I am Tony Shafar. I am a Business Consultant, Portfolio CFO / FD & Leadership Coach with over 20 years business experience in senior leadership positions for FTSE 100 companies and smaller owner managed businesses. Throughout my career, I have also spent many years, advising Business owners on how to grow their business.
Below are some of the companies that I have worked for throughout my career
Professional Background
Finance & Management
After studying Accountancy and Business at Strathyclyde University, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant working for Grant Thornton in Glasgow. Upon qualification, I moved to their London office specialising in Corporate Finance.
From there, my career progressed with me working for a number of large organisations namely Morrisons, Virgin Media and Ogilvy (part of WPP) in senior finance roles progressing to Finance Director level.
I spent 10 years working as a Finance Director for Ogilvy where I was a key member of the senior management team, managing the P&L, negotiating with clients, and working alongside the CEO managing staff and other key stakeholders.
On leaving the Corporate world, I then become the CFO for a technology startup, after which I began providing services as a Portfolio CFO supporting a number of smaller organisations including owner managed businesses and technology start-ups in a part time capacity , where my role was very broad, not only including managing the finances and helping with fundraising, but also having operational responsibilities in helping manage the business.
Consulting & Coaching
As an experienced CFO / Finance Director, I have spent many years in finance leadership roles from large Corporates to SMEs and start-ups, across a wide range of industries including marketing communications, media & tech. I have a good understanding of how businesses operate and what is required to help businesses not only grow, but also thrive.
Throughout my career, I've partnered with business leaders and entrepreneurs providing insights and support needed to overcome challenges, create opportunities, and build resilient, thriving businesses. My approach as a consultant, but also a Fractional CFO, combines strategic guidance with financial acumen to help provide solutions to drive your business forward.
I also help support clients in a coaching capacity and am an accredited coach through the Association for Coaching, having completed a Diploma in Transformational Coaching.
My experience, through past close working relationships, has given me much insight as to what holds many people back from being a great leader, setting and achieving goals and maximizing their potential. This is something which has been hugely beneficial to any clients seeking support from a coaching perspective.
