Strategic finance advisors for growing UK charities
CAP is a team of ICAEW Chartered Accountants with Big Four training and multinational commercial finance experience. We lead the finance function alongside charity CEOs, Finance Directors and Trustees, from board reporting and forecasting to governance and international operations.
Why we exist
Carl trained at KPMG as a public sector auditor and risk consultant, working closely with national charities, before moving into multinational commercial finance leadership: multi-billion budgets, corporate boards and full finance transformation programmes. That mix of Big Four rigour and commercial discipline is unusual in the charity sector, and it changes what a growing charity can expect from its accountants.
Working with international charities and major funders, he saw the same pattern repeatedly: the organisations doing the most important work often had the least access to genuine financial leadership. Month-end took forever. Trustees did not trust the numbers. Forecasts existed on paper but did not guide decisions. Grant reporting consumed the team.
Carl founded CAP to close that gap. Our advisors lead the finance function for growing UK charities, including those running international programmes, with the seniority, governance discipline and forecasting horsepower normally reserved for far larger organisations.
Strong finance is not a back-office cost. It is the platform every ambitious charity builds its impact on.
What makes us different
- 1Strategic advisors, not scorekeepers. Board reporting, forecasting, reserves modelling and scenario analysis sit at the centre of the work, not at the edges.
- 2Commercial finance experience. Senior team members have led multi-million pound budgets inside multinational businesses. The commercial discipline growing charities keep saying is missing.
- 3International operations. Multi-currency accounting, overseas partner oversight, consolidated group reporting and cross-border funder compliance are part of the everyday work.
- 4Governance-grade rigour. ICAEW-regulated advisors, ex-KPMG training, audit-ready outputs and trustee packs designed to be acted on, not decoded.
Our values
These principles guide everything we do.
Clarity over jargon
Complex finance translated into language CEOs and Trustees can act on. Every board pack, forecast and conversation earns its place.
Ownership of outcomes
A named senior lead accountable for the numbers, the deadlines and the decisions those numbers support. No handoffs to juniors.
Calm execution
Structured rhythm, predictable close, board packs ready every month. Firefighting is replaced with a finance function that runs quietly in the background.
Partnership, not vendor
Multi-year relationships with 30-day break clauses. We keep earning the seat at the table on merit.
Impact-led thinking
Every recommendation is tested against one question: does this free the charity to deliver more of its mission?
Meet the team
Real people who genuinely care about your charity's success. Get to know us.
Carl Wakeford, ACA
Founder & CEO
Carl began his career as a public sector auditor and risk consultant at KPMG UK, where he worked closely with national charities and gained deep insight into the unique challenges they face. He went on to work within fast-paced multinational commercial finance teams, managing budgets in the billions and advising corporate boards on improving their financial operations. Carl has coached CEOs and general managers, and partnered with large funders and international charities to help them build solid finances upon which they can achieve their charitable objectives. He founded CAP to bring this breadth of expertise to growing UK charities who deserve the same quality of financial support.
Sarika Ramsewak
Strategic Head of Finance
Sarika brings extensive experience in strategic finance planning, with deep expertise in helping charities align their financial operations with long-term goals. She excels at translating complex financial data into actionable insights for leadership teams and boards. Sarika is passionate about empowering charities to make confident, data-driven decisions that maximise their impact.
Rebecca Thorpe
HR & Ops Manager
Rebecca is incredibly organised and truly the glue holding everything together at CAP. She coordinates meetings between our finance leads and charity CEOs, budget holders, and trustees - ensuring busy calendars are managed seamlessly and relationships stay strong. A kind and warm people person, Rebecca makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. She also plays a vital role in ensuring our charity partners stay compliant and that CAP maintains a strong overview of contracts and policies.
Pao Alimagno
Head of Accounting
Pao's experience spans both commercial and charity sectors, bringing a unique perspective to every relationship we build. He's a talented finance analyst and expert at fund accounting, with particular skill in restricted vs unrestricted fund tracking. Pao excels at unlocking financial visibility for our charity partners - his insights give CEOs, budget holders and trustees the confidence to make bold decisions which create real-world impact.
Mark Richards
Junior Charity Accountant
Mark joined CAP as a Junior Charity Accountant while pursuing his accounting qualifications. He brings fresh perspectives and an eagerness to learn that energises the whole team. Mark supports the senior team with day-to-day financial operations, reconciliations, and grant tracking. He also reviews charity accounting software setups to ensure they act as the single source of truth - meaning our partners stay fully compliant and always audit-ready.
Michelle Nivera
Finance Analyst
Michelle is our numbers expert, specialising in financial analysis and reporting. She has a talent for spotting trends, identifying opportunities, and creating clear, actionable reports that help charities understand their financial position. Michelle works closely with clients to build dashboards and KPIs that matter, ensuring leadership always has the information they need to make smart decisions.
Liv Moreanu
Sector Insights Lead
Liv is our eyes and ears on the charity sector, constantly researching news, trends, and regulatory changes that affect our clients. She writes blogs, content pieces, and briefings that keep both the CAP team and our charity partners informed and ahead of the curve. Liv's insights help our clients anticipate challenges and seize opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Mitchell Wright
Impact Manager
Mitchell ensures that the financial work we do is always connected to front-line impact. He's a natural storyteller who helps charities communicate the real-world difference they're making. Mitchell creates compelling videos, case studies, and narrative content that bring missions to life - showing funders, supporters, and stakeholders the human stories behind the numbers. His background in documentary filmmaking and passion for social change make him uniquely skilled at capturing authentic moments that inspire action.
Oscar
Chief Morale Officer
Oscar ensures everyone brings their best self to work and that their wellbeing is the best it can be. More than this, he works closely with the CEO to ensure we're creating a brilliant, flexible and supportive team culture - so that our passion and enthusiasm for accounting is genuinely felt by our clients.
Donnabel Escano
Accounting and Compliance Officer
Donnabel ensures all our clients stay compliant, understand their regulatory obligations, and are never caught out. With deep expertise in charity governance, SORP requirements, and Charity Commission regulations, she provides peace of mind to leadership teams and trustees alike. Donnabel proactively monitors regulatory changes and guides charities through complex compliance landscapes with clarity and confidence.
Anastasiia Platonova
Partnerships Manager
Anastasiia leads our partnerships work, building strong relationships with funders, sector bodies, and professional organisations who share our mission of strengthening UK charities. She brings a thoughtful, relationship-first approach to every conversation - ensuring that every partnership we form creates genuine value for the charities we serve. Anastasiia is passionate about connecting people and ideas, and plays a key role in expanding CAP's reach and impact across the sector.
Joshua Daniel Canlas
Quality Control Accountant
Joshua leads quality control across our accounting work, reviewing reports, reconciliations, and filings to ensure every output meets our high standards before it reaches our charity partners. His meticulous eye and methodical approach give clients and trustees confidence that the numbers they're acting on are accurate, complete, and reliable.
Carla Suico
Executive Assistant
Carla supports the leadership team with diary management, coordination, and the day-to-day operations that keep CAP running smoothly. Calm, organised, and proactive, she ensures meetings happen on time, priorities stay clear, and our team can focus on delivering brilliant work for our charity partners.
"We're a small but mighty team, and we genuinely love what we do. We want every charity we work with to become a partner for life - part of our extended family. We take that responsibility seriously."
- Carl Wakeford, Founder
Ready to strengthen your finance function?
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