Phil Benson
- Specialism: Fractional Finance Director, Management Accounting, FP&A, Cash Flow Forecasting, Budgeting & Forecasting, KPI & Performance Reporting, Board Reporting, Commercial Finance, Financial Controls, Business Partnering, Profitability Analysis, Scenario Modelling, Working Capital Management, Process Improvement, Finance Function Transformation.
- Track Record: UPS, Toshiba, Danfoss, Telefónica O2, Three UK, Three Ireland, GSK, Novartis, Seqirus, CSL, Johnson & Johnson, AXA, General Motors, Unilever, ekaterra, TalkTalk, Lipton, John Lewis Partnership, Purplebricks, Carey’s.
- Offer: Turning financial data into confident business decisions.
- Phil says: “I believe in getting the basics right first, being direct with founders, and becoming the trusted finance partner they can rely on.”
- Try me: www.bensonfinance.co.uk
After more than 26 years working with businesses ranging from global organisations to fast-growing companies, I realised I got the most satisfaction from helping business owners make better decisions. Becoming a Portfolio Executive allows me to work closely with founders, provide honest, practical financial advice, and make a genuine difference without the cost of a full-time Finance Director.
I spent more than two decades building my career in senior finance and commercial roles across organisations including Johnson & Johnson, GSK, General Motors, Unilever, TalkTalk, and Purplebricks. Along the way, I developed a reputation for improving reporting, strengthening financial controls, solving complex problems, and helping leadership teams understand what was really driving performance. In 2026, I launched Benson Finance to bring that experience directly to founders and growing businesses as a Fractional Finance Director.
One of the earliest lessons in my career was that getting the basics right creates the biggest impact. Whether rebuilding finance functions, improving cash flow, or helping leadership teams make better decisions, my first real successes came from simplifying complexity and giving businesses financial information they could trust. That philosophy still underpins everything I do today.
Along the way, I’ve learned that most business problems are not complicated; they are caused by the basics being overlooked. Good reporting, strong cash flow management, and honest conversations solve far more problems than complex spreadsheets ever will. I’ve also learned that founders value someone who tells them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.
It’s working for me now because businesses want experience without committing to a full-time Finance Director. After more than 26 years across a wide range of industries, I can quickly understand a business, identify what matters most, and help founders make better decisions. My focus is always on practical solutions rather than theory.
Looking ahead, I want Benson Finance to become the trusted finance partner for ambitious founders across the UK. My goal is to build long-term relationships, help businesses grow sustainably, and become known for giving straightforward, practical advice that genuinely makes a difference.