North West Finance Directors' Network Event

In these turbulent times of both political and economic uncertainty just how do you, as a senior finance professional, navigate your business and avoid the rocks?

We have assembled a panel of specialists each with a different skill set to help ensure your business remains resilient to the pressures of market forces, staffing issues, cash flow pressures and supply chain matters.

Strengthening the resilience of your business has never been more important and our panel will be sharing practical strategies to help keep you and your business in the best shape through the next 12-months and beyond.

Finally, we will end with a Q&A session where you will have an opportunity to direct your questions to our presenters.

About the FD Network

Our mission is to help finance professionals continue their personal development by drawing on the expertise of technical finance specialists, keynote speakers and through peer-to-peer learning and networking.

Who should attend?

CFOs, Finance Directors and Senior Financial Controllers of businesses based across the North West.

Our Panel

Jenny McCabe, Partner, MHA Moore and Smalley and our panel Chair for the event

Jenny is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience working in practices in the North West.

For many years she has provided a range of services, providing support and advice for owner-managed businesses, large corporates, and international groups, working with them on a day-to-day basis. Her clients span a wide variety of sectors and are predominately based across the North West. She is passionate about working closely with clients and building lasting relationships. Jenny is committed to helping clients achieve their business aspirations and ambitions.

Jenny heads up our audit team in the Northern offices, which is her main specialism alongside statutory accounts, and strategic planning. She has a wide breadth of knowledge and an innovative approach to ensure she can understand the needs of a business and provide solutions to meet those needs alongside the relevant compliance.

Sajid Sarwar, CFO, Multiple Businesses

Sajid has vast experience of working with large international businesses – turning them from loss making entities to profit making ones. He has worked with the UK division of a large US Corporation who manufacture interior automotive parts turning losses of £40m per annum into profits of £15m. He also worked with a large IT & telecoms distributor in the Middle East to fix, grow and sell the business to Private Equity. Sajid was also the CFO for Airbus in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Simon Turner, CEO, Freshfield

Simon is a highly experienced PR and communications professional and CEO of Freshfield, an award-winning North West PR and marketing communications consultancy.

He has over 20 years’ experience working with business owners, boards and marketing teams, helping them shape impactful communications strategies and campaigns.

Simon’s sector specialisms include business support, professional services, property and placemaking and public sector. He also helps businesses and M&A advisers develop communications strategies around mergers and acquisitions.

Philip Dyer, CEO, Healthy Leaders

Philip has a business career which has spanned over 30 years and a broad range of sectors. Whatever the business sector his focus has always been people, identifying the barriers to personal growth and development and how these impact on organisational aspirations and ambition.

Philip is regular presenter on the topic of wellbeing; having seen too many negative examples of the impact of running your own business – excessive stress; lack of time – his emphasis is on self-care to improve personal wellbeing and quality of life. If you feel good, you perform better; be that at home or work! In response to an overwhelming need, Philip founded Healthy Leaders in 2018 – focusing on wellbeing coaching to increase productivity and performance followed by Healthy Leaders Academy in 2021; an on-demand proposition accessible to multiple users in an organisation online.

Lila Thomas, Partner, FRP Advisory

Lila is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner with over 25 years’ experience and has been taking appointments since 2008. She provides advisory services across a broad spectrum of sectors, with particular expertise in agriculture and healthcare. She has also led a number of assignments in the construction and recruitment sectors, successfully securing the businesses and future operations.

With considerable experience in mid-market, owner-managed companies, Lila advises banks, asset-based lenders and other stakeholders facing financial distress, delivering clear options and solutions.

Running order

Arrive at 8.00am for breakfast buns, tea/coffee and networking. At 8.30am we will have the panel discussion followed by a Q&A session. The event will close at 10.00am.

Please note:

The organisers reserve the right to refuse admission to those businesses operating in competition with the organising parties. The event is for finance professionals and priority attendance will be given to those in finance roles.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to be added to our mailing list to receive updates regarding future MHA events and business and financial news updates. Your details may also be shared with the other organising parties AFR Consulting and Barclays but with no other 3rd party.