Blog
STAY A WHILE. READ. ABSORB.Business Coaching
Strategic Planning
Financial Consulting & Coaching
I’m not a boring accountant. I’m proud to say that others have said I have too much personality to be an accountant! I know how to talk to you about numbers in a way that makes sense. Here, I share finance tips for small business and my life experience in various management roles.
Financial Governance and Insolvency for SME Directors
There has been much media attention on the prevalence of insolvencies specifically with Small to Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”), and the anticipation that there could be stormier seas ahead. Financial governance and the Director’s statutory duty to not allow the...
Cash Flow Survival Guide for Perth’s Business Community
Recently I sadly said "see you later" to three business coaching clients within the space of a month. All for similar reasons - business conditions are challenging, income is below budget expectations and cash flow is tight. These circumstances are forcing them to...
Navigating Challenges: The Power of Sharing Mistakes in Business
What have I learnt recently? I was listening to the “Thriving Business” podcast with Kate de Jong and Sam Morris earlier today, talking about how we have a tendency to avoid sharing our mistakes in business and the shame we have about our business failings and the...
Foundations of Financial Literacy for Directors
Does your plan for 2024 include doing the Company Directors course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors ? Great! As a facilitator of Financial Literacy and Performance for the Australian Institute of Company Directors, I might well see you there. Or, as...
Cultivating Authentic Values: The Cornerstone of Business Culture and Success
Authentic values in business culture form the backbone of that culture, differentiating you and potentially becoming your strategic advantage. Values = culture = strategic advantageIf you're going to have values in your business make them count. Don't ask the...
Building a Resilient SME Business with Strategic Business Goals
"If you do not know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere" Henry A KissingerBuilding a resilient SME business with strategic business goals is the key to your success. A client said to me recently "It's a waste of time us setting 3 - 5 year goals...
Mastering Financial Management: Unlocking Financial Success for Small Business Owners
Strong financial management is the foundation of every thriving business. While it may seem daunting, especially if you lack a financial background, mastering cash flow and general financial management is vital for your business’s prosperity. As the owner or leader,...
Conquer Cash Flow Nightmares and Energise Your Ultimate Success
Everyone knows that “cash is king”, but not everyone knows it involves a bit more than checking your bank balance every day. When I ask small business owners what keeps them awake at night; it’s often cash flow..FACT: 60% of new businesses in Australia will fail in...
Women in Leadership
Playing to our strengths as female leaders As women in leadership roles, can I suggest that we need to be proud of the fact that our leadership style is quite different from our male counterparts. From my own experience I realised a long time ago that I didn't need...
Building effective teams in small business
What does it take to build a highly effective team? Wouldn't it be fabulous if all teams within your organisation were high performing. A team where: The members work effectively together to deliver great outcomes for the organisation. Every member of the team knows...
Leadership of Small Business
Leading successful SMEs needs strong corporate governanceMany people think that corporate governance is something for big companies and boards. In fact, it is applicable to ALL organisations - small and medium businesses and also not-for-profit organisations. It's...
Unsure on which are the important numbers?
Identifying the Key Numbers in Your Business Knowing the important numbers in your business is essential to making informed decisions that impact your business. As a Business Owner, Executive Leader, or Non-Executive Director, are you: Frustrated by the quality and/or...
Acknowledgement of My Country
Respect for one of our Elders and most significant Leaders of our generation Today is a very special day. Monday 19 September 2022 marks the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I admired Queen Elizabeth II's leadership. I am English, and the events of the past...
What does a good CFO look like?
The Role of a CFO in Business CFOs - Were you promoted internally to the role? Are you meeting expectations and building relationships? Recently I was invited to speak to Accountants and finance professionals at CPA Australia's CPA Week 2022 Conference in Perth on...
Are you ready to make a move?
Do you think you might be ready to make a move? Accountants - have you ever wanted to change direction in your career or step up into an opportunity but not been sure of the next step? This week I was delighted to be invited to speak to Accountants and finance...
The role of the CFO in private business
Understanding the Importance of a CFO in Private Business What is a “good” CFO supposed to do? As a relatively new or emerging CFO, no one necessarily tells you what you should be doing differently from your previous role as a Finance Manager or Financial Controller,...
Accountants’ Jargon Definitions Redefined in Plain English
Introduction to Accountants' Jargon Accounting literacy is the language of accountants As an accountant, can you think of examples of when you tried to explain an accounting concept to a client or someone in the business who is not from a financial background? How...
Fail to Plan; Plan to Fail
Financial Forecasting lessons learnt from the Winter Olympics Inspired by the Winter Olympics I admire the dedication and the commitment that has made the athletes Olympians. Devoting everything to the pursuit of a four year goal, the outcome of which can be...
Having the courage to ask for help
What happened to the margin? As the Owner of the Business, have you created the expectation that you should be good at everything - the operational and technical stuff, sales and marketing, business development, managing people, IT and be responsible for the budget...
Practical Tips for Managing Cash
Tips for Managing Cash Managing Cash and Working Capital continues to be top of the list of tips of effectively managing the finances within the business. Whilst we all know “cash is king”, it is not unusual for small businesses to struggle with their cash flow...
Event: “Finance Not Your Thing?” 9 June 2021, 12:30 at Fern, 79 St Georges Tce, Perth
As a business owner or leader do you hear yourself say : "I'm not a numbers person"? But you feel self-conscious because in your role others expect you might be more comfortable around numbers than you are, and you don't like to ask what might be seen as a "silly"...
Welcome to autonomy
The Role of a CFO in a Company Just stepped into your first CFO role, be it a promotion from a 2IC Finance Manager role, or your first move out of professional services into commerce, and got that sense of unease because you are unsure what you are supposed to...
Keep It Simple
Finding it difficult to understand the numbers? Ever considered that perhaps the reason you are finding numbers difficult and confusing is because you are being given numbers that are either irrelevant, too much information, or presented in a format that you cannot...
Top 10 Tips for becoming a good CFO
What's a "Good" CFO supposed to look like? As a relatively new or emerging CFO, no one necessarily tells you what you should be doing differently from your previous role as a Finance Manager or Financial Controller, do they? Here I share my Top 10 Tips for...
It’s all about cash
How much do you have in the piggy bank? If worrying about the cashflow within the business is not keeping you awake at night that's a good thing. We have all heard that businesses fail through lack of cash as opposed to lack of profits. But we...
The crystal ball approach to budgeting
Budgeting and Forecasting As an Owner or Leader in Business are you trying to get a better grasp of your numbers and understand budgets and forecasts? This is the 4th in a series of articles to support you as Owner or Leader of a business get on top of what you...
Demystifying Numbers
Does this jumble of rope visualise the state of your business finances? If the answer is yes, you might want to read on. Would you prefer it to look like this neatly wrapped shank below? Let me help with demystifying numbers.This is the third in a series of articles...
Making friends with finance
Cross eyed and confused by numbers? As the Leader or Owner of a business you need to be on top of your numbers to enable informed and timely decisions when building the foundations for a resilient business. Following on from the 5...
5 Key Business Finance Questions
Finance all a bit of a puzzle As the Leader or Owner of a business you need to be on top of your numbers to enable informed and timely decision making, building the foundations for a resilient business. Everyone knows “cash is...
Numbers Not Your Thing?
Understanding the numbers in your business is critical. Financial literacy is a must-have skill. Numbers Not Your Thing? But they should be your thing? Does this sound like someone you know? Promoted to a managerial and leadership role because you are so good at the...
Organisational Culture: Culture eats strategy for breakfast
"Culture eats strategy for breakfast" said Peter Drucker. Of course strategy is important, but the implementation of that strategy is more likely to be successful within the context of a strong and healthy organisational culture. Last week I participated in AICD...
Staying Connected
As social distancing restrictions start to relax, before we too caught up in the wave of returning to auto-pilot, worth taking a moment to reflect on our learnings and which of our new habits we wish to safeguard. I entered into social isolation all bright eyed &...
Values Based Leadership
Did some very rewarding work with a client last week developing their Values. An on-line workshop with a small team using Google Jamboard was a whole new experience for me, but we got some fabulous outcomes. Values based leadership is such an important area for small...
Cash is King
Managing cash and working capital Participated this morning in the best webinar I have listened to in recent weeks – the Australian Institute of Company Directors “Managing Cash and Working Capital in a Crisis”. Best in that it was full of practical guidance. From my...
My Values
Understanding your Purpose, Vision and Values In my capacity as an ADAPT By Design Resilient Business Coach, I have been doing some really rewarding work with a new client, helping them to articulate the Organisation’s Purpose, Vision and Values. The prelude to this...
My Story
We all have a story that shapes who we are, why we do what we do and how we show up. This is mine. This period of imposed self-isolation as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic creates time for ourselves. Quality time to reflect, refocus and possibly redirect. Time...
Whose Monkey is it?
"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me" ~Carol Burnett It sits with us to take responsibility for our own actions, our own destiny and future. This isn’t something you can palm off to someone else to take care of. This monkey well and truly sits on your...
Keep doing the same thing and expect a different result?
We all know that we we will continue to get the same outcome if we continue to do the same thing, yet so many of us, purportedly intelligent people have great difficulty shifting our mindset, and shifting ourselves into a different gear to try a different approach.As...
As the sun goes down on 2019
I cannot believe it’s 2 years since I gave up my job and have since reinvented myself. Transitioning from an employed executive role with the same employer for 15 years, having followed a traditional education and employment route, to now being self-employed pursuing...