Hive Financial provides fractional CFO services to ambitious, growing businesses, many of them technology-led and backed by founders or investors. Its founder, Matthew Grimsdale, acts as CFO across a portfolio of companies, giving each one senior financial leadership for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. The portfolio ranges from early-stage start-ups preparing their first accounts to UK subsidiaries of US groups.
Hive Financial
Practical, thoughtful and highly trusted advisers."
A fractional CFO’s time is divided between several businesses, each with its own year-end, tax position, investors and board. Strategic work such as fundraising, forecasting and board reporting is where Matthew adds most value, but it depends on the compliance and technical work underneath being right and on time.
Matthew needed an accounting firm that could act as a single, dependable partner across the portfolio – one that could understand the pace of growing technology businesses, cope with international structures, and deal directly with him and his team rather than going back to founders for every question.
Gilberts act as the accounting, tax and compliance partner for a number of Hive Financial’s clients. A partner oversees each engagement, supported by a dedicated manager who works day-to-day with Matthew and the finance team. Because we understand how Hive Financial operates, a new business can join the arrangement quickly, with onboarding, engagement terms and information requests handled in a consistent way.
Work is shared and approved digitally. Accounts and tax returns are reviewed and signed through our secure client portal, which suits founders who are often travelling or based overseas.
Year-end accounts and corporation tax. We prepare statutory accounts and corporation tax returns across the portfolio, planned around each company’s timetable and the needs of its investors and board.
R&D tax relief. Many of Hive Financial’s clients invest heavily in developing new technology. We support them through the R&D process, including the claim notifications HMRC now requires in advance. In one case, we turned around an advance notification within days so a client could meet a filing deadline that was about to pass.
Share schemes and international structures. Growing businesses often want to reward key staff with equity. We advise on option arrangements, including the more complex position where the UK company is owned by an overseas parent. In such situations, we work alongside the group’s overseas advisers, so the arrangement works in both jurisdictions.
Group reorganisation and remuneration planning. For owner-managed businesses that have grown through several companies over time, we advise on simplifying the group structure and putting in place a tax-efficient approach to directors’ remuneration.
Payroll and company secretarial. We run payroll, handle confirmation statements and help directors complete Companies House identity verification under the new rules.
Together, Hive Financial and Gilberts give each business a complete finance function. Hive Financial provides strategic CFO leadership, and Gilberts handles the technical compliance and advisory work behind it. Founders get joined-up support without having to coordinate separate advisers, and Matthew has one firm he can rely on as his portfolio grows.
If I were describing Gilberts to someone else, I would say they are practical, thoughtful and highly trusted advisers. They combine technical expertise with a genuine understanding of the people and the businesses they work with. They are supportive, but they are also independent and thoughtful, and that gives you confidence when you're making important decisions."
Founder, Hive Financial
We work with a number of independent finance professionals, providing the accounting, tax and compliance support behind their client work. If you’d like to discuss how we could support you and your clients get in touch.
To enquire about the business and accounting services that we offer in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and surrounding regions, contact our office today.
