Streamline and Elevate Your Finance Function
Is Your Finance Department Delivering The Performance And Strategic Value Your Organization Demands?
Too many Finance teams are constrained from delivering real value by outdated systems, fragmented processes and under‑utilized talent.
Fragmented operations and siloed processes drain time and prevent Finance from focusing on insight and strategic priorities.
Outdated and poorly integrated financial systems limit access to timely, accurate financial information.
Incomplete assimilation of business acquisitions and lack of real‑time metrics reduce agility and hinder leadership decision‑making.
Persistent performance roadblocks undermine team engagement, retention, and Finance’s ability to serve as a trusted partner.
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT:
Your Finance team can't operate efficiently, scale effectively, or provide the strategic support your business needs.
THE RESULT?
Eroded departmental credibility, frustrated business partners, disappointed leadership and disengaged teams.
AND YOU'RE FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE BECAUSE...
You don't have the in-house expertise to holistically diagnose the issues and resolve them, so you can maximize capability.
I Fix Finance Department Problems.
I help senior Finance leaders elevate their department's capability by unlocking the full potential of their people, processes, and technology.
I am a Finance Transformation consultant. My services are designed to help senior Finance leaders streamline operations, modernize systems, and elevate the Finance function – so their team can perform at peak capability and deliver trusted, strategic support to the business.
I help you strengthen Finance by design, so you can position your team at the heart of strategic decision-making and consistently delivering the clarity leadership needs.
Here's How I Do It:
You may be struggling with complex problems and bottlenecks in Finance that impede your department's performance.
But overarching these seemingly disparate issues is often a common Core Constraint.
It’s the ONE thing holding your department back more than anything else…the 5% that blocks the 95%.
THE SOLUTION??
Eliminate the Core Constraint and
Unleash Peak Performance by Harmonizing the
Three Pillars of Finance Transformation: People, Processes, and Technology.
Your Core Constraint is like an untreated illness: until you address it, you're stuck with the symptoms.
Trouble is, each Finance department suffers from its own specific Core Constraint - which isn't always easy to find.
You're too busy anyway. Plus - let's be honest - when you're in it, you can't see the forest for the trees.
My experienced eyes can diagnose what's ailing your department, and help you fix it.
My Strategic Roadmap provides you with the path to
your custom Operating Model, which will
transform your Finance department into a high-performing strategic partner that is
people-led, process-driven and technology-supported.
What You Get With Optimized Design Of Your Finance Function
A trusted, on-demand Finance function that supports your business units and your growth imperatives - and is ready for whatever comes next.
End-to-end visibility across integrated processes and systems, enabling faster, better-informed decisions - and keeping stakeholders happy.
A practical, repeatable, Operating Model that slashes manual work, closes gaps, scales with the business, and maximizes team strength.
Why Trust Me To Help You Elevate Your Finance Function?
Because I've Been Fixing Finance Department Problems For Over Two Decades.
I'm Kathryn Birchwood, and I help senior Finance leaders to streamline operations and transform their departments into higher‑performing teams.
As a former Controller, I've run a Finance department, so I know your pain first-hand:
The quiet paranoia over spreadsheet reporting risk… irritation with inefficient processes and workarounds…frustration with systems unfit-for-purpose…and the soul-destroying grind of a month-end that doesn’t seem to end – to name a few.
And for the better part of 25 years, I've worked with Finance leaders in multiple organizations, equipping teams with greater execution capability, providing practical solutions to their greatest challenges and driving operational excellence.
So I understand your headache...and I also know how to cure it.
I can help you position your team to be the proactive, agile strategic partner that is indispensable to your organization.
Don't Just Take My Word For It.
Take It From Some Of The People Who Have Worked With Me:
I engaged Kathryn’s services to help us to streamline our Finance department operations. Her systems knowledge is first-rate and she quickly enabled us to improve both our processes and systems utilization, and to shorten our reporting timeline. Kathryn is an absolute joy to work with. She is diligent, very knowledgeable and works well with everyone. She continued on to assist with several other projects, as she is both adaptable and flexible and her thinking/problem solving skills were very helpful.
~ Victor Wells, Former CFO, Chemtrade Logistics
Kathryn was instrumental in consolidating our financial reporting close process. We had multiple accounting systems and she was key to integrating all of them in a seamless close process. Kathryn is a joy to work with and will give you an unbiased critique of your current systems and show you how to implement changes to make your financial reporting process as efficient as possible.
~ Lisa Ross, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
I first saw Kathryn in action, as she translated complex issues into a practical end game. She thinks 'systems' and I was so impressed that I asked her to join my team as a financial advisor and systems planner for a novel project. She quickly became a trusted advisor that could distill my headaches into straight forward solutions, providing validation and insight I could build on. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.
~ Carla R. Conkin, LL.B, Barrister & Solicitor
Are You Ready To Be Next?
Book Your Finance Diagnostic call.
Let's talk about your situation and how I can help you.
Transform Your Department Now
Here's How It Works:
1.
BOOK YOUR FINANCE DIAGNOSTIC CALL
We start with an outline of your current state, then we clarify your goals, key business drivers, areas of friction, as well as desired outcomes and urgent priorities.
2.
DESIGN YOUR STRATEGIC ROADMAP
A practical, phased approach to harness peak Finance capability, tailored to your unique context, aligned with your strategic goals and success criteria, with some quick wins to start.
3.
TRANSFORM YOUR FINANCE FUNCTION
Roll out, review and refine - and iterate. Empower your people for execution, measure performance and ensure sustainability and success.
Services
Strategic Roadmap To Your Future Operating Model
Your Operating Model is the framework that defines the future state of your Finance department. Together we custom-design one that aligns your People, Processes, and Technology into one cohesive system.
To get there, you'll need a Strategic Roadmap, your step‑by‑step plan to position Finance as a trusted partner to leadership.
People Empowerment
Work directly with Finance leaders and teams to shift from transaction processing to strategic advisory. This includes reviewing who-does-what, connecting people to processes, analyzing roles and responsibilities, and helping to develop a culture of excellence and the skills that empower finance professionals to add real business value.
Process Optimization
Redesign and streamline financial processes, workflows and general departmental operations, including external integrations.
The focus is on reducing cycle times, eliminating inefficiencies, and freeing resources, so Finance can be more agile in its response and support growth.
Technology Enablement
Guidance on selecting, implementing, and optimizing your ERP and other financial systems - including quality control on the deliverables from the chosen external system consultants.
Ensuring the seamless integration of analytics tools and Artificial Intelligence, the goal is to deliver real‑time insights, automation, and smarter, faster decision‑making.
Get Started Now!
Imagine How Different Your Department Could Be Next Year...
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