Have you ever looked into the kitchen of a restaurant you’re dining in?
I have.
There were chefs working at their own stations, chopping vegetables at lightning speed, flames leaping from sizzling pans, waiters darting in and out with urgent requests. Orders were being called out, timers were beeping, and plates were flying onto the pass.
To my untrained eye, it looked like complete mayhem.
But if you’ve ever watched a TV show about the restaurant industry – like Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares – you’ll know that’s not true.
In a well-run kitchen, everything works like a finely tuned machine. Every person has a specific role that they specialise in and perfect.
The vegetable chopper preps the ingredients and passes them to the fryer. The fryer ensures everything is cooked just right before handing it over to the person who assembles the plate with precision. The maître d’ relies on them all to deliver a flawless experience to the diner.
And overseeing it all is the head chef — not just keeping everything on track, but designing the menu, setting quality standards, and advising the restaurant owner on what will keep customers coming back.
Take away any one of these roles, and the whole operation falls apart. They’re all interdependent.
It’s exactly the same with your finance function.
Many business owners imagine their accounting department as a handful of professionals working independently — one person handling invoices, another filing tax returns or running payroll, maybe an accountant pulling reports now and then.
But just like in a kitchen, a truly effective finance function isn’t a collection of isolated tasks — it’s a system where each role depends on the other.
At Insight Associates, we describe this as a pyramid:
At the base, you have your bookkeeper, who ensures transactions are recorded accurately, completely, and in a timely manner, and maybe manages payroll, and other elements of the recording of transactions. This is the broadest layer because it forms the foundation of any accounting function – and the bulk of the work (although AI is gradually changing this!).
They pass timely, accurate numbers to the accountant, who reviews them, makes other entries like depreciation, accruals and prepayments and turns them into financial reports like profit and loss statements and management accounts.
Finally, at the top, there’s the person who brings it all together — the head chef, or in our world, the Finance Director.
Their role is far more strategic. Not only do they ensure the finance department runs smoothly, but they also help business owners understand and interpret the numbers, offering crucial advice and guidance to support smarter financial decisions.
Without a Finance Director to interpret reports and shape a strategy, even the most detailed financial data won’t drive your business forward.
Now, most businesses have the first two layers — bookkeeping and accounting – in varying quality. But only larger businesses usually have the top layer, the Finance Director, who makes everything come together and propels the business forward.
That’s where Insight Associates is different.
We provide all three layers to businesses turning over £1 million or more, so you can benefit from a fully integrated finance function while you’re still growing. You shouldn’t have to wait until you’re turning over £15 million or £25 million to have world-class financial management.
By putting in place the same financial systems, processes and expertise that larger companies take for granted, you gain a competitive advantage, allowing you to scale faster and maximise profitability.
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, let’s talk.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you build a high-performing finance function — and set your business up for success. Simply email garry@insightassociates.co.uk or call us on 01279 647 447 to set up a no-obligation chat with myself or with one of our specialists.
Warmly,
Garry
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