WrightCFO Case Study – Solving Communication Breakdowns in Finance
We found £300,000 hiding in the gaps between departments
In the advertising world, everything depends on clear communication. Yet, we recently stepped into a London agency where the internal lines had gone completely silent. While the creative teams were winning high-profile pitches, the finance department was struggling to keep its head above water—fighting to meet VAT, PAYE, and even basic payroll.
On the surface, they were thriving. In reality, they were gasping for air.
The Investigation
When WrightCFO began looking into the engine of the business, the disconnect was staggering. Account managers were celebrating new wins but hadn’t passed the details to Finance. By auditing orders against invoices, we uncovered £300,000 in unbilled work within the first few weeks alone.
The cash was there; it just hadn’t been asked for.
We also discovered that “Credit Control” had become a passive exercise. Statements were being sent, but no one was picking up the phone to build the relationships that actually get invoices paid in the media industry.
The Boardroom Perspective
Our role often goes beyond the numbers. While listening to the internal pulse of the agency, we identified a significant strain on their largest client relationship. Because we raised this as a strategic risk at the Board level, the Chairman was able to intervene personally, patching up the relationship and securing the agency’s most vital contract.
The Courage to Act
Perhaps the most crucial part of being a Fractional CFO is handling the “uncomfortable” side of business governance. We encountered leadership decisions that were steering the company off-course.
At WrightCFO, we believe our job is to be the company’s best ally, which sometimes means being the person who points out what everyone else is trying to ignore. We worked closely with the leadership to fix these structural issues and re-establish a culture of accountability.
The Result
Today, the invoicing leaks are plugged, the “lost” six figures are back in the business, and the agency is operating with a level of transparency they haven’t had in years.
Is your internal silence costing you your margin?
At WrightCFO, we specialise in finding the human and digital leaks that slow down growth.
If you’re ready for a partner who looks into the corners of the business you might be missing, let’s have a conversation.
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