Amanda Brown, FD at The FD Centre in Kent (part of the CFO Centre Group)

Back in 2017, with over 25 years of FD board experience, Amanda started thinking about the benefits of a more diverse way of working. She was hoping for more flexibility – which would allow her to be around for her children. What is it they call it these days – being present?

It wasn’t that she was unhappy in her current role or that there was any big decision to be made.

Michael Burton, RD at the FD Centre in the North and West Yorkshire (part of The CFO Centre Group)

Back in 2018, Michael exited a small medical device business that he had set up with his business partner.  There were no hard feelings and the decision was theirs – they had set up the UK operation for an Indian manufacturer and had agreed on an exit plan for when they’d built it to a certain size.

Chris Willford, portfolio FD at the FD Centre in the Thames Valley
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

“Portfolio working allows me to keep close to the business I founded, whilst supporting other entrepreneurs and doing the things I love.”

Chris Willford joined the FD Centre back in 2016 after over 30 years working in FTSE 100 companies and the creation of a successful software business.

Chris Sparkes, Portfolio FD at the FD Centre in the West Country
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

“I was considering non-exec roles when I came across the FD Centre, which fitted perfectly with my FD experience.”

At the beginning of 2018, after a career in corporate and seven years working away from home, Chris started to search for a role that would allow him to redress the work/life balance we all strive for.

James Christian, Portfolio FD at the FD Centre in Yorkshire & Humberside
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

“I really enjoy helping business owners understand the value of the numbers, and life as a portfolio FD allows me to do just that.”

After 15 years working in the same company in a variety of roles including FD and Chief Operating Officer James craved an alternative lifestyle with more flexibility and the opportunity to work on more varied projects.

Steve Johnson, portfolio FD at The FD Centre in the Northern Home Counties
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Steve Johnson was an FD in the automotive and recruitment industries but always had the urge to be more entrepreneurial. He’d had enough of working for a corporate as he felt it was all he was thinking about 24/7.

“I was brought up around people who ran their own businesses so I thrive in that space.

Michael Citroen, portfolio FD at the FD Centre in the Thames Valley
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Michael Citroen is 59 years old and a 14-year veteran of the part-time portfolio job world. The former Group Finance Director of a large privately-owned company relishes the challenge and excitement of working with SMEs in his role as a part-time FD.

“The FD Centre is very focused on helping its part-time FDs to win new clients”,

Kate Wright, portfolio FD at the FD Centre
(part of The CFO Centre Group)

Kate Wright, previously worked as Head of Finance and Operations for a NASDAQ-listed company, but moved to a more flexible role as a portfolio FD, later-on joining the FD Centre, the largest provider of part-time FDs in the UK.

She was wanted to leave the corporate world, to work with Entrepreneurs and was willing to take a pay cut to do so.