Third FD’s clients

These examples highlight how we help and support charities to achieve financial efficiency, sustainability, control and fundraising wins with financial best practices, auditing, data analysis, insight, and more.  

Homeopathy Research Institute 

HRI is a UK-based charity dedicated to promoting high-quality research in homeopathy internationally. 

How we helped the Homeopathy Research Institute 

Rachel Roberts, CEO of HRI, was dealing with increasingly complex finances following the rapid growth of the charity. Ben has had a hugely positive impact on both Rachel and HRI, reducing the financial aspect of her workload significantly and helping the charity with some significant financial wins. Here's how:  

  • Supported year end accounting. 

  • Implementing investment vehicles, strategies and policies. 

  • Provides detailed monthly financial reports, insights and forecasts to the Exec team. 

  • Reports and presents to the board of trustees. 

  • Helped HRI achieve big financial wins assisting with funding applications.

  • Increasing trustee confidence in financial management.  

  • Reporting to major donors. 

  • Short and long-term budgeting and planning, setting sustainability targets and strategies.

  • Continued financial support and advice. 

"After only a few months of working with Ben, I am already feeling the tangible benefits of him joining our team as a part-time virtual FD. Ben has taken a significant burden off my shoulders, freeing up my time to focus on other areas of our operations and I would encourage anyone in a similar situation to consider his services."

Rachel Roberts, CEO

Edge Foundation

Edge is an independent, politically impartial foundation that inspires the education system to give all young people the knowledge, skills, and behaviour to flourish.

How we helped the Edge Foundation

Ben has been working with the Edge Foundation for several years as a virtual financial consultant, streamlining their processes and initiating calls for tendering systems. Ben is 'an integral part of the team' and continues to help the independent foundation excel. Here's how:  

  • Identified ways to streamline and improve the foundation's financial efficiency through budgeting, process, and financial control implementation.  

  • Initiated tendering processes to ensure maximum value for money from investment and audit partners.  

  • Creating new investment structures, working closely with finance and audit committee. 

  • Ongoing financial consultancy support, responding quickly to internal and external queries. 

  • Lead on annual financial audit. 

  • Setting and implementing long-term sustainability strategies with the team.

"I have worked with Ben for a number of years. During his time with us he has quickly established a great rapport with the team, he is incredibly responsive to queries both internally and externally, providing a first class service. He has also identified a number of ways to streamline and make the business more efficient, initiating tendering processes where applicable to ensure that we are getting maximum value for money from our partners. Although Ben is a consultant, it feels like he is an integral part of the team; I can not recommend him highly enough."

Alice Barnard, CEO

aVaxziPen

aVaxziPen's innovative vaccine delivery platform aims to improve access to vaccines by removing the need for frozen storage and enabling easier distribution and deployment. 

How we helped aVaxziPen  

COO of aVaxziPen, Liz Eagling-Vose, recruited Ben as a virtual finance director to support with managing the spend of funding income in the most efficient way possible. This was achieved through planning, strategy and objective setting, financial analysis, and introducing best financial practices, auditing, and forecasting. Here's how:  

  • Reviewed and updated processes within the finance department, automating working methods to help streamline practices.   

  • Analysed spend in the company, finding operational efficiencies. 

  • Lead on a well-executed financial audit in record time.  

  • Monthly MI and forecasting, leading on annual budget process and developing long-term strategy and KPIs. 

"Ben brings a calm reassurance, supports anyone he works with and has the ability to work across all levels in the organisation. He is reliable and always available to support when needed. He has a wide range of skills, and I'd recommend him to support your business with any financial support."

Liz Eagling-Vose, COO

What other Third FD clients say about us…

"Ben has been a source of great help for FORT as he built our initial forecasts, helped us to make sound financial decisions and provided both short and long-term insights. Later on in our journey, he has come back and given us an outside perspective, helping us to build on our strengths and improve our weaknesses. The biggest compliment that I can pay is that Ben "gets us" and is one of the team.” 

Tim Geraldi, Director of Systems & Marketing, FORT Builder’s Merchant

“Working with Third FD has given us the insight into our finances which allows us to make key decisions and plan for the future. The level of detail provided on an ongoing basis gives both the management team and external stakeholders, such as lenders confidence. The level of regular reporting has developed over time as the business develops and there has been extra support during critical times, such as business acquisitions and refinances. I would recommend Third FD and am certainly grateful to have their support and financial insight.”

Alex Monk, Chief Executive Officer, Black Bull Capital Limited

"We have rapidly expanded from a one-man-band to a practice with 12 advisers and six support staff. Our focus has always been on our clients' finances to the neglect of our own company finances. Having Ben come on board and being able to shine the spotlight on our company finances has been a godsend. It has allowed us to continue looking after our clients, knowing that someone else is looking after us."

Tristan Johnson, Director and Co-owner, McKenzie & Co Financial Consultants 

"Working with Ben has transformed the way we approach our financial decisions. Previously, we relied on our best guesses or gut feelings, but now we have a trusted advisor guiding us through key choices. Ben provides the reassurance we need and has expertly steered us away from decisions we might have regretted later.

He is incredibly easy to work with and always available when we need him, which is invaluable for our team. As someone who doesn't naturally enjoy dealing with numbers, I sometimes found the financial aspects of running our business daunting. However, Ben has taken the time to help me understand our finances in a way that suits me and my visual learning style. His ability to adapt his approach has made a significant difference.

I truly can't rate him highly enough—his expertise and support have been instrumental in our business's success!"

Holly Frizzell, Managing Director, Frizzell Wealth Management

Get in touch

We’d be delighted to discuss with you how we can help your charity or third sector organisation thrive. 

Please fill in our contact form to receive a quick response to your query, or email ben@thirdfd.com

Alternatively, you can call Ben on 07767 706216 during office hours (9-5pm). 

You can also message Ben on LinkedIn