The image shows a wooden surface with a row of six round, bite-sized chocolate truffles, each coated in various toppings like chocolate, nuts, and sprinkles. The background is blurred with hints of greenery.

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The image shows the edge of an underground station platform with the words

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

Non-Executive Director

Why Governance and Accountability Break Down in Growing SMEs

Jul 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM 7 min read

Business owner and finance advisor reviewing cashflow forecasts and financial models in a professional office setting.

Finance Director

Cashflow Forecasting for SMEs: The Three Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

Jun 29, 2026 8:00:01 AM 13 min read

Business owner and external adviser discussing operational improvements and hidden growth opportunities within a warehouse facility.

CFO

Why Business Owners Often Can't See Their Biggest Opportunities

Jun 22, 2026 3:17:02 PM 10 min read

What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

For over 20 years, Secantor has worked with hundreds of SME businesses, helping them overcome challenges and achieve growth. This guide outlines the practical strategies and essential practices that every owner should implement to drive their business forward.

Learn what works and start making meaningful progress today.

Simply confirm your details on the form provided to get instant access to your free copy!

Free Business Review

No two businesses are alike, which is why our approach starts with understanding your unique story.

Here's how it works:

Initial Chat: Start with a friendly conversation with one of our experts.
Onsite Visit: A couple of our team members will visit you to learn about your business firsthand and listen to your story.
Actionable Insights: We'll share valuable independent insights about your business based on our experiences.

This process gives you a clear sense of how we work and helps us match you with the right expert for your needs.

Book Your Free Consultation Today!

Curious about our impact? Check out one of our short case studies and see how we've helped businesses like yours succeed!

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

Paul Gibbins

Use the calendar to book a free 30-minute call with Paul and get clarity on your next steps

On the call, you’ll:

Identify what’s holding back your profit and growth
Gain clearer direction on your business priorities
Understand how to improve cashflow and performance
Explore practical steps to move your business forward

No obligation

30-minute call

Expert advice

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

Profitability is the heartbeat of any successful business. Ready to take your business to the next level? Download your free guide and discover 10 powerful strategies to increase your business profits today!

Inside this guide, you'll discover how to:

✓ Create a budget that works for you

✓ Identify profit hotspots (and tackle any losses)

✓ Maximise sales while keeping costs in check

✓ Master the difference between 'Mark-up' and 'Margin'

…and so much more!

Click the button below to get instant access to your free guide and start growing your profits now!

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Secantor provides expert financial and management support to SME owners and directors. Our commercially experienced team covers the following roles.

Non-Executive Director

Strategic support and experience to guide you as you make decisions and build value in your business. A NED acts as a sounding board for your ideas, improves business performance, holds you and your team to account and helps you achieve a successful exit.

✓ Strategic business planning

✓ Support strategic decision-making

✓ Set business goals and objectives

✓ Rejuvenate struggling businesses

✓ Manage growth effectively

✓ Implement best practice

✓ Sounding board for your ideas

✓ Set and communicate vision

✓ Hold you & your team to account

✓ Build an effective management team

Learn More

Finance Director

Expert financial leadership from a commercially experienced, qualified accountant. An FD will create financial plans, report your monthly performance against budget and interpret the figures to help you make sound decisions & improve profitability.

✓ Expert financial advice

✓ Interpret financial results a support decisions

✓ Develop & oversee your finance team

✓ Improve profitability & control costs

✓ Prepare management accounts

✓ Create 3-5 year financial plan

✓ Budget setting

✓ Source appropriate funding

✓ Cashflow forecasting & management

✓ Prepare reports & commentaries for your bank

Learn More

Operations Director

Strategic operational leadership to transform your people and business processes to improve efficiency and profitability. An Operations Director helps you build a strong management team, delegate operational actions and improve business performance.

✓ Develop strength in your management team

✓ Establish key performance indicators (KPIs)

✓ Hold people accountable to achieve results

✓ Process and quality improvement

✓ Help you delegate effectively

✓ Create clear job descriptions

✓ Identify and recruit talent

✓ Implement robust operational systems

✓ Establish clear goals and expectations

✓ Enable your team to achieve excellence

Learn More

“Secantor has been instrumental in helping us secure our future, bringing great insight, experience and expertise to the management team. Our Secantor Executive has integrated perfectly into our senior team and with a fresh approach and external perspective has helped us transform the business.”

Mark - Managing Director, Manufacturing Company

How Secantor Helped a £30m Recruitment Business at a Critical Time

“Secantor provided the senior business & financial support my fellow director & I needed at a very critical time for our company. I cannot recommend the incredible service we received highly enough”

CEO Of A £30m Turnover Recruitment Company

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

View Our Blog Posts

Non-Executive Director

Why Governance and Accountability Break Down in Growing SMEs

What is really causing the breakdown? Most owner-managed businesses do not have a governance problem caused by complexity. They have one caused by informality. Meetings do not happen with any real structure, or do not happen at all. Directors are managing…

Jul 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM

Finance Director

Cashflow Forecasting for SMEs: The Three Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

The Three Cashflow Forecasts Every Owner-Managed Business Should Have in Place Most businesses that run into cashflow problems are not unprofitable. They are poorly informed. The bank account looks reasonable in the morning but by Friday, after payroll, a…

Jun 29, 2026 8:00:01 AM

CFO

Why Business Owners Often Can't See Their Biggest Opportunities

How Being Too Close to Your Business Can Hide Profit Opportunities, Cash Flow Improvements and Growth Potential Most successful business owners know their businesses better than anyone else. They know their customers, products, suppliers, staff and market…

Jun 22, 2026 3:17:02 PM

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

Build Value In Your Business

Improve Operational Efficiency

Exit Your Business Successfully

Meet Our Experts

A dedicated business professional to become part of your management team

Our expert business executives help you unlock the full potential of your business.

Paul Gibbins

Director

Paul is an experienced adviser and business executive within SMEs specialising in profit improvement and development of high-performing teams.

Trevor Gibbins

Director

A very widely experienced company director and adviser to SMEs and entrepreneurs. Trevor acts in a variety of executive & non-executive roles for clients which also include Chairman, MD, NED, FD, Company Doctor and Mentor to Owners & Boards.

Peter Laurie

Regional Director

Peter is an experienced company director, entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director who works alongside owner-managed businesses, helping business owners achieve sustainable growth, build long-term value and prepare for investment or successful exit.

John Dernie

Regional Director South West

John has 30 years of financial management experience within small, medium & large business including Whitbread and Sony Music, where he held a variety of roles including European Finance Director.

More About Our Team

Free Business Review

No two businesses are alike, which is why our approach starts with understanding your unique story.

Here's how it works:

Initial Chat: Start with a friendly conversation with one of our experts.
Onsite Visit: A couple of our team members will visit you to learn about your business firsthand and listen to your story.
Actionable Insights: We'll share valuable independent insights about your business based on our experiences.

This process gives you a clear sense of how we work and helps us match you with the right expert for your needs.

Book Your Free Consultation Today!

Curious about our impact? Check out one of our short case studies and see how we've helped businesses like yours succeed!

Free Business Review

Discover tailored insights for your business with our simple 3-step process: a quick chat, an onsite visit, and expert advice.
Book your free consultation today!

Test Global Modules

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

“Secantor has made a world of difference - we are now in control. It's a very cost effective way for us to have high level management and strategic help”

“An impact above all expectations. It is hard for me to express my gratitude for such a clear-sighted plan, so well implemented.”

“Secantor provided the senior business & financial support my fellow director & I needed at a very critical time for our company. I cannot recommend the incredible service we received highly enough”

Read Our Latest Case Studies

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

Why Governance and Accountability Break Down in Growing SMEs

Cashflow Forecasting for SMEs: The Three Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

Why Business Owners Often Can't See Their Biggest Opportunities

What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

Build Value In Your Business

Improve Operational Efficiency

Exit Your Business Successfully

Meet Our Experts

A dedicated business professional to become part of your management team

Trevor Gibbins

Director

Paul Gibbins

Director

John Dernie

Regional Director South West

Julia Branson

Senior Associate

Free Business Review

Free Business Review

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

Paul Gibbins

No obligation

30-minute call

Expert advice

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Non-Executive Director

Finance Director

Operations Director

“Secantor has made a world of difference - we are now in control. It's a very cost effective way for us to have high level management and strategic help”

“An impact above all expectations. It is hard for me to express my gratitude for such a clear-sighted plan, so well implemented.”

How Secantor Helped a £30m Recruitment Business at a Critical Time

“Secantor provided the senior business & financial support my fellow director & I needed at a very critical time for our company. I cannot recommend the incredible service we received highly enough”

Read Our Latest Case Studies

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

Why Governance and Accountability Break Down in Growing SMEs

Cashflow Forecasting for SMEs: The Three Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

Why Business Owners Often Can't See Their Biggest Opportunities

What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

Build Value In Your Business

Improve Operational Efficiency

Exit Your Business Successfully

Meet Our Experts

A dedicated business professional to become part of your management team

Paul Gibbins

Director

Trevor Gibbins

Director

Peter Laurie

Regional Director

John Dernie

Regional Director South West

Free Business Review

Free Business Review