Pat Brown

A commercially astute and results driven Finance Director / CFO with over 25 years’ experience leading finance functions across UK and international SME and mid-market organisations, predominantly within recruitment, professional services and technology sectors. A qualified accountant (FCCA) with a strong record of delivering business transformation, operational efficiency and sustainable growth in both privately owned and PE/VC-backed environments. Extensive career spans financial management, strategic planning, corporate governance, business turnaround, M&A support and integration, the implementation of financial systems, controls and reporting frameworks, driving profitability, improving working capital and securing funding solutions to enable expansion.

A leader in building and developing high-performing finance teams, while also supporting and upskilling non-finance stakeholders to foster commercial awareness and accountability. Managing complex multi-entity, multi-currency structures and experienced in international operations, tax planning and regulatory compliance. Strong stakeholder engagement, trusted by Boards, investors, banks, auditors and advisers alike to provide clear, actionable insight and to partner effectively at strategic and operational levels.

Brings a hands-on, pragmatic approach to problem-solving with a track record of strengthening businesses, enabling growth, and delivering value creation.

Director of Finance and Strategic Partner - Block2 Consulting

(2022-04)

Technology consultancy – turnover £5m Building and managing technical teams to blue chip technology clients, implementing new delivery processes to scale and optimise project delivery.

• Partnering the founder and CEO as a start-up, designed and embedded systems, processes, controls and procedures to ensure client compliance, building a solid platform from which to scale.
• Driving sales performance from startup to £5m in two years.
• Driving working capital management, implementing a confidential ID facility to manage the contractor base.
• Budgeting, forecasting, management and financial accounts including financial statements and tax compliance.

Finance Director - Miramar Global

(2020-09 - 2025-03)

Executive Search Recruitment and L&D training / development business - turnover £10m Providing services to large global businesses across the UK, Europe, the US and APAC with offices in London, Zurich, Philadelphia, New York, Austin, Dubai and Singapore.

• Partnered with the Board to shape and execute the financial strategy, identifying investment opportunities to include L&D business and new locations in the US, Europe and UAE.
• Delivered financial modelling and commercial insight on pricing strategies, bids and tender processes to support revenue growth and margin optimisation.
• Led and developed the finance team with full accountability for management, statutory, and financial reporting across a multi entity, multi-currency group structure. To include various stakeholder management company vehicles.
• Oversaw group cash flow and working capital management, including the identification and optimisation of external financing solutions.
• Ensured the Board were regularly briefed with accurate, timely, and insightful analysis to support risk mitigation strategies.
• Collaborated with UK and international advisers to ensure effective tax planning, compliance, and regulatory adherence across jurisdictions.
• Maintained robust financial controls across global operations, ensuring governance and accountability.
• Developed and implemented group wide accounting policies, internal controls & procedures, driving consistency, compliance and efficiency.
• Led continuous improvement initiatives across finance functions, aligning processes with best practice and ensuring scalability in line with growth ambitions.
• Introduced management information and performance reporting frameworks, enabling real-time revenue, volume, and profitability insights by consultant, client, and business unit etc.
• Financial planning and analysis, overseeing P&L budgeting and forecasting, Balance Sheet and cash flow projections.
• Assumed responsibility for maintaining an efficient group legal structure, ensuring all entities were compliant and fiscally optimised.
• Contributed to the strategic design and implementation of finance-related systems to improve operational capability and support growth.
• Built and maintained strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, establishing a high degree of trust and professional credibility at all levels.

Finance & Operations Director - ITHR Group plc

(2018-09 - 2023-02)

International Recruitment Agency & Consultancy Group, Turnover £20m (200 contractors) Providing contract and permanent recruitment solutions across multiple brands and subsidiaries in the UK, Europe, Asia & Africa as well as technology consultancy services to large blue-chip companies.

• Led the transformation from a consolidated loss-making position to EBITDA profitability through strategic cost control, productivity analysis, and improved financial insight across the business.
• Successfully reviewed and negotiated a new £3m global invoice discounting facility, enhancing working capital and supporting global liquidity needs.
• Redesigned management information packs to deliver clearer, more actionable financial and commercial insights, directly supporting executive decision-making.
• Developed and implemented financial models to track work in progress, contract expiry positions, consultant productivity, and key trend indicators, supporting operational and strategic planning.
• Actively engaged the Group Board and senior leadership on financial performance, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, helping to identify risk areas and drive sustainable growth.
• Oversaw cash flow and treasury functions across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring optimal deployment of global cash reserves and minimising FX exposure and regulatory constraints.
• Directed audit, risk, and compliance functions including financial audits, HMRC liaison, and covenant management to ensure full regulatory and contractual adherence.
• Led a comprehensive review of the group’s corporate structure, advising on statutory simplification and assessing the impact on investment book value, intercompany balances, and tax exposure in collaboration with external advisers.
• Assessed emerging legislative risks and implemented strategic responses, including Brexit and IR35 planning, as well as the incorporation of overseas entities to support global expansion.
• Held operational accountability for HR, IT, premises, and contractor/client compliance, ensuring regulatory integrity and supporting business continuity.
• Managed stakeholder engagement across internal leadership and external partners, fostering trust and alignment with organisational goals.

Independent Finance Director / CFO - Various recruitment and business services companies

(2010-01)

Turnover start-up to £30m Providing outsourced FD/CFO services to SME business services organisations on an interim, fractional or project basis, with a proven track record in change management, business turnaround, acquisition modelling and integration, finance function reviews & transformation, process re-engineering and the implementation of funding facilities. Driving commercial performance, improving financial governance, and supporting businesses through periods of growth, restructuring, or strategic transition. Projects have included financial consultancy to UK and international SME owner managed recruitment businesses (in various sectors for contract, permanent and executive search income streams) as well as businesses in fire suppression systems, overseas property development and media.

Finance Director - Ravello IT & Enigma Executive Search (now Salt)

(2008-07 - 2009-12)

Recruitment Consultancy – Turnover £10m, EBITDA £0.8m (Contract & permanent recruitment)

• Strengthened finance function capability and internal controls.
• Implemented MI tools, budgeting and back-office integration processes.
• Managed year-end audits and cost base reviews.
• Review of working capital finance solutions and implementation of a new solution provider.

Group Financial Controller - FiveTen Group Limited

(2006-03 - 2008-05)

Global Recruitment Consultancy (buy and build strategy) - Turnover £125m, EBITDA £9m, 350 staff Brands included Greythorn IT (Technology), Marks Sattin (Finance), Laurence Simons (Legal), EMR (Marketing), Ortus (HR), Antal Russia (Sales)

• Initially providing pre-acquisition contract services (modelling and analysis work) to the VC (and incoming CEO) before joining the business on the date of acquisition - the role encompassed an FC/FD role for a UK subsidiary as well as the development of a group reporting function.
• Managing the transition of acquired (UK & International) businesses finance functions undergoing rapid change from an owner managed to a VC-backed environment.
• Setting up the group finance function – building subsidiary company and group consolidated reporting models.
• Providing commercial support to the subsidiary finance functions and MDs, driving through a culture of professionalism, leadership and responsibility.
• Due diligence review and business modelling on acquisition targets, acquisition accounting and integration planning from incomplete records, accounting systems, group consolidation and reporting tool identification & implementation and assisting in the securing of debt finance for the purposes of funding acquisitions.

Finance Director - Hydrogen Group PLC (formerly PRO Ltd)

(2003-12 - 2006-02)

Multi-Sector Recruitment Consultancy - Turnover £21m, EBITDA £2m, 130 staff (at the time)

• Provided strategic, financial, commercial, and operational leadership to the Board, overseeing a finance team of seven and managing reporting across 20 profit centres and four cost centres.
• Delivered timely divisional and group-level management accounts, budgets, forecasts, working capital oversight, and audit coordination.
• Partnered with divisional leadership to drive revenue (NFI) growth and cost control, enhancing accountability and P&L ownership. Introduced KPI driven performance frameworks for sales consultants, contributing to c90% NFI growth.
• Achieved c300% increase in net profit and improved profitability margins from 6% to 18% (2002–2005) through overhead reduction, operational efficiencies, and cultural change.
• Decentralised budget ownership to divisional leaders, fostering financial responsibility and control across the business.
• Led cross functional systems and process reviews, improving data integrity and operational efficiency, resulting in enhanced cash flow, reduced debtor days, and a more professional operating environment.
• Supported start-ups and associated entities in an FD capacity, developing financial infrastructure, controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Championed a high-performance, professional culture within the finance and wider back-office functions.

Finance Director - Antal International Limited

(1999-12 - 2002-12)

Global contract & permanent Recruitment (owned & franchise model) – T/O £24m, EBITDA £1m, 100 staff

• Strong commercial acumen thinking and acting internationally across cultural and geographical boundaries.
• Controlling the Head and Regional offices’ finance departments - enhancing financial systems, controls and processes along with the other back-office support disciplines within the group.
• Restructuring the HO Finance function – culminated in enhanced cost and revenue controls, management information reporting and working capital management to aid stakeholder decision making.
• Implemented the controls, procedures, processes and statutory requirements required to ensure that the Company’s newly set up international IT contracts division was successful regarding its candidate and client offering.
• Board reporting packs, statutory reporting and governance & audit management
• Replicating finance function policies and procedures into the newly established franchise network

Financial Controller - Computer Team Group Limited

(1990-04 - 1999-11)

IT Recruitment Agency (UK and European) - Turnover £75m, EBITDA £3m, 130 staff

• Exit planning - analysis, modelling & presentation work for exit (initially sold to Hutchinson Smith (VC backed) and then again to Hays).
• Financial due diligence on a target acquisition before taking control of their accounts function - incomplete records, integration planning, financial control & reporting systems, creation of shared finance service centre - restructuring and relocating finance departments and teams
• Group accounting systems implementation and development of a bespoke timesheet processing package.
• Divisional Management Accounting, analysis and presentation to the Board, FP & A - budget planning.
• Prior to the sale to Hutchinson Smith, as Contract Accounts Supervisor controlling accounting of over 400 contract staff across four offices and nine divisions.

Accounts / Payroll Assistant - KPSL (Hestair Computer Group)

(1988-01 - 1990-03)

Cost Accounts Clerk - Messrs. Sandberg & Co

(1986-11 - 1987-12)