Leask Advisory Solutions

30/12/2025

Between the Quality Street tins and the “I’ll deal with that in January” pile…

Christmas has a funny way of giving business owners a bit of headspace. Somewhere between the turkey, the dog walks, and that awkward week where no one knows what day it is, the thoughts creep in.

“I really need to look at the numbers properly.”
“Why does cash always feel tighter than it should?”
“Could the business cope if I actually switched off for a few weeks?”

Then January arrives, and suddenly it’s back to emails, invoices, and putting fires out.

Same business. Same questions. Just louder.

Most businesses don’t need a New Year overhaul.

They need clarity.

Clarity on:
• what actually made money last year
• where cash quietly leaked
• what’s holding the business back
• and whether it’s built to run without everything resting on the owner

Because being flat out isn’t the same as doing well. And growth without control is just stress in a smarter outfit.

If you had one of those “I really should sort this” moments over Christmas, act on it now:

👉 Book a free Value Gap Call https://calendly.com/julia-129/find-profit-value-and-cashflow-in-your-busines-clone

We’ll look at where profit, cashflow, and value are being left on the table and spot the easiest wins first.

No fluff.
No pressure.
No January guilt.

If 2026 matters to you, now is the time for you to get this sorted out properly.

Happy New Year 🥂

10/11/2025

Most business owners think they can sell whenever they’re ready.

They can’t.

Just because you built a great business doesn’t mean anyone wants to buy it.

Not at your dream price - maybe not at 'any' price.

We’re in a buyer’s market now. There are more businesses for sale than ever before, and buyers can afford to be picky.

They don’t care how many all nighters you pulled. They don’t care that your blood, sweat, and tears are baked into the walls.

They care about one thing: can it run without you?

Because if your business only works when you’re there, it’s not an asset. It’s a job.

Here’s a stat that should make you sit up:
Only 20% of UK SMEs are successfully sold.
That means 8 out of 10 owners fail when they try to exit.

And yet, 70% of business owners are convinced they’ll sell one day.
That confidence gap is where dreams go to die.

I’ve seen it too many times - brilliant people who spend decades climbing the ladder, only to reach the top and realise it was the wrong ladder.

Don’t let that be you.

The old rules don’t apply anymore. Post COVID, buyers want systems, not stories. They want a business that runs like a machine, not one that collapses the second you take a day off.

So if you think you can wake up one morning, decide to sell, and cash out, you’re in for a shock.

Here’s what works instead:

Give yourself 2-3 years to get your house in order.
Step back from the day to day.
Build systems.
Train leaders.
Lock in customers and clients.

That’s how you make your business irresistible to buyers and how you protect your legacy.

Because legacy doesn’t just happen, you build it.

And if you wait too long, you won’t be selling a business, you’ll be shutting one down.

Time kills deals.
DM me EXIT and I’ll help you take control of yours.

09/10/2025

If your business is growing but feels harder than it should, you’ve outgrown instinct.
You don’t need another accountant. You need clarity.

I help ambitious founders understand what’s really driving profit, performance, and value across numbers, systems, people, and culture.

Because clarity isn’t about spreadsheets. It’s about leadership.

When we work together, you gain control, calm, and confidence. Your business becomes investor-ready, scalable, and prepared for a successful exit so you can move confidently into your next chapter.

If this sounds like you, DM me to start the ball rolling by booking your initial Clarity Meeting.

09/09/2025

That Hat Looks Ridiculous on You (and Other Leadership Truths)!

Last night I was celebrating my birthday at a local Mexican restaurant when someone handed me a sombrero. It was bold, bright and entirely over the top. I wore it for fun, but it made me stop and think.

In business, leaders wear all sorts of hats. Some fit perfectly, some feel uncomfortable, and some, if we are honest, look a bit ridiculous on us. Unlike a sombrero at a birthday dinner, these hats are not just for a laugh. They represent the roles and responsibilities that shape how our businesses run. The real skill is knowing which hat to wear, when to switch, and when to hand one over to someone else.

The Reality of Too Many Hats
Every leader I work with faces the same challenge: too many hats and insufficient clarity. At home and at work, we juggle commitments, deadlines, and expectations, and in business, the list multiplies: finance, sales, marketing, operations, compliance, client management, the list goes on.

As [PM Today]
(https://www.pmtoday.co.uk/the-many-hats-modern-business-leaders-wear/?utm_source,chatgpt.com)
put it, “leaders are often required to wear several different hats, each representing a critical facet of effective leadership.” That is natural, but it becomes overwhelming when we try to wear them all at once.

The cost of spreading ourselves too thin is high. Research shows that overwork and lack of delegation lead to “burnout, inefficiency, and missed opportunities” ([Intrepid FS](https://intrepidfs.com/entrepreneurship/the-pitfall-of-wearing-too-many-hats-why-business-owners-need-to-embrace-delegation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), 2025).

The Ten Hats of Business
Every business has a set of essential functions, which I call the ten hats. These include finance, operations, HR, sales, marketing, legal and more. The question is not whether the hats exist, but who wears them.

The strongest leaders do three things. They identify which hats their business genuinely needs. They make sure each hat is being worn by the right person. And they empower that person to wear it confidently, giving them the clarity and authority to deliver.

The Power of Delegation
Delegation is often the most challenging part. Many of us fall into the trap of believing that keeping control means keeping the hats on our own heads. However, the strongest results come when responsibilities are shared.

As [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2025/03/21/the-power-of-letting-go-why-delegation-drives-organizational-success/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) recently explained, “micromanagement stifles growth … delegating tasks empowers teams, boosts productivity and unlocks the true power of effective, trust-based leadership.”

For UK businesses, this is particularly relevant. As [BritWealth Business Insights]
(https://britwealth.com/uk/business/business-insights-uk/the-art-of-delegation-empowering-your-team-for-success-in-uk-businesses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
notes, “delegation, when executed effectively, fuels team growth, enhances productivity, and ultimately drives success.”

When the right people wear the right hats, work gets done faster, more effectively, and less stressful for the leader. That is how businesses grow and leaders regain their time and focus.

Your Turn
So here is my challenge to you. Think about the hats you wear in your business.

Which one is your favourite, the hat that feels natural and energising?
Which one feels uncomfortable, heavy or just does not fit, the one you would most like help with?

I would love to hear your answers. Share them with me, because often recognising which hats need adjusting is the first step towards building a business that runs smarter, not harder.

Conclusion
Whether it is a sombrero in a restaurant or the many roles you juggle in your business, the principle is the same. You do not need to wear every hat yourself. The best leaders know which to keep, which to share, and which to pass on.

So, which are yours?

27/08/2025

I was proud to be asked to contribute to the first in a new series from Allica Bank and AccountingWEB.co.uk, exploring the growing role of fractional CFOs.

In my own work, collaboration is at the heart of everything:

- With the FD Fusion team (Steve Darnell), providing fractional CFOs who harness the innovative models developed by VFD Pro (Daniel Plowright).

- Through the Business Growth Institute and Trevor Stevenson-Platt, supporting business leaders on the Build, Buy and Exit journey.

- As part of the proactive accountancy community at The Allen Group, led by Mark Allen and David Logan, bringing forward-thinking professionals together.

- And extending beyond finance, working with networks like the The Technology Supply Chain, founded by Richard Fallon, where like-minded businesses collaborate towards shared goals.

These partnerships are all about sharing knowledge, skill, and expertise so that business leaders can not only get investor-ready, but also achieve profitable, sustainable growth.

For me, that’s the real power of collaboration — creating clarity, confidence, and lasting success while enjoying the road to get there.

Pleased to share the article here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/fractional-cfos-on-the-road-to-becoming-mainstream

In a world as fast-evolving as ours, it comes as no surprise that finance roles are evolving.

14/08/2025

I was there on Wednesday morning, preparing for an online meeting, just like we have all done. I was feeling positive, as I was looking forward to the meeting to discuss the current changes and challenges in my industry.

I logged into Zoom just like I’ve done dozens of times, with no issues apart from the fact that I noticed that I had not reuploaded my backdrop. A recent software upgrade had caused my computer to bluescreen for two days. After reinstalling all my systems and software, my IT support fixed the issue.

So I can hear you thinking, what is so bad about that? Well, nothing.

What caused me momentary panic was that I was the host on the call and my camera decided that it did not want to work. Luckily the other person had not logged in yet. A panic call to IT support, they are on their way. Then I moved the camera and it decided to work. Phew….. IT support arrived and I was able to admit this time I had sorted out the problem. Usually they arrive, wave their hands over the keyboard, doing the same thing I have done. For them it always works… go figure. I have been told that I am not sympathetic to technology.

So back to the meeting all went well, it was a great success with doable actions for me penciled in for later that day.

This entire mini drama had me thinking. My clients and prospects have similar issues.

They need things done urgently and try really hard to sort it out themselves without any positive results. They are frustrated that watching videos and buying books does not help them at all.

What they need is secret sauce. The ability gained from experience and qualifications to understand what is needed and in what sequence.

You have all heard the story about an engineer who was called in to fix a machine. This was done in 10 minutes, and they handed over the £4k bill. The manager challenged the bill, as the engineer had only been in the factory for 10 minutes. The reason is £100 for the time taken and £3,900 for the knowledge and know-how that the expert has. If it had been easy, the manager could have sorted out the issue themselves.

Everyone is an expert in their own field. I get a real thrill from helping businesses achieve the success they seek and deserve.

Contact me today if you have a finance issue with your growing business, need to plan out a lucrative exit from your business, or need to get ready for the right investment.

We can discuss it if you need
- The tools and models to do it yourself
- Add me to your team so that we can work on it together
- Outsource it me and my team to do it for you.

Every cloud has a silver lining, so my catastrophe was avoided by taking a step back and calling in the right experts at the right time.

10/08/2025

This old post and article are still valid today. Having your own business can be very rewarding and freeing but you have to weigh up if it is the right thing for you.
You only receive the rewards that you work for so you must be doing something you love.
It is a short read so check it out.

3 essential considerations when thinking about leaving your job to set up your own business