Rob Nicholls

Fractional CFO | Board Advisor
United Kingdom

Rob Nicholls transforms finance professionals into strategic advisors who drive growth, margins, and enterprise value—not just report them.

A UK-based Fractional CFO and board advisor with 35+ years of global finance leadership, Rob mentors ambitious finance professionals to move beyond scorekeeping and become commercial partners who influence at the highest levels.

He’s known for translating financial complexity into clear commercial insight and challenging finance teams to think like operators. His track record: helping SMEs treble valuations, double profit margins, and build investor-ready businesses. But his real expertise lies in developing the finance leaders behind those results.

As a strategic advisor to Innovate UK and widely followed voice in the UK CFO community, Rob’s mentoring is direct, commercially grounded, and relentlessly focused on outcomes—equipping emerging and experienced leaders with the confidence and frameworks to elevate their strategic impact.

Expertise

  • Leadership
  • Internationalisation
  • SME Funding
  • Board Governance
  • Growth & Scaling
  • Finance Leadership in the 21st century

Sector Expertise

  • SME
  • Professional Services
  • Technology
  • Industrials
  • Agencies
  • Consulting
  • Build Environment
  • Security

Work Experience

➤

CFO & Board Advisor - W4G Fire & SecurityW4G Fire & Security

Oct 2025 to Present · 6 mos - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

Board Advisor - Acronyms

Aug 2025 to Present · 8 mos - Greater Plymouth Area
Technology and Software
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - LUMINOUS

Dec 2022 to Present · 3 yrs 4 mos - Greater Exeter Area
Manufacturing and Industrial
➤

Board Advisor - The Festive Lighting Company

May 2025 to Present · 11 mos - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - Taylor Lewis

Oct 2022 to Present · 3 yrs 6 mos - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - The Independent Health and Wellbeing Group

2025 to Present · 1 yr 3 mos - United Kingdom
Healthcare and Life Sciences
➤

Strategic Advisor & Mentor - Innovate UK South West

Dec 2021 to Present · 4 yrs 4 mos - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - West Country Tech

2019 to Present · 7 yrs 3 mos - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

Strategic Advisor - Business West

Dec 2021 to Present · 4 yrs 4 mos - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - Simplifai Systems Limited

Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - PBS BRAKES Europe

2024 - 2025 · 1 yr - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

Board Advisor - Cornish Gems

2023 to 2025 · 2 yrs - United Kingdom
Transportation and Logistics
➤

Board Advisor - Foundrax Engineering Products Ltd

Sep 2022 to Mar 2024 · 1 yr 7 mos - United Kingdom
Manufacturing and Industrial
➤

Board Advisor - Light Trace Photonics

2022 to 2024 · 2 yrs - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - Dr Logic

2020 to 2024 · 4 yrs - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

Board Advisor - RouteZero

Dec 2021 to Dec 2023 · 2 yrs - England, United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

CFO & Strategic Advisor - Cullinan Studio

Mar 2020 to Dec 2023 · 3 yrs 10 mos - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

Board Advisor - LEDSnaps

Dec 2020 to Jan 2023 · 2 yrs 2 mos - United Kingdom
Healthcare and Life Sciences
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - Solarport Systems

2020 to 2023 · 3 yrs - United Kingdom
Manufacturing and Industrial
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - YEO

2020 - 2022 · 2 yrs - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

Investment Advisor - Emerture

2019 to 2022 · 3 yrs - United Kingdom
Technology and Software
➤

CFO & Board Advisor - Go Demand Ltd

2019 to 2022 · 3 yrs - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

CFO & Strategic Advisor - Rich Insight

2019 to 2022 · 3 yrs - United Kingdom
Professional Services and Consulting
➤

Finance Director - Motorola

May 1998 to Aug 2008 · 10 yrs 4 mos - United States
Technology and Software
➤

Financial Controller & Director of Distribution - Motorola

June 1993 - May 1998 · 5 yrs - EMEA
Technology and Software

Media

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