finola mcmanus
Member Since: 19th May 2009
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Thanks: 2
Finola McManus MSc FCA
8 Watford Road.St Albans.HertsAL1 2AJ
Mobile: 07778 855875
Career History and achievements
- 2008 to present. Practice Perfect- proprietor of a business consultancy service specialising in:
- How to manage and lead effectively during a disruptive period of change such as a Covid-19 environment
- Leadership Development programmes
- Contingency business planning
- Resilience skills development
- Personal and business growth plans
- Succession and pre-sale planning
- Change management
- Coaching and mentoring – with expertise in the accountancy practice sector with owners and employees
- In 2019 I completed a Master of Science Degree with Distinction in Business Psychology winning a certificate of excellence from the Association of Business Psychology (ABP) in academic performance for achieving the grade of Distinction overall for my research on 'An exploration of the relationship between flexible working arrangements, manager relations and organisational commitment. I have contributed to Accountancy online publications in addition to public speaking at conferences on how to transform an accountancy business and shared my personal story. Specific topics included; how to be an effective leader and enjoy working life, cashflow management and why billing systems matter, how to manage your time, team development, what client care really means and wellbeing strategies for owners, managers and their team members.
I am passionate about continual learning and sharing my knowledge with business owners, managers and team members to ensure personal and business goals are achieved. My speciality is acting as a non-executive director to drive businesses forward, develop leaders, managers and their team and design succession plans. I draw from my personal experience of over 30 years working with and in the accountancy profession.
- 1995 to 2008. Senior Partner at Landers Accountants Ltd.
Purchasing the business from a retiring sole practitioner in 1995, as senior partner at Landers, I led a significant change programme culminating in the practice winning AVN ‘Firm of the Year’, ‘Accountancy Age 2006/7 Firm of The Year’ and regional’ Rising Star Business’ finalists for two years running. For the last 5 years in practice I enjoyed 10 weeks holiday a year and worked a 4-day week alongside my business partner whilst Landers profits continued to increase year on year.
After surviving cancer in 2007 I sold my interest in Landers and set up Practice Perfect to help accountancy firms achieve their goals. Having developed and structured Landers in the way I did, meant I could readily dispose of my business interest at a premium and with short notice, leaving the business to continue to grow without my direct involvement.
Personal interests
My core values and purpose are based on learning and sharing. These principles guide everything I do including;
Fundraising for NHS Charities Together in lockdown through publishing Lockdown reflections- a photo journal which has raised over £2000 to date. Annual fundraising walking challenges for Macmillan Cancer Support. Chair of Macmillan St Albans Fundraising Committee 2015-2017. Facilitator for Families in Focus Parent Network supporting parents of teens with Special Educational Needs. Volunteering for Communities First for Covid-19 vaccination centres.
In my free time I love to travel worldwide, practice yoga, journal writing, read, walk, take photos and dine lavishly with friends and family when restrictions allow!
How I will help you
My experience and background mean I am extremely cost effective as a non-executive director and mentor, providing support through a range of options from one off involvement to regular scheduled meetings either in person or via Zoom. My service offering is very hands on and designed to give practical ‘how to’ solutions. Results from my involvement are evaluated and reported on regularly.
Leadership Development in a Covid-19 environment -Leadership Development programmes for Directors and Managers
- Contingency business planning including how to adapt and survive in ever changing times
- Agile management skills to support team members working from home
- Resilience skills development- for business owners, managers and team members
- Personal and business growth plans and how to make them happen
- Succession and pre-sale planning, what needs to be done and how
- Coaching and mentoring support tailored to the individual with measured outcomes
Team and People issues
- Why you need to know what your team really think of you
- How to improve your management skills and why you should
- How to motivate people so you both achieve business and personal goals
- How to get regular team feedback and use it to improve your business
Training and Development
- Strategic business development days –running a programme tailored to what you want to achieve
- Team Building workshops
- Leadership workshops
- Manager workshops
- Practice clinic events to answer your questions and provide solutions
Business and strategic planning
- Changing your business into one you enjoy and how to get your business working for you
- How to change the culture in the workplace
- How to get your team on board and grow with you, why it makes such a difference
- How to draw up your own 10-year plan and make it work for you
Efficiency and productivity issues
- How to identify what spare capacity you have and how to use it
- Improve operational systems and free up your time whilst increasing profitability
- Pricing issues and what client care really looks like as best practice
- Team performance, commitment and engagement
Practice Management
- How to improve your cashflow
- Eliminate billing problems and bad debts
- Building a business structure to make your business less dependent on you
- How to plan and run meetings so progress is made and additional work generated
- How clearly defined Roles and Responsibilities can transform your business
- How to grade your clients and what does this do for you
- How to identify your ideal client profile
- How to get positive client feedback and make it work to your advantage
- How to use Windows of Opportunity to realise the maximum revenue from existing clients
References and testimonials are available on request
Leadership skills development business consultant practice perfect
My answers
Fee pressure.....
It's never about fees....it's about client service. That is my experience. Fixed fee agreements and monthly standing order payments up front have been the way to go for some time now. No fee disputes, no lock up problems and absolute clarity about what you are doing for the fee charged. Menu of services and windows of opportunity also ensure you are offering your clients. I wrote an article for Accounting Web a couple of years ago on Client service and what it really means (see the link on www.practice-perfect.net to see the full article). It still holds true...both from my days in practice and what clients tell me now at Practice Perfect- it is client service that is the key underlying driver and not pressure of fees per se. [email protected]