Mini CFO® Accountancy Services

I'm a certified Trauma of Money™ Practitioner — a body of work developed by Chantel Chapman that brings together neuroscience, somatic practice, attachment theory, and systemic awareness as it applies to money.

Why this matters:

Money is treated, almost everywhere, as something logical — a head thing, a maths thing, something you should just figure out. But it isn't. Money lives in your body, your nervous system, your relationships, your inheritances, your sense of safety. It makes you feel something. When that gets acknowledged honestly — not bypassed, not minimised — everything starts to shift.

I also don't follow the unspoken rules of how this kind of work is "supposed" to look — back-to-back meetings, pushing through, ignoring how your body feels, performing productivity, putting capitalism's norms ahead of what's right for you. We work how you work best. That's the whole point.

What it looks like in practice:

• Recognising the nervous system in the room — if you go quiet, get overwhelmed, dissociate, freeze, or get activated, we slow down. The pace of the work matches what your system can hold.
• Autonomy and choice at every step — you're in the driver's seat. You decide what we look at, what we don't, the pace, and when to pause or change direction.
• Set up however lets you show up — under a blanket, walking around, fidgeting, doing something with your hands, camera off, lying on the floor — whatever lets you be present and regulated. Pause whenever you need to. There's no one right way to be in a session.
• Exercises designed with this in mind — any reflection prompts, journaling, or work between sessions is set up to support you, not perform you. Engage with what helps, skip what doesn't, adapt as you need.
• Using language carefully — avoiding shame, blame, or pressure. Naming things honestly, but without making you feel small for what you're carrying.
• Holding the systemic alongside the personal — money issues sit inside systems (capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy, ableism, classism, family inheritance, gender, race). I won't pretend they don't.
• Not pushing past the feelings — emotions get held, not bypassed. We don't pretend you're fine, and we don't try to push past discomfort to get to the spreadsheet.

What this isn't:

I'm not a therapist or counsellor. Trauma-informed is not the same as trauma treatment. I'm not training or qualified to treat trauma directly, and this isn't a clinical or therapeutic setting. If significant trauma comes up that needs more space than this work can hold, you'll need someone trained in that work — and it's worth thinking about what other support you have around you (therapist, somatic practitioner, etc.) before or alongside.

What I do bring is finance work that doesn't ignore the nervous system, the feelings, or the systems money sits inside.

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All my Mini CFO® clients are mission-led — founders, practitioners, and change-makers building something with intention. Most fall into the categories listed (e.g. creative space, media, entertainment, activism, impact-driven and not-for-profit organisations, consultancies, health, wellbeing, coaching and professional services) but it's not exhaustive.

I've operated at CFO level across a much broader range of sectors — including fintech, e-commerce, manufacturing, engineering and more — so if you're not in the typical Mini CFO® space, it's still worth a chat.

There are a few areas I won't take on — of course not anything extractive or harmful (fossil fuels, gambling, etc.) — and a few I'm not best placed to specialise in. For example, construction (CIS), complex international tax, and FCA-regulated businesses are outside my remit.

Regardless of where you sit now, if the mission-led angle sparked something for you let's book a call and see what's possible.

Yes — Mini CFO® is fully MTD-ready, and we'll handle the quarterly digital filings as part of your setup (via Xero Accounting Software).

If you're not sure whether MTD applies to you, or want to understand more about what's coming and when, have a read of my blog post on MTD, or book a call to get started.

Yes — for incorporations (sole trader to Ltd conversions, or setting up a new Ltd), this gets scoped as a small project, usually as part of onboarding into Mini CFO®.

The project covers everything from a 'Going Ltd' meeting to talk through what's involved and explore your questions, the company formation itself, and guidance on the commercial and tax setup that comes with going Ltd.

From £450 + VAT.

Book a call and we'll talk through what's needed.

Want to pick my brains? You're welcome to book 60 minutes together to help get you unstuck on a specific question or topic.

For example, you might want help with:

• A decision or opportunity you're weighing up around structure or direction
• A finance question or scenario you keep going round in circles on
• Getting your bearings on finances if you're newer in business

We'll dig into it together and you'll walk away with a clearer view of what you're dealing with and what to do next. And you'll receive a recording of the session.

It's not the right space for anything that needs deeper advisory input or project work like full tax planning, building a forecast or model etc. If that sounds like what you need, book a free intro call instead to explore options.

£390 including VAT.

→ Book a Finance Power Hour

For limited companies, the usual ones — Corporation Tax, VAT, payroll (PAYE), and director self-assessments. That can include reporting other forms of personal income or gains, such as property income or capital gains.

For sole traders, self-assessment Income Tax including Making Tax Digital filings, plus VAT/Payroll where applicable.

I don't handle specialist areas outside the usual remit of an ICAEW practice — for example, complex international tax structures, R&D tax credit claims, or share scheme valuations. Where these come up, I can refer you to specialists.

^{Don't worry, we can sort it! Often clients come to me with a few things that need untangling or are causing a bit of confusion.}

We'll start with a proper review of where things are and any concerns, and put a plan together to get it sorted as part of the onboarding. That's the first phase of working together — getting the foundations clear and any issues resolved.

I know how worrying it can feel when something doesn't seem right or you're just not sure. We'll work through it together — no judgement on how things ended up where they are, just a clear path to getting them right!

Me, directly. Below The Line Finance isn't a sprawling organisation, network, or marketplace where you get matched with whoever's allocated — I'm Harriet Formby, and you'll be working with me.

I'm a senior finance leader, advisor, and experienced CFO with tenure across both ends of the spectrum: from start-ups and grassroots organisations through to FTSE 100, PE-backed, M&A, and complex corporate environments. I have operated my own ICAEW-regulated Chartered Accountancy practice since 2020. I'm an ACA ICAEW Chartered Accountant, with a First Class Business degree and an MSc in Strategic Business Management (Distinction, with published research). I'm also a certified Level 7 Executive Coach and Trauma of Money™ practitioner.

Within the firm, I lead on all BTLF engagements personally (we do also have another experienced ICAEW accountant within the practice)— a limited number of senior engagements at any one time and a niche practice focusing on a small number of clients so the work stays bespoke, considered, and properly held.

Mini CFO® usually works on a monthly retainer, aligned to the size, complexity of your business and the type of support you want.

‍When you book a call, we'll explore your needs together, and I'll scope out a clear price for you. The fees depends on things like the size and complexity of your business, the level of engagement and number of meetings and financial planning cycle, your management reporting requirements, whether bookkeeping is done in-house or by us, and whether you need support on payroll or other specific areas.

As a guide, the minimum starting prices are:

Limited companies —  new businesses under the VAT threshold, prices start from £195 + VAT per month. As your business grows, retainers scale to match — for example, a Ltd turning over around £300k with a small team would typically start from around £450 + VAT per month. For larger or more complex organisations, we'll scope that on a call.

Sole traders — I work with a limited number to ensure of a personal, quality service (we don't just churn out tax returns!), priced from £150 + VAT per month. Including Self-Assessment, Making Tax Digital filings, and regular support across the year. Price will depend on specific services included and the forms of income you need to track and report on.

Onboarding — a one-off onboarding fee may apply to cover the transition and getting everything set up properly (software, systems, initial review and set up work). We'll scope this on the call and I will quote for a project phase, which is billed over the first 3 months.

Add-ons and extras — additional services can be included flexibly as needed, for example including payroll, bookkeeping, financial planning sessions, budgeting work, and ad-hoc finance projects.

CICs — a CIC is a type of not-for-profit limited company with an asset lock. Mini CFO® offers a 15% discount for not for profits.

Book a call and we'll work out exactly what fits.

I work with Xero. As Xero Certified Advisor Partners (and early adopters), it's what I support and recommend for Mini CFO® clients — it's the strongest fit for limited companies and the cleanest way to keep your records compliant, accessible, and meaningful in real time.

Software isn't just about filing taxes

‍It's about being able to see what's actually going on across the year — financial data, performance, cashflow — and streamlining the routine bits like invoicing and payments and to tailor what your report and track. I also support a range of apps that connect to Xero (receipt managers, expense tools, payment platforms, and more) so you can build a set-up that genuinely fits how you work.

On software costs

‍ I'm fully transparent. If I manage your Xero subscription, I recharge you exactly what it costs me, passing on any discounts I get (currently 15% off through my partner status). If you'd prefer to manage your own subscription, that's fine too — and you may be eligible for new-subscriber discounts directly from Xero. As a guide, Xero is from around £230/month for limited companies — you can check current Xero pricing here.

If you're coming from other software‍

QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage, spreadsheets, or anything else — I support the transition across to Xero as part of getting started (onboarding fees may apply).

The work is remote-first. I work with clients across the UK and beyond, using video calls for meetings and async tools (email, Slack, WhatsApp, voice notes, Loom recordings etc) in between.

Worth baring in mind, that for accountancy services through Mini CFO® — clients need to be UK-based, as this involve UK statutory filings, HMRC, and Companies House compliance. Everything else — fractional CFO leadership, consultancy, projects, financial strategy, modelling, coaching, mentoring, and education — has few geographical limits.

Where is BTLF actually based?

‍ Rural Somerset, in the South West of England — about two hours outside of London. My regular office is in a re-wilded off-grid meadow, overlooking ancient woodland.

Simply book a call. We'll talk through your situation — goals, current challenges, and opportunities — and explore what kind of support would make all the difference. If it feels like a fit, I'll draft a proposal that we refine together, so it fits for your reality and preferences.

Many accountants focus on the filings and taxes and that's where the relationship ends. With Mini CFO®, the 'must dos' of accountancy and compliance get done properly and you get a finance brain on your team across the year: real answers to the everyday questions, input on the big decisions, customised reporting and forecasts and business plans when you need them.

I'll tell you what I think — based on years of commercial experience, wide industry knowledge from grass roots to FTSE 100, and the assurance of being an ICAEW-regulated practice. Many accountants aren't trained, insured, or comfortable giving advice beyond the numbers. My work is rooted in advisory and consultancy: helping you navigate ambiguity, weigh up options, and move forward with confidence.

And the client list is keep intentionally small. I don't run a factory-farm practice packing clients in cheap and high. Mini CFO® takes on a very limited number of clients so the work stays bespoke, considered, and held through your needs and preferences, including accommodations to best support neurodivergent founders, a trauma-informed approach to discussing emotive money topics