How The Finance People
Provided Flexible Finance Leadership for TMT First
Discover Adam and TMT First’s Story
Scaling a business is never straightforward - especially when financial requirements evolve faster than internal capabilities. As the Founder of TMT First, Adam had built a successful device repair business over the last 17 years, repairing mobiles, tablets, wearables, and other emerging technologies.
However, as the company grew, so did the complexity of its financial management needs. What once worked in the early days was no longer sufficient.
“We were struggling to find the right person to help us. The business was changing rapidly, and our finance requirements were shifting too. The person we needed now was very different from the one we needed in the beginning.” - Adam Whitehouse, Founder at TMT First
Anita Tweats, CEO at The Finance People
“Tapping into senior financial leadership as & when required is a great decision for scaling businesses, avoiding the high cost of a full time CFO. They can also offer greater experience of the issues SMEs face due to working with various clients.”
Despite recognising the need for strong financial leadership, Adam wasn’t ready to commit to a full-time Finance Director. Instead, they needed a flexible solution—one that could scale with the business, offering high-level expertise without the full-time cost.
Adam had been aware of The Finance People, but it wasn’t until an industry event that the connection was made. A conversation quickly led to action, and The Finance People recommended Mark - a highly experienced Fractional CFO.
Mark’s expertise went beyond internal financial management—he was instrumental in securing invoice discounting facilities, an essential financial tool for a growing business.
Beyond strategic finance, Mark also became a mentor and leader for the company’s existing finance team, helping to develop their skills while ensuring the company had the financial clarity and structure needed to scale.
“One of the biggest challenges was the cost of recruiting someone of that calibre full-time. The Finance People gave us access to the best expertise in the area, on a part-time basis, tailored to our needs. It’s been plain sailing - stable, simple, and easy. Exactly what you want when working with any organisation.” - Adam Whitehouse, TMT First
Adam Whitehouse, Founder at TMT First
“Mark came in and immediately understood the business. His experience in finance meant he could quickly identify the challenges we were facing and, more importantly, the solutions to those problems. We needed invoice discounting, and Mark knew that space inside and out. He identified the right type of financing and had the industry connections to negotiate the best terms for us.”
Bringing Mark into the business transformed financial leadership, without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Immediate financial stability - The company gained an experienced finance leader who could navigate complex funding requirements and ensure financial health.
A scalable solution - Mark provided support as needed, with the flexibility to increase or decrease involvement based on business needs.
Clearer board-level reporting - For the first time, the company had financial insights presented in a way that the entire board and senior team could understand.
A stronger finance function - The in-house finance team benefited from leadership, training, and clearer financial processes.
Mark Wilcox, Fractional CFO at The Finance People
"When we started, they were facing major cashflow issues, limited financial visibility, and a balance sheet that flagged audit risks - but by redefining finance team roles, overhauling month-end and MI processes, and fostering a more open, accountable culture, we now close month-end with full analysis in 10 days, have secured £1m in invoice financing, implemented structured forecasting, and achieved three clean audit reviews."
Beyond just finding a financial expert, The Finance People provided a tailored solution - offering the right expertise at the right time, without the constraints of a permanent hire. With a seamless onboarding process, ongoing flexibility, and long-term strategic support, The Finance People proved to be the perfect finance partner for TMT First.