Case Studies
Case Snapshot #1
Fractional FD work often starts with reviewing financials or writing a plan, before the monitoring work begins. In one case, a farm wanted to diversify, essentially the aim was to develop a farm shop, petting area, café, and children’s play area. To be able to access funding and to envisage what the company wanted, CJM first developed the business plan and financial forecasting. By fully understanding the current and planned businesses, we developed revenue streams and worked with the architects to review build costs, and we were there every step of the way. Fast forward to 7 years later, they have 30+ staff and £3m turnover. It shows how getting the right people involved at the start (us) can truly plant the seeds for future growth…
Case Snapshot #2
What we really know is how to take ideas and make them sing on the page of a business plan or strategy document by including robust financial forecasts amongst other things. We didn’t know anything about the industry; however, we do know is how to plan, understand and develop financial forecasts for an accredited farm. This began an investment journey, where our plan enabled access to a near £1m grant and significant further private investment. This business is progressing and growing in many ways. We helped get it right first time…
Case Snapshot #3
Some people want to have a dram in the evening; others want to make it. A Distillery wanted to be a destination as well as selling a fine product. To fund the build of a micro distillery, takes significant investment and luckily, we have 12+ years of expertise in the drinks industry. Due to time required for aging, with whisky you need to complete cash forecasting to understand cash flow around a 3 year versus 10 years aging process. We don’t just plan for tomorrow, we can forecast out a ten-year plan by looking at cost to build, lending on the maturing spirit, then mapping sales to any marketing plans, and highlighting any need for working capital for the next several years and to fund those gaps. This is work that needs more than an accountant, it needed an FD who can quickly understand the plans, the person and the market – it needed CJM.
Case Snapshot #4
The drinks industry needs many support agencies. One company was looking to expand their warehousing capacity to stock from smaller distilleries. Whilst rental for a barrel is only a few pounds per month, with multiple pricing models, daily cask moves, growing cask numbers, complex client agreements and some casks planned to remain for 25 years, developing a cash flow is not a task to be taken on lightly. However, this is what CJM does best. We were able to produce the required financials to develop the cash flows – even for 25 years, providing access to finance which enables large-scale growth. To secure lending as a warehousing complex with a variable product needs dedicated support, takes skill and technical ability… This was found at CJM. A few thousand barrels later, the company continues to grow… Well, less the angel’s share.
Case Snapshot #5
To build houses better and faster within a highly regulated industry requires large scale complex production. It needs a company, a manufacturing unit and a considerable investment in resource, working capital and machinery, usually acquired by funding. To get funding you need a business plan and financial forecasts. We started with a man operating a simple shop, reviewed the business, what it did and how it did it, reviewed the costs of sales and the agreed margins with the National chains – taking all that information writing a business plan and developing financial forecasts to support successful access to funding. I met the owner last week, and they are doing great.
Case Snapshot #6
With a £2m company in facilities management, covid had just played havoc with turnover, making cash tight. Management knew opportunities were there but were unsure if they had the cash to invest in them. To get to the bottom of this, you need to truly know your numbers, a one-off discussion isn’t enough. But if you can’t afford a full time Financial Director and only have your accountant with no management information supplied, you need a flexible alternative, and that’s what we helped with. Two days a month CJM monitored their accounts, improved their cloud accounting system through optimisation to enable robust reporting. The level of analysis can fuel monthly discussions and becomes a base to manage cash and increase margin. Now with increased profitability, improved cash flow, and now at a £3m turnover, they realised investment in a CJM Fractional FD can be very profitable.
Case Snapshot #7
You always hear about the growth stories from business, but you hear less of the struggles. On the face of it you are a growing company, but underneath cash is bad, often due to a few late HMRC returns and creditors to pay. With one company, CJM came in, delivered due diligence on the accounts and ensured the management accounts were robust enough to be reviewed by future lenders. We supported a funding arrangement, stayed for 4 months, ensuring creditors were paid, monitoring spend, and developing robust practices. In October 2025 they were at £1.5m turnover company mid October. Without CJM, more than likely they wouldn’t be in existence. We supported them in going from a possible liquidation to a growing company in 4 months – CJM are with you as a trusted advisor through the bad and the good.
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If you’re a Scottish business in need of Financial Director or Financial Management services, at a strategic or operational level – get in touch to find out more about how we can support.