Stability + Strategy = Success
About Nicholas
Finance, strategy and corporate finance expertise that builds value and delivers it.
I began my career at Saffery Champness, later moving to PwC, where I spent almost a decade working globally with scaling businesses and supporting clients going through significant structural and financial change.
Since then, I’ve raised hundreds of millions in equity funding, from seed through Series A, B and C, and been involved in multiple successful exits. Most recently, as CFO of Vicebio, I helped lead the business from inception through to its $1.15bn acquisition by Sanofi.
Today I help businesses sharpen their strategy, strengthen their operations and build value they can realise at exit or investment. I work alongside owners and leadership teams to spot the opportunities that matter, turn them into a clear plan, and deliver it on time and on budget. I also support venture capital and private equity investors to improve the financial and operational effectiveness of their investments.
What I bring
Fundraising and exits: first-hand experience of raising capital and taking businesses through a sale, from preparation to completion
Restructuring and change: a decade of guiding businesses through financial and structural transformation
Strategy that gets executed: practical, forward-looking plans with clear roadmaps and milestones
Financial rigour: analysis that cuts through complexity to the decisions that drive value
Governance you can rely on: frameworks that keep the business compliant, controlled and deal-ready
Leadership and influence: building capable teams and aligning investors, boards and management around a shared goal
Qualifications
FCCA
BSc (hons) - First Class Honors - Applied Accounting
Advisory Services
Non-Executive Director
Independent board-level challenge in strategy and finance, helping businesses make better decisions, strengthen governance and build value ready for investment or exit.
Fractional CFO / Financial Advisor
Confidential one-to-one support for founders and leaders: clearer thinking, better decisions and a sharper focus on building a business worth more at exit.
Business Coach
Senior finance leadership, financial modelling and business planning on a flexible basis: investor-ready numbers that build value today and maximise it at exit.
Non-Executive Director
Independent challenge and financial insight at board level
A strong board does more than oversee. It sharpens strategy, tests assumptions and makes sure the business is building value it can realise. As a Non-Executive Director with a strategy and finance focus, I bring an independent perspective, combined with 25 years of experience as a restructuring professional, CFO and adviser to growing businesses.
What I bring to the board
Strategic direction: Working with the executive team to shape and test strategy, so that growth plans are ambitious, achievable and focused on long-term value.
Financial oversight: Making sure the board has clear, reliable financial information, from management accounts and forecasts to capital allocation and funding decisions.
Constructive challenge: Asking the questions that need asking, and supporting management to reach better decisions with confidence.
Governance and risk: Strengthening board processes, internal controls and risk management, including chairing or serving on the audit and risk committee.
Value creation and exit readiness: Helping the business prepare for investment, acquisition or exit, so value is protected and evidenced when it matters most.
Mentoring and support: Acting as a sounding board for the CEO and CFO, drawing on experience from my extensive work across a wide range of sectors.
Who I work with
Owner-managed, private equity–backed and growth-stage businesses, typically with turnover of £1m –£50m, that want experienced financial and strategic leadership on the board without a full-time appointment.
How I work
Appointments are tailored to each board, typically 1 to 2 days per month covering board meetings, committee work and ongoing support. I maintain full independence and manage any potential conflicts of interest openly.
Fractional CFO / Financial Advisor
Senior finance leadership and expert financial advice, when you need it
Growing businesses often need CFO-level thinking well before they need, or can justify, a full-time CFO. I work alongside founders and leadership teams either as a part-time CFO or as an adviser on specific projects. I bring the financial strategy, robust planning and investor-ready numbers that drive value now and maximise it at exit or investment.
How I can help
Financial modelling: Robust, transparent financial models built to best-practice standards, including three-statement forecasts, scenario and sensitivity analysis, valuation, and models for fundraising, acquisitions or exit. Independent review of existing models is also available.
Business planning: Turning your strategy into a clear, credible business plan, with the narrative, assumptions and numbers to persuade investors, lenders and buyers.
Financial strategy and budgeting: Budgets and rolling forecasts that link your strategy to the numbers, so you can make decisions with confidence.
Cash flow and working capital: Improving cash visibility and forecasting, and freeing up working capital to fund growth.
Management reporting and KPIs: Clear monthly reporting that shows what’s really driving performance, for the leadership team, the board and investors.
Profitability and value drivers: Identifying where you make and lose money by product, customer and channel, and acting on it.
Fundraising and investor relations: Preparing data rooms and supporting conversations with banks, investors and private equity.
Exit and transaction readiness: Getting the business “deal ready”: clean numbers, defensible EBITDA, a credible forecast and fewer surprises in due diligence.
Finance function and systems: Strengthening your finance team, processes, controls and systems so they scale with the business.
Who I work with
Founder-led, owner-managed and investor-backed businesses, typically with turnover of £1m – £50m or pre-revenue if venture capital backed, that need senior financial expertise without the cost of a full-time hire.
How it works
Fractional CFO: Typically 1–4 days per month as part of your leadership team, scaling up for fundraising, transactions or key projects, however this can be scaled up or down depending upon specific requirements.
Advisory projects: Fixed-scope engagements such as a financial model, a business plan, a fundraise or an exit readiness review.
Every engagement starts with a review of your current position and priorities, followed by a clear plan and agreed deliverables.
Business Coach
Clarity, accountability and experienced support for business leaders
Running a business can be lonely, especially when the decisions get bigger and the stakes get higher. As a business coach and mentor, I work one-to-one with founders, CEOs and senior leaders. I help them think clearly, lead with confidence and focus on what creates lasting value in the business they’re building.
How I can help
Clarity of direction: Stepping back from day-to-day operations to define where the business is going, and what it will take to get there.
Better decisions: A confidential sounding board for difficult choices on growth, people, investment, pricing or the timing of an exit.
Financial confidence: Building your understanding of the numbers, so you can read your accounts, question your forecasts and hold your own with banks, investors and buyers.
Leadership and team: Developing your leadership style, building a capable management team and reducing the business’s dependence on you.
Building value: Focusing your time on the drivers that increase what the business is worth: recurring revenue, margins, systems and people.
Preparing for exit: Helping you plan for a sale, investment or succession well in advance, both practically and personally.
Accountability: Regular sessions that turn plans into action and keep progress on track.
Coaching or mentoring?
Coaching helps you find your own answers through structured questioning and reflection. Mentoring draws on my experience as a CFO, NED and adviser to offer guidance and perspective. Most clients benefit from a blend of both, and I adapt the approach to what you need.
Who I work with
Founders, owner-managers, CEOs and senior leaders of growing businesses, as well as finance professionals stepping up into CFO and board roles.
How it works
Regular sessions: Typically weekly, monthly, or fortnightly sessions of 60–90 minutes, either in person or online.
Programmes: Structured 12-month programmes with clear goals and progress reviews.
Ad hoc support: Time with me when you face a specific decision or challenge.
All conversations are completely confidential.
“I've had the pleasure of working with Nick as a virtual CFO across several of our portfolio companies, and he has consistently proven to be an exceptional asset. His ability to quickly understand the unique dynamics of each business and implement tailored financial strategies has delivered real value.
Nick has brought clarity and structure to financial reporting, audits, forecasting, and cash flow management, and he’s played a key role in helping our companies navigate various challenges. He builds strong relationships with founders and leadership teams, earning their trust and ensuring finance is tightly aligned with broader strategic goals.
Nick balances hands-on execution with high-level strategic insight, and has been involved in preparing several companies for critical inflection points—whether it's a fundraise, acquisition, or new development phase.
Nick is a trusted partner, and we’re grateful for the steady, insightful support he brings to our portfolio. We’d highly recommend him to any founder or investor looking for a sharp, reliable, and high-impact finance leader.
Giovanni Pericolini
Parnter & CFO, Medicxi VenturesWhat People Are Saying
“Great working with Nicholas! Fast, efficient, accurate, accountable, result oriented, committed and good communicator. All attributes I value from a finance person.”
Arthur Franken
Managing Partner, Gilde Healthcare“Nick has worked as a colleague and as an FD at a client. He is energetic, creative and leaves no stone unturned. He gets to the heart of the commercial issues at hand.”
Dipan Shah
Partner & Head of Private Business Tax, PwC“I worked with Nick for a number of years in our advisory team. He is energetic, driven and has strong advisory skills. He has a broad range of experience and is commercially focussed. I enjoyed working with Nick and know that he can add a lot of value to management teams.”
Mark Addley
Partner & Restructuring and Insolvency Leader, PwCWhat People Are Saying
“Nicholas has been and continues to be highly impactful at Vicebio by providing overall business guidance and financial expertise. He is also making the difference with his overall experience in strategic and business matters. His positive personality and highly energetic style comes on the top of all his qualities. Highly recommended.”
Emmanuel Hanon
CEO, ViceBio Limited“We have had the pleasure of working with Nick since July 2020 and can confidently say that his expertise and professionalism make him standout in the financial industry.
Nick took the time to thoroughly understand the business financial goals, creating a tailored strategy that was not only aligned with my immediate needs but also positioned for long-term success. The attention to detail, proactive approach, and deep understanding of what we were needing instilled a level of trust and confidence that I hadn’t experienced with other advisors before.
One of the things that really sets Nick apart is his enthusiasm understanding the business and ability to explain complex financial concepts in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.
Beyond his technical skills, Nick is a true professional with an unwavering commitment to integrity and client satisfaction. He goes above and beyond to ensure that every decision is made with the client's best interests at heart. I’ve truly appreciated his ongoing support throughout our relationship.
I highly recommend Nick to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, reliable, and thoughtful financial advisor who genuinely cares about helping clients achieve their financial goals.”
John Davidson
CEO, JS Davidson Limited“I worked closely with Nick during his time at Jaltek. Nick ensured I knew what the business was doing and what help it needed. A close and open relationship such as this is critical. His knowledge of corporate funding and structures ensured our interactions where time well spent.”
Gavin Sturgess
Relationship Director, BarclaysWhat People Are Saying
“I have worked closely with Nick for a number of years and he is an experienced and professional advisor with a broad range of skills and experience covering M&A, debt, restructuring and other financial advisory roles. From my experience he is passionate about private business and is able combine his technical knowledge and strong communication skills to deliver pragmatic and practical advice to his clients. Nick is able to very quickly understand the commercial drivers and provide pragmatic solutions to issues facing management.”
Tim Armstrong
Partner & Head of Services (Corporate Finance), PwC“Nicholas picked up the requirements of the tasks very quickly providing reliable information and making excellent recommendations and implementing them. He worked well with people in a highly stressed environment.”
Philip Gunn
Experienced Interim FDSubmit an Inquiry
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