Andrew Crealy, Managing Partner - FifthEagle
Running a business is hard. Every week, owners juggle three priorities that determine performance - finding and keeping the right people, winning the right work at the right margin, and managing the financials. The last one is often where the biggest risks hide. On paper, the numbers might look fine, but cash feels tight, reports arrive late, and decisions are made without the full picture.
The most common blind spot is the gap between profit and cash flow. They’re related, but they tell different stories. Profit shows performance; cash flow shows survival. Many profitable businesses still experience cash pressure because of timing - debtor days that stretch, tax instalments that arrive unexpectedly, or expenses that don’t align with receipts. A 26-week rolling cash flow forecast, updated weekly, connects the P&L, balance sheet and cash position so owners can see what’s coming before it happens.
As businesses grow, instinct alone isn’t enough to guide decisions. Governance provides the structure and rhythm needed to manage complexity — weekly performance reviews, fixed month-end timetables, and management accounts with commentary. These disciplines keep everyone accountable and allow leaders to act early rather than react late. Without them, small issues can become expensive surprises.
This is where fractional expertise makes a difference. Having part-time senior capability - a CFO, GM or HR lead - gives mid-market businesses access to the same level of commercial insight as larger firms, without full-time cost. Fractional leaders build better reporting rhythms, strengthen governance, and reveal the issues owners can’t always see inside the day-to-day. It’s not about outsourcing responsibility; it’s about bringing perspective and experience to help the business operate with clarity and control.
“Profit shows performance. Cash shows survival. Governance shows control. Capability keeps it all working.”
When these elements align - supported by the right expertise at the right time - business owners gain the headspace to lead, not chase.
For a practical reference, FifthEagle has developed a Financial Blind Spot Checklist to help business owners review their reporting rhythm and identify where improvements can be made.
