When a Financial or Business Problem Is Really a Technology Problem
Technology issues rarely arrive neatly labelled as technology issues.
You may first notice them in the numbers. Development costs keep increasing. A software project continually misses deadlines. Technology spending is growing without an obvious return. The business depends heavily on one developer, CTO or supplier. Management cannot explain why delivery is taking so long.
For an accountant, CFO or business adviser, these can be difficult situations to assess independently.
You may know something is wrong without having the technical evidence to determine what is causing it.
That is where I can help.
Give Your Clients Independent Technology Advice
I provide an independent technology perspective without replacing you, competing with your services or trying to become the client’s technology supplier.
My role is to help establish what is actually happening.
That might involve reviewing a software development project, assessing technology leadership, examining technology costs, identifying key-person risk or helping management understand whether their current technology approach can support the business.
The objective is straightforward. Give you and your client enough clarity to make a sensible business decision.
Situations Where You Might Introduce Me
You do not need to diagnose the technology problem before making an introduction.
A conversation may be worthwhile when:
- Technology or software development costs keep increasing.
- A major software project is running late or repeatedly missing milestones.
- Management is struggling to understand what the development team is delivering.
- The business is heavily dependent on one developer, CTO or technology supplier.
- A founder is questioning whether their CTO or technology leader is providing enough leadership.
- Technology spending appears high compared with the business value being delivered.
- The company is preparing for growth, investment, acquisition or significant change.
- There are concerns about cybersecurity, resilience, documentation or business continuity.
- A client is considering a major technology investment and wants an independent view.
- You can see warning signs in the business but need someone with technology leadership experience to investigate them.
Sometimes the most valuable first step is simply a confidential conversation about what you are seeing.
Technology Advice That Supports Your Existing Client Relationship
A referral should strengthen your relationship with your client, not complicate it.
I work alongside professional advisers and respect the relationship you have already built.
I am not looking to replace the accountant, CFO, business adviser, software company, MSP or other professionals already supporting the organisation.
Where appropriate, I can work collaboratively with those parties to understand the situation and provide an independent perspective.
You remain the trusted adviser. I provide specialist technology expertise when you need another pair of experienced eyes.
What I Can Help Your Clients With
Depending on the situation, support may include:
Technology Reviews
An independent assessment of technology, systems, risks, costs and priorities.
Software Development Reviews
Understanding why a project is running late, costing more than expected or failing to deliver the expected business outcomes.
CTO and Technology Leadership Reviews
Assessing whether technology leadership is providing the direction, accountability and visibility the business needs.
Key-Person Technology Risk
Identifying where critical knowledge, systems or operational capability depends too heavily on one individual or supplier.
Technology Strategy
Helping management connect technology investment with commercial priorities and future growth.
Technology Due Diligence
Providing an independent technology perspective when investment, acquisition or significant business change is being considered.
Fractional CTO Support
Providing experienced technology leadership where the business needs senior capability without employing a full-time CTO.
Useful Questions to Ask Your Client
You do not need a technical checklist to spot many technology risks.
A few straightforward questions can reveal a great deal:
“If your lead developer or CTO disappeared tomorrow, could the business continue operating?”
“Can you clearly explain what your technology team is working on and why?”
“Do you know whether your software project is genuinely on track?”
“Can management explain what business outcomes its technology spending is producing?”
“Are important technology decisions documented, or do they live inside somebody’s head?”
“When was the last time someone independent reviewed your technology?”
If the answers are vague, inconsistent or heavily dependent on one person, a closer look may be worthwhile.
You Don’t Need to Know Whether There Is a Problem
One of the advantages of an informal introduction is that you do not have to make that judgement yourself.
You may simply have noticed something that does not feel right.
I can have an initial conversation with the client, understand the situation and determine whether there is a genuine technology issue worth investigating.
If there isn’t, I will say so.
There is no benefit in manufacturing a technology project where one is not needed.
A Simple, Professional Introduction Process
Client introductions do not need to become complicated referral arrangements.
You can introduce us by email or suggest that your client contact me directly. I can then have an initial confidential conversation to understand what is happening.
Where appropriate, I will recommend a clear next step.
That could be a focused review, advisory engagement, fractional CTO support or simply some practical guidance about what the client should do next.
You can remain involved as much or as little as makes sense for the client and your advisory relationship.
Protect the Relationship You’ve Built With Your Client
When a client brings you a problem outside your specialist area, saying “I know someone who can help” can be far more valuable than trying to answer it yourself.
Technology problems increasingly affect financial performance, business value, operational risk and growth.
Having access to independent technology expertise gives you another way to help your clients when those issues arise.
There is no obligation to make a formal referral or know exactly what service they need.
If you have a client situation you would like to discuss, we can start with a confidential conversation.
Help Your Client Make Sense of a Technology Problem
If a client is experiencing rising technology costs, delayed software delivery, technology leadership concerns or key-person risk, you do not need to diagnose the problem yourself.
Tell me what you are seeing. We can have a confidential conversation about the situation and decide whether independent technology advice could help.