I’ve spent over 10 years in finance, most of it in commercial roles inside retail, forecourt and food-to-go businesses, including as Head of Commercial Finance UK for a group of around 1,100 sites. I bring that same understanding of customers, margins and cash to independent and multi-site retailers.
Every retailer sells a customer journey, not just products. I start by understanding how yours works, then follow the money through it.
Fuel brings customers onto the forecourt; the shop, food-to-go, car wash and services are where most of the margin is made. I look at the whole visit: how many fuel customers come inside, what they buy, and what each part of the site really earns once wages, waste and card fees are counted.
Convenience is about habits and top-up shops: what brings people in every day and what they add to the basket. I look at margin SKU by SKU, so ranging, pricing and promotions are decided on facts, and slow lines stop tying up cash and shelf space.
Online, every step of the customer journey can be measured, and so can the costs: platform and payment fees, fulfilment, returns and the marketing it took to win each order. I work out what every order and product really contributes, so you know which lines and channels to push.
Most retailers don’t lose money in one big way. It leaks through small things nobody has time to check.
Your compliance handled properly, plus the numbers a big group’s finance team would give you.
Wholesale, working capital
The problem. A big new supply deal, but not enough warehouse space or working capital to deliver it safely.
What I did. I built cash-on-cash scenarios for every product, a working capital cashflow model, a stock flow model to find bottlenecks and a logistics costing model, plus a brochure for wholesalers.
At a group of around 1,100 sites and 12 brands, I consolidated the P&L, built the pricing, wage and loyalty-scheme models that helped shape fuel, shop and food-to-go strategy, and was commercial lead for moving more than 100 forecourts to a new brand. I also led the work that cut waste across the UK estate, from a revised markdown policy to rolling out Too Good To Go.
Before that, I built the KPI reporting store managers used at a regional supermarket chain and maintained its labour model, the biggest cost in the business. That’s the experience I bring to your business, whether you have one site or twenty.
Yes. I work with independent retailers trading under symbol groups such as Londis, Spar, Premier, Costcutter and Nisa, as well as fully independent stores. I understand how symbol-group invoicing, promotions and EPOS data work.
Yes. Most EPOS systems can export sales by product. I use that data to check VAT codes, margins and sales mix, so nothing needs to be re-keyed.
Yes. I work with businesses selling through their own websites and through marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. I reconcile platform payouts to sales, fees and refunds, make sure the VAT is right and show what each product and channel really makes.
Yes. Fuel margin, shop margin, car wash, lottery and services income all behave differently. I report them separately so the fuel price doesn’t hide what the shop is making.
If your qualifying income (your sales from self-employment plus any property income, before expenses) was over £50,000 in 2024/25, you’ve been in Making Tax Digital for Income Tax since April 2026. The threshold falls to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028.
Most shops are well above these levels, so it’s worth getting set up early. I can set up the software and file your quarterly updates for you.
I’m based in Oldham and happy to visit sites across Greater Manchester and the North West. I work with retailers elsewhere in the UK remotely.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. Bring your questions about VAT, margins, wages or stock. If I can’t add more than I cost, I’ll tell you.