Abid Ismail
London,City of London
Summary
Accomplished CFO with expertise in developing comprehensive financial strategies and leading M&A transactions. Proven track record in optimising revenue growth through data-driven decision making and investment analysis techniques. Skilled in managing regulatory compliance and engaging stakeholders to drive international market expansion. Committed to leveraging financial forecasting models to support strategic business objectives and enhance organisational performance.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work history
CFO
City & Guilds
02.2021 - 01.2026
- 150 year old, Trustee led, education charity
- International business, £160m+ T/O, similar to FTSE250 in governance and scale
- Commercial CFO responsible for: reporting & analysis, M&A, legal, property & facilities
- Business partnered with the CEO to increase profitability by 3x over my tenure whilst delivering consistent revenue growth
- Re-built the finance function and processes
- Led the sale of the Asia-Pac business which had c.£20m T/O
- Jointly led with the CEO the long term funding solution for the Charity which ultimately led to the sale to Peoplecert. This deal involved dealing with Regulators (Ofqual, Charity Commission), Customers, Employees and a competitive bid process which was 20 months from start to finish.
CFO
Airfinity Ltd
11.2021 - 02.2023
- Commercial CFO role helping to shape SAAS offering, Sales focus and internationalisation
- Business partnered with the CEO to strengthen management team and grow business offering
- Re-built the finance function and processes
- Responsible for Legal and HR
- Led fundraising process with existing investor
- High growth SAAS data business, serving Pharma and Government
- Series A high growth business100% B2B, with global revenue streams
CFO
Plentific Ltd
07.2020 - 11.2021
- B2B model which has expanded from the UK to Germany and soon to launch the US
- Commercial CFO role helping to shape SAAS offering, Sales focus and internationalisation
- Led and completed a $10bm Series C fundraise
- Led the acquisition of a complimentary property tech business
- Business partnered with the CEO to strengthen management team and grow business offering
- Re-built the finance function and processes
- Preparatory work for future fundraising
- High growth SAAS and marketplace property tech business
- Market disruptor backed by high profile European property tech VCs
Interim CFO/Non-exec advisor, various
07.2019 - 07.2020
- Provided advice and support to a number of early and scale up stage businesses on fundraising, commercialisation strategies, exit planning and finance function development.
- Companies include digital publisher (mumsnet), SAAS platform (Blippar) and energy start-up (Katrick technologies)
Non-executive director
Butternut Box
11.2017 - 06.2019
- Board advisor role for high growth online subscription dog food business
- Supported development of long-term business plan
- Supported in recruiting and development of finance and data team
Co-founder CFO, interim CEO
Eve Sleep Plc
11.2016 - 05.2019
- Highly commercial and operational CFO role – involved in product development, internationalisation strategy and exit planning as well as leading the Led £140m listing of eve on AIM in May 2017 – 6 months after joining
- Interim CEO (July 18 – Sept 18) when founder CEO stepped down
- Led the raising of a further £13m post IPO in Q4 2018.
- Business partnered with the CEO to strengthen management team and grow business offering
- Full responsibility for finance, legal and employee engagement
- Solid understanding of digital business operations and key KPIs (AOV, CPA, conversion, margins etc)
- High growth e-commerce retailer operating in the UK and France
- Market disruptor backed by high profile VCs
- Business model expanded from single product to multi product offering with increasing repeat rates
Chief Financial Officer
AXELOS Ltd (part of Capita Plc)
03.2013 - 11.2016
- Founding member of executive team and recruited with the CEO the full C-suite
- Responsible for all commercial, financial, legal and intellectual property matters
- Built from scratch the finance team and month end and forecasting processes
- Led on all Shareholder management matters (with both Capita Plc & Cabinet Office board members)
- Promoted to CEO in Jan 2016 (2 years after JV went live – 2.5 yrs after being in CFO post)
- Oversaw increase in EBITDA from £10m to over £20m within 3 years
- Integrating teams from different backgrounds (UK Cabinet Office vs FTSE 100 vs AXELOS new joiners)
- High profile joint venture between FTSE 100 company and UK Cabinet Office
- International accreditation business tasked with commercialising UK Govt developed IP
- Revenue growth from optimising existing IP and creating new IP/accreditations
Acquisitions integrations Director
Capita Plc
04.2011 - 03.2013
- High profile Capita group role advising on acquisition financial integrations and complex contracts
- Supported M&A team on assessing financial accounting and integration risks on potential acquisitions
- Supported Capita group sales team on accounting considerations for complex contracts
- Significant exposure and dealings with FTSE 100 CFO and Group Sales director
- Technical accounting on acquisitions and complex contracts
- Balancing technical accounting considerations with commercial targets on deals and contracts
- Acquisitive FTSE 100 outsourcing company with complex contracts
Assistant Director
EY
11.2003 - 04.2011
- M&A financial adviser on complex infrastructure and transport projects
- Sell side advisory experience with private equity (Privatisation of Leeds Bradford Airport)
- Restructuring advisory experience (Air Malta, Metronet)
- Complex contract negotiations with private sector contractors and financers
- M&A and project finance/PPP/PFI team within Ernst & Young
Pemberton Professionals
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Accounts production and Audit
- Accounts production and audit services for small and medium sized businesses.
KPMG
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Audit trainee
- Trainee auditor in the Media department working on mixed client portfolio Key clients
Education
Qualified Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), ACA -
BSc - Economics & Accounts
City University
Skills
- Financial strategy development
- M&A transaction leadership
- Financial forecasting models
- Regulatory compliance management
- Revenue growth optimisation
- Stakeholder engagement strategies
- Data-driven decision making
- Investment analysis techniques
- International market expansion
Timeline
CFO
Airfinity Ltd
11.2021 - 02.2023
CFO
City & Guilds
02.2021 - 01.2026
CFO
Plentific Ltd
07.2020 - 11.2021
Interim CFO/Non-exec advisor, various
07.2019 - 07.2020
Non-executive director
Butternut Box
11.2017 - 06.2019
Co-founder CFO, interim CEO
Eve Sleep Plc
11.2016 - 05.2019
Chief Financial Officer
AXELOS Ltd (part of Capita Plc)
03.2013 - 11.2016
Acquisitions integrations Director
Capita Plc
04.2011 - 03.2013
Assistant Director
EY
11.2003 - 04.2011
Pemberton Professionals
01.2002 - 01.2003
KPMG
01.2000 - 01.2002
BSc - Economics & Accounts
City University