We don’t just keep the books. We run your whole finance function.
From bookkeeping and VAT to management accounts, forecasting and virtual FD support, Rule29 takes full ownership of your finance function. You get better decisions, steadier cash flow and your time back.
One team owns every layer.
Full ownership. One accountable team.
Bookkeeping records the past. A real finance function explains the present, anticipates the future and shows what to change. Most accountants stop at compliance. We take responsibility for all of it.
Financial control
Accurate books, VAT, payroll, purchase and sales ledgers, and consistent credit control.
Financial visibility
Timely management accounts, KPIs and dashboards that show how the business is really doing.
Financial planning
Forecasts, budgets and cash flow planning, so there are no surprises.
Strategic finance
Virtual FD support, board-level insight, commercial advice and AI-supported forecasting.
Has your business outgrown its finance function?
- Management accounts arrive late, or not at all
- Cash flow is hard to predict
- You’re not sure which work is really profitable
- Big decisions still rely on gut feel
- You’re buried in finance admin
Finance Function Review
We assess your reporting, cash flow, forecasting, credit control and systems, then recommend the right fit: better reporting, virtual FD support or a fully outsourced finance department.
Ideal for businesses turning over around £1m–£5m with growing teams.
Compliance is only the starting point.
Most businesses don’t struggle because of one big issue. Small weaknesses build up over time. We work through four questions every owner needs answering.
Make “knowing your numbers” simple.
We run the day-to-day finance for you: bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and ledgers, then turn it into management accounts that arrive in time to act on, not months later.
Monthly management figures replace a once-a-year surprise, so cash and margin problems show up while they can still be fixed.
Your finance function →See what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Margins under pressure, growth harder than it should be, cash not behaving, too much reliance on the owner. Our diagnostics give you a structured view of where the business is leaking.
A 10-minute diagnostic produces a 5-page report on the seven areas to focus on first.
Explore diagnostics →Most people don’t plan to fail. They fail to plan.
Lean business planning, forecasting, budgets and tax optimisation, so your finances work for you. From funding applications to investor readiness, every plan is tied to the numbers.
A cash flow forecast and pricing review set the priorities for the next twelve months.
Business planning →A brain to pick, an ear to listen, a push in the right direction.
Virtual FD support, board-level insight and business mentoring from advisers who have run businesses themselves. We stay on your side and hold you to what you said you would do.
Regular reviews turn the plan into actions, with progress measured against the numbers.
Mentoring & coaching →Accounting and advice, under one roof.
In-house experts in management accounting, tax and business coaching. Open each layer to see what’s included.
01 Outsourced finance departmentWe take full ownership of your finance function.
For growing SMEs that have outgrown basic bookkeeping. We become your finance team, from daily transactions to board-level insight, scaled to your size and complexity.
Outsourced finance department →- Bookkeeping, VAT, payroll & ledgers
- Credit control
- Management accounts, KPIs & dashboards
- Forecasts, budgets & cash flow
- Virtual FD support
02 Business accountingCompliance done properly, explained simply.
Full accounting solutions for limited companies and sole traders, and a smooth switch if you are moving from another accountant.
Business accounting →- Corporation tax & VAT returns
- Year-end accounts
- Bookkeeping & payroll
- Switching accountants made easy
03 Business planningAgile, data-driven plans that drive growth.
Lean business planning with deep expertise, from start-up plans to funding and investor readiness.
Business planning →- Lean business plans
- Forecasting & scenario planning
- Funding & investor readiness
- Start-up support
04 Advisory & mentoringSee where to focus, and get help to act on it.
Independent reviews that show where profit, value and control are being lost, plus mentoring that turns findings into results.
Business advisory →See the business clearly before you fix it.
A structured view of performance, risk and financial capability, so you know what to improve first.
No credit card. 100% confidential. Your report arrives within minutes.
Run the numbers yourself.
Free calculators built for the decisions owners face every month. No sign-up needed.
Our clients are like family.
“The support I have received from you has been invaluable and without you, I would still be muddling through.”
“I have developed a healthier business-focused attitude to ‘GET STUFF DONE’. I would recommend John Olivant to anyone in business.”
“Success only comes with DOING. John makes sure that you do what you said you’d do.”
A clear first step, then the next.
Choose a stage to see what happens.
Start with a Finance Function Review or the free diagnostic.
We look at your reporting, cash flow, forecasting, credit control and systems, or you complete our 10-minute Fast Business Diagnostic.
YOU GET / A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT WORKSA short conversation to check we’re a fit.
We talk through the findings, online unless you would rather meet in person, usually within a day or so.
YOU GET / FREE CONSULTATIONAgree the right level of support.
Better reporting, virtual FD support or a fully outsourced finance department. We recommend what fits your size and ambitions, nothing more.
YOU GET / AGREED SCOPE & PRIORITIESWe run your finance function.
We take responsibility for the numbers, the reporting and the forecasts, with regular reviews and an adviser on your side as the business grows.
YOU GET / ONE ACCOUNTABLE FINANCE TEAMThinking worth acting on.
The practical details.
What does taking over our finance function involve?
We take responsibility for your finance, from day-to-day bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and credit control through to management accounts, forecasts and virtual FD support. The scope is agreed after a Finance Function Review, so you get the level of support that fits.
Is it right for a business of our size?
It suits growing businesses turning over around £1m–£5m with expanding teams. Very early-stage start-ups, or businesses that only need annual accounts, are usually better served by our accounting service.
Can you take over from my current accountant?
Yes. We handle the switch, including contacting your previous accountant for the information we need, so there is minimal disruption.
Is the first consultation really free?
Yes. It is an online conversation unless you request otherwise, with no obligation to go further.
What’s the difference between accounting and advisory?
Accounting keeps you compliant and informed. Advisory uses those numbers to improve pricing, cash flow, value and growth. Many clients use both.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Everything you share is 100% confidential and is not shared with third parties.
Tell us where you want the business to go.
Arrange a free business consultation. It’s held online unless you’d prefer to meet.
Online consultation unless otherwise requested.