mellon / Citigroup Edinburgh custody operation. That mix is rare in UK fractional CFO services — most operators come from a single industry vertical. The benefit to you: pattern-matching across industries, an investor's view of what makes a board pack credible, and an understanding of what institutional capital actually scrutinises.
MTD ITSA (April 2026 mandate), MTD VAT, Companies House confirmation statements and statutory accounts, P11D and PAYE submissions, IR35 status determination support, R&D tax credit working papers, EMI option scheme administration. Coordinated with your existing accountant — or end-to-end if you prefer everything under one roof.
Everything a full-time UK CFO delivers — without the £150K salary.
P&L, balance sheet, cash flow. FRS 102 / FRS 105 compliant. Board-ready with variance commentary and director-friendly narrative.
Gross margin trend, EBITDA bridge, working-capital cycle, current ratio, debt-service cover, key sector-specific KPIs.
Rolling weekly cash forecast with scenario modelling. Essential for bank covenant management and VAT/Corp-Tax planning.
MTD VAT and MTD ITSA submissions, quarterly updates, digital records compliant with HMRC's making-tax-digital programme.
Annual confirmation statement, statutory accounts (micro-entity through medium), changes of director and registered office.
45-minute board-level call to review the numbers, flag risks, and discuss capital allocation. Director-to-director.
ARR / MRR reporting, deferred revenue, R&D tax credit documentation, EMI option scheme administration.
Solicitors, accountants, consultancies — WIP accounting, partner profitability, lock-up management.
NAV calculations, partnership accounting, IPEV-aligned valuations, BVCA reporting. Direct from ex-Arle CFO.
CIS compliance, WIP schedules, retention accounting, surety-bond financial preparation.
No — but both are full chartered designations. ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, and ICAS are general-purpose chartered accountants who can sign audit opinions and act as Registered Auditors. ACMA CGMA is the chartered management accountant designation (CIMA + AICPA jointly), focused on management accounting, decision support, business partnering, and corporate finance. We cannot sign statutory audit opinions — but for fractional CFO/controller work (management accounts, board packs, MTD compliance, Companies House filings, capital-allocation decisions), the ACMA CGMA training is arguably better suited than the audit-focused alternatives. Where a statutory audit is required, we coordinate with an ICAEW-registered audit partner.
MTD ITSA (Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment) starts in April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with combined gross income over £50,000. Quarterly digital updates plus a final declaration replace the annual self-assessment. We act as HMRC agent, maintain compliant digital records, submit the quarterly updates, and finalise your annual declaration. From £195 for self-assessment, £495 for full MTD ITSA service — productised pricing.
Yes. Annual confirmation statement (£40 fee + our £75 service charge), statutory micro-entity accounts (£495), small-company statutory accounts (£995), and director / registered office changes. We are authorised Companies House filers and submit everything on your behalf with a sign-off email before each filing.
For UK SMEs at £500K–£5m revenue, expect £2,995–£4,995/month for the fractional CFO + management accounts package. Larger / multi-entity / fund-backed companies typically £4,995–£6,995/month. Productised compliance services (MTD ITSA, VAT, payroll, confirmation statement, year-end accounts) are priced separately and can be bought as one-offs without the monthly fractional retainer.
Yes. EMI scheme administration is one of our specialisms — HMRC notification within 92 days of grant, AMV (Actual Market Value) coordination with a valuation specialist, annual EMI returns, exercise event reporting. The UK equivalent to US §409A valuation work. We coordinate with valuation partners for the AMV opinion itself.
Either. We can act as your end-to-end finance function (managing the bookkeeper, doing the management accounts, handling Companies House and MTD, coordinating year-end with your audit partner if needed). Or we can sit alongside your existing accountant doing only the higher-value management-accounting and board-pack work. Most clients start in the second mode and move to the first within 6 months.
Most UK engagements onboard within 2 weeks. We obtain HMRC agent authorisation, connect to your accounting platform (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent all supported), and deliver your first management pack by end of week two.
Send your details — we reply within one business day, by email. We'll review your current setup, identify gaps, and show you exactly what your management accounts should look like. Director-to-director, no pitch.
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