Fractional CFO & NED

Michael
Longman

Strategic Financial Leadership, On Your Terms

Board-level financial expertise and non-executive governance for ambitious businesses — without the full-time overhead.

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30+

Years' Experience

40+

Clients Served

£250m+

Capital Advised On

12+

NED & Board Roles

ACA - ICAEW | Corporate Finance, LSE £250M+ Raised Across 18 Transactions — Banks, VC, PE & IPO Fractional CFO & NED — Private, PE-Backed & Third Sector 30 Years across SaaS, Logistics, Manufacturing & Professional Services Based in East Yorkshire & Working Across the UK

About Michael

A CFO who thinks like a business owner

I am an ACA - ICAEW qualified CFO and Non-Executive Director with 30 years of hands-on financial leadership in high-growth technology and service businesses — across the UK, Europe, and internationally. Trained at KPMG and holding a corporate finance qualification from the London School of Economics, I bring both technical rigour and genuine commercial insight to every engagement.

My fundraising experience spans the full capital spectrum: bank debt, angel and VC investment, private equity, and public markets. I have personally raised in excess of £250M across 18 transactions — including leading the finance function of Scala Business Solutions NV, a global ERP software business that underwent an IPO on the Amsterdam stock exchange. That breadth means I understand what investors and lenders need — and how to present your business compellingly to each audience.

My career spans CFO and COO roles in businesses ranging from early-stage start-ups to £100M+ PE-backed groups, across sectors including SaaS, fintech, logistics, manufacturing, media and professional services. I have led multiple ERP implementations, driven M&A programmes including one with five acquisitions in four years, managed turnarounds, and built finance functions from the ground up in challenging international environments including Central and Eastern Europe.

Since 2022 I have focused exclusively on fractional CFO and NED work through The CFO Centre and independently — embedding alongside founders, owner-managers and boards across Yorkshire and the wider UK. I am currently serving as Fractional CFO & Board Advisor to DEA Aviation, Fractional CFO to Canning Conveyor Co. Limited, and as a Trustee of ALSG, a global medical education charity.

I am based in East Yorkshire and work with businesses across the UK, on-site or remotely, depending on what works best for you.

Strategic Finance Fundraising IPO / Public Markets PE & VC M&A ERP Implementation Exit Planning Cash Flow Board Governance FP&A Financial Modelling Turnaround International Finance ACA / ICAEW

What I Offer

Two distinct, complementary roles

Whether you need strategic financial leadership embedded in your business, or independent governance at board level, I bring the experience and commitment to make a measurable difference.

📊

Fractional CFO

Strategic financial leadership on a part-time basis — from 1–2 days per month to more intensive project-specific engagements. I embed into your team, own the numbers, and help you make confident, data-driven decisions.

🏛️

Non-Executive Director

Independent board-level oversight and constructive challenge. I bring commercial rigour, financial acumen, and governance experience to strengthen your board and give stakeholders confidence.

🚀

Fundraising & Capital

From investor-grade financial models to managing due diligence and negotiating term sheets — I help businesses raise debt and equity on the best possible terms.

📈

M&A & Exit Planning

Preparing your business for acquisition, merger, or exit. I work with founders and shareholders to maximise value, manage the process, and ensure a clean, credible transaction.

🔍

Financial Transformation

Upgrading financial systems, processes, and reporting to give leadership the insight they need. From implementing FP&A frameworks to building investor-ready management accounts.

⚓

Interim & Crisis Support

When your business faces urgent financial challenges, leadership gaps, or cash pressure — I step in quickly to stabilise, restructure, and rebuild a foundation for growth.

Track Record

Real engagements, real results

Three decades of hands-on financial leadership across aviation, manufacturing, technology, logistics and the third sector — in the UK and internationally. Below is a selection of current and recent engagements.

Aviation / Defence Technology — Current

Fractional CFO & Board Advisor — DEA Aviation Ltd

Providing ongoing fractional CFO and board advisory support to DEA Aviation, a specialist UK operator delivering intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and flight inspection missions across Europe and Africa. Working with the founding team on financial strategy, governance and positioning the business for its next stage of growth.

Manufacturing / Engineering — Current

Fractional CFO — Canning Conveyor Co. Limited

Embedded fractional CFO to Canning Conveyor, a 60-year-old family-owned bulk materials handling manufacturer based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, supplying global markets including mining, quarrying, waste management and the film & TV industry. Providing strategic financial leadership, MI reporting and commercial support to the management team.

Third Sector / Healthcare Charity — Current

Trustee — Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG)

Serving as Trustee of ALSG, a registered medical education charity that has trained over 156,000 clinicians across 42 countries in advanced life support techniques. Providing financial oversight, governance support and strategic input at board level to help the organisation continue its life-saving mission worldwide.

Logistics / PE-Backed — Recent

Group Finance Director — GBA Group (£75M turnover)

Board-level Finance Director for a PE-backed finished vehicle logistics group with 750+ staff across 14 UK locations. Key achievements included securing £30M PE investment, managing liquidity through COVID-19 to limit operational losses, sponsoring a £580K ERP and workforce management implementation, and securing c.£8M commercial mortgage funding.

Fractional CFO — Portfolio

Invoice Financing & MI Transformation — MIS Conversions

As fractional CFO through The CFO Centre, expanded the client's invoice financing facility limit by £1M, introduced enhanced MI reporting and forecasting that restored bank confidence, and sourced new financing facilities via a trusted funding partner. Acted as mentor to the Finance Manager and coached the MD to become self-reliant in financial reporting to external stakeholders — including presenting confidently to the company's bank.

Technology / SaaS — International

CFO & COO — eZ Systems AS (Europe / Japan / USA)

CFO and COO of an open-source customer experience management group with operations across Europe, Japan and the USA. Closed a €5M venture debt round, replaced the Group ERP within three months on budget (€160K), implemented a €2M cost restructuring programme and established corporate governance committees across the Group.

Testimonials

What clients say

Michael joined us at a moment of real instability, stepping in to replace a full-time FD. He brought exactly the gravitas we needed — steadying the ship, restoring confidence across the business, and rebuilding our relationship with the Company's bankers. His calm, authoritative presence made an immediate difference.

Andrew Canning, Managing Director Canning Conveyor Co. Limited

Michael provides exactly the financial oversight and challenge our board needs, combined with a genuine support that makes working with him a pleasure. As our Trustee, he asks incisive questions, holds us to account, and ensures our financial governance is robust — all while being a constructive and collegiate colleague.

Sinead Kay, CEO Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG)

Michael transformed our financing position — expanding our invoice financing facility, restoring our bank's confidence with sharper MI and forecasting, and opening doors to new funding partners. He became a trusted member of the team and a genuine mentor.

Mark Warner, Director MIS Conversions Limited

My Approach

Simple, structured, and personal

Discovery Call

A straightforward 30-minute conversation to understand your business, your challenges, and whether I am the right fit. No obligation, no pitch.

Scoping & Proposal

I outline a clear engagement — what I will deliver, how often, and at what cost. No vague retainers, no hidden fees.

Embedded Partnership

I work alongside your team, attending key meetings, owning deliverables, and acting as a genuine member of your leadership.

Ongoing Value

Regular reviews ensure the engagement continues to serve your evolving needs — scaling up or down as your business demands.

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