Julia Wiechers

I'm so over being told "as a Director you should / shouldn't.." As a trainee accountant and then latterly as a senior professional, I've often encountered expectations about how I should behave based on my title. However, true leadership is not about fitting into a mould; it's about authenticity and embracing your unique style. Don't be afraid to challenge conventional norms and bring your own perspective to the table. Remember, it's ok to break the traditional expectations; stay true to yourself and pave your own path. Your individuality and creativity are what make you a truly exceptional leader. #Leadership #Authenticity

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One of the threats to producers in the UK Food & Drink Sector is supply chain disruption. This week the price of Arabica beans reached a 47 year high. Unsurprisingly customers will see this as prices on the shelves increase and packet sizes shrink but maybe there is more to it than meets the eye...are growers simply getting a fair price? Are we seeing social economics in action? To explore the market and seek insight Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers have once again launched their annual survey of F&D producers. To have your say, complete the survey here: https://bit.ly/4eZLhi6 #foodanddrink

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What Can learn in day 2 of the virtual GENCFO Summit . Join me the Visual CFO.

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Another episode is out! #3prongedpodcast

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In July 2023 the Government introduced a new alcohol duty regime which was supposed to simplify the rules so that all products (beer, wine , cider, spirits) were taxed on a single scale based upon percentage Alcohol by Volume (ABV). Interim measures did go some way towards grouping products within some broad categories. However talking to a wine merchant yesterday I learned that come 1 February 2025 the new system is fully implemented and every percentage of wine ABV is taxed separately on a progressive scale. While low alcohol wines below 12 per cent ABV may become marginally cheaper ( a few pence) which should benefit English Wines, those wines above 12 per cent will increase with those above 14.5 per cent ABV ( many Southern Hemisphere wines, Rhone and increasingly Bordeaux wines) will increase by 43 pence per bottle plus VAT, so no surprises there!. But as the wine merchant was saying this makes their work in keeping their wine list up to date as vintages and ABV's change more difficult. This change at the wholesale level will probably add £1 to a bottle at retail and £1.50 in restaurants. Why every time our government says it is simplifying things do things get more complicated and more expensive?

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Malin Björne Communication is more than a tool—it’s a catalyst for meaningful change. 🌍✨ 1️⃣ At its core, communication shapes perspectives, builds awareness, and inspires collective action. 2️⃣ In tackling the climate crisis, it has never been more crucial to use our creativity to inspire hope and drive solutions. 💡 3️⃣ Facts and data give credibility, but stories give those facts meaning, connecting people to the urgency and possibility of change. 📖 4️⃣ As communicators, we must walk the fine line between urgency and optimism—motivating action without fostering despair. 5️⃣ Climate communication isn’t just about raising awareness; it’s about turning passive understanding into active engagement. 🔄 6️⃣ The textile industry’s mission to halve emissions by 2050 is ambitious, but through communication, we can create a sense of shared responsibility. 👕 7️⃣ Pairing evidence-based science with creative storytelling ensures our messages resonate deeply and authentically. 🧬✨ 8️⃣ Communication may not single-handedly change the world, but it can ignite the conversations and ideas that lead to collective action. 9️⃣ In every industry, our skills as storytellers and creatives have the power to bridge the gap between awareness and action. 🌟 🔟 The challenge is big, but so are our ideas—and together, we can create a sustainable future. Let’s use creativity to inspire, inform, and empower people to act. Now is the time to harness our skills for the planet. 🌏💪 #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Storytelling #SustainabilityCommunications #CreativeImpact #InspireChange #CollectiveAction #ClimateCrisis #HopeAndAction #SustainableFuture #CommunicationForChange #SustainabilityGoals #TextileInnovation #CAROHITUPADHYAYA

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What’s the point in a board meeting if you’re constantly in touch with your management team via Teams/Slack and meet once a week for a catch-up? (primarily aimed at £1mm-£15mm companies) 🚨 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 There are things that are “urgent” and “important” Management teams spend their time working “in” the business, constantly dealing with sales/operations/marketing/staff etc - these things can’t be ignored because they have immediate negative consequences. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁. Strategic initiatives, process improvements and working “on” the business have massive long-term benefits, but are easy to deprioritise since they don't show immediate results. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 A recurring structured monthly board meeting does two things: 1. Commits you and the management team to working “on” the business every month 2. Provides structure so the meeting isn’t just an extended operational firefighting session You’re probably going to need around 3 hours to cover everything. 🤝 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 Here's an example of a structure you could start with: • Welcome - Everyone focus    • Minutes Review - What got done and what didn't?    • CEO - Key strategic initiatives review    • Financial Review - Full financial analysis • Sales & Marketing - New customer contracts, marketing campaign performance etc. • Operations & Staff - Operations review, recruitment and staff feedback • AOB - Any other business • Close - Put date of next meeting in calendar A detailed summary of the meeting's key points and action items should be distributed < 72hrs after the meeting, while the discussion is still fresh in people’s heads. AI can help here - Fathom - AI Meeting Assistant or Fireflies.ai are good. 🎁 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 You can't make good decisions without data. Have a look at the example board pack I've attached from our friends at Fathom A board pack shows an analysis of your business and contains all the key data you want to see, and importantly, it's easy to understand. At the end of the day, you're in business to make money. The financial analysis forms the backbone of the board pack and has a detailed performance review, focusing on cash flow and where to spend money. You 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 to have up to date finance info We then pull through non-financial data from sales/operations/marketing, etc, and include in the report for analysis. The board pack is sent a few days prior to the meeting for everyone to review. 😴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 Prioritise time for a board meeting to work on important stuff and really push your business forward. I build board packs like the one attached and deal with the high-level finance stuff - DM if you need help 😉 ----- ♻️ Repost if you found this content useful 👍 Like or comment and you'll see my posts more often

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📊💷 UK Business Owners: Keep Your Finances Clean and Taxman at Bay Separate personal and business accounts = tax headache prevention 🙌 ✅ Easier tax reporting ✅ Clear for HMRC ✅ Claim all business expenses ✅ Avoid costly mix-ups Plus your accountant does not have to see all your personal spend! So whether you're a sole trader or Ltd director, this simple step can save you time, stress, and potentially money! #UKBusiness #TaxTips #SmallBusinessAdvice

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We Should Have Already Overtaken Waitrose, Says CEO Of M&S Stuart Machin, CEO Marks & Spencer, says he has Waitrose firmly in his sights after market share rankings show the chain is closing in on its upmarket rival. Latest NIQ shows M&S share up from 3.4% to 3.6% in 12 months via improved product range and price competitiveness. In contrast, Waitrose share remained at 3.8%. Speaking to the Telegraph re strong annual results, Machin said: “You could argue we should have overtaken them [Waitrose] already. I might even be arguing that internally here.” Despite its recent success: “We’re on track. But it doesn’t mean we’re done” Machin is into the details, i.e. “a fresh breakthrough in the store’s breakfast offering appears to draw more job satisfaction than last year’s profit number”. He said: “Our director of product development has just brought me up what she’s calling the ‘Stuart breakfast smoothie’. We’ve got the right cinnamon levels now. The dates are right. The texture’s right. “That doesn’t mean I sign off every single product, but I like to have a view” Later this year, the same approach will deliver an overhauled pizza range. “I didn’t think our pizzas were good enough. They were good versus everyone else, but how do you get the best pizza in the country?,” said Machin. The chain’s premium ‘Gastropub’ ready meal line will also be relaunched for its 20th anniversary in September. When in direct charge of the food business, Machin began a radical overhaul by buying its biggest logistics provider, Gist, for an initial fee of £145m, and taking control of its supply chain for the first time and launched a new forecasting and ordering system. “I did the easy bit,” he told the Telegraph. “I just did the deals to get it in. Now the team has got to make it work. “In five years, when we’ve sorted out our networks, our supply chain, better ordering systems, better availability, less waste, less working capital, it will be quite exciting for us.” Meanwhile, re Ocado, Machin admitted it has underperformed. Tim Steiner, Ocado’s boss, has said M&S is wrongly withholding performance payments and has threatened legal action. After delivering a £37m loss to M&S last year, Machin believes nothing is due. Looking ahead, the M&S CEO said he wants the retailer to focus more on service in the next 12 to 18 months. “A bit more selling and serving,” he said. NamNews Implications: •          M&S appear to regard logistics issues improvement as a path to improved share at Waitrose expense •          (So much for the low hanging fruit) •          Waitrose should be more concerned at M&S innovations in terms of product development.. •          Meanwhile Tesco Finest are unlikely to remain on the sidelines.. •          (The Ocado spat is something that benefits no one   •          With apologies to British Transport Police: “Seen it, Said it, Sort it..!!! “ ) #M&S #Waitrose #Ocado

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🌟 Rediscovering My CliftonStrengths 🌟 It was recently suggested that I should retake the CliftonStrengths assessment, something I last took back in 2016 and it’s been really interesting to see the shift in my top five strengths since then but not overly surprising either as the last 8 years I’ve been on an incredible growth journey. This redoing this test has been incredibly insightful and has given me a fresh perspective on my personal and professional growth. My new top five strengths are: 1. Arranger: I thrive in dynamic environments where I can organize and coordinate resources to achieve the best outcomes. 2. Futuristic: I am inspired by the future and what it could be, always looking ahead and envisioning possibilities. 3. Achiever: I have a constant drive for accomplishing tasks and reaching goals, which keeps me motivated and productive. 4. Maximiser: I focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence, seeking to transform something strong into something superb. 5. Strategic: I have the ability to sort through the clutter and find the best route, making decisions that lead to effective and efficient outcomes. It's fascinating to see how these strengths have evolved over time and how they align with my current role as a Group Financial Controller. Embracing these strengths means I feel empowered to lead with confidence and continue to foster collaboration, and drive impactful results not just within finance but across the business. #CliftonStrengths #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #SelfDiscovery #StrengthsFinder #WomensLeadership

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What do you give me that a Management Accountant doesn’t? This is a question I’m often asked. I say that a Management Accountant will put the figures together, whilst a Finance Director will pull them apart. A Management Accountant will present data telling you how the company has performed. A FD looks at the figures and will try to determine what it means for the future, suggesting actions the company needs to take and the direction it should be going in. A good FD will not look at the figures in isolation but at the whole business and what the impact of changes will be. Having a trusted advisor, to tell you what the figures mean, to help you understand the impact of decisions and to work with you to determine the course the business should be on, working on solutions right away, is invaluable. The FD can also oversee the finance team, talk to Banks, HMRC, monitor HR and IT and so on, meaning you don’t have to. For a lot of small, growing, businesses this role can be done on a Part-time basis, meaning you benefit from the valuable financial expertise and direction, help and insight of a FD but at a fraction of the cost. Ultimately using a FD gives you knowledge about your business and that most precious of commodities, time. Time to work on what you do best – Promoting your business. #SME #Growth #Profit #Cashflow #FractionalFD #FinanceDirector

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FD Solutions and Accounting budget busting advice – How to legally recruit employees without paying employers national insurance. Solution – use part-time fractional outsourced employees for senior professional positions such as finance directors, HR, marketing and sales. 👏 The majority of businesses with an annual turnover below £6m are unlikely to require these services full time and if they were recruited are likely to spend a significant amount of time carrying out more junior tasks to make up the time. Additional benefits - 🟠 No recruitment costs 🟠 No onboarding or training costs 🟠 Access to highly experienced and skilled individuals 🟠 Tailored service to suit business need. Join the many satisfied clients who have already experienced the benefit of using fractional employees. Fractional Employees 1 Rachel Reeves 0 😀 #fractionalcfo #fractionalfinancedirector #outsourcedfinancedirector #cashforecast #cashflow #businessgrowth

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