THE FIRM
The people and standards behind Charles Ardor.
The people and standards behind Charles Ardor.
Charles Ardor & Company is a financial management and advisory firm. Our clients rely on the financial information and advice we provide, so the quality of the work and the judgement behind it matter. We make responsibilities clear, review formal work before it reaches management and explain the basis for our recommendations.
Who leads the firm
Stephanie Anyamele, ACA
Founder & Managing Principal
Stephanie Anyamele is a chartered accountant and the Founder and Managing Principal of Charles Ardor & Company. She began her career in audit at EY in the United Kingdom and has since built experience across financial management, business advisory and corporate governance.
Since founding Charles Ardor in 2019, Stephanie has led the firm's strategic direction and professional standards, helping businesses strengthen their financial management and make important decisions with greater confidence. Her perspective is shaped by both advising business leaders and the practical experience of building and running a firm herself.
Stephanie also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Addosser Finance, where she chairs the Risk Management and Audit Committee. She brings a strong commitment to professional judgement, accountability and financial work that stands up to scrutiny.
Standards you can hold us to
Clear responsibility
Every engagement has a named lead and a named backup. You know who owns the work and who can step in when needed.
Every engagement has a named lead and a named backup. You know who owns the work and who can step in when needed.
Review before release
Reports, forecasts, findings and other formal work issued to management are checked by someone other than the preparer. A senior reviewer reads the final material before it is issued.
Reports, forecasts, findings and other formal work issued to management are checked by someone other than the preparer. A senior reviewer reads the final material before it is issued.
Clear commitments and follow-through
We agree what we'll deliver and when, respond to messages within one working day and flag delays in advance. On Financial Management engagements, we follow up agreed corrective actions until they are resolved or accepted by management.
We agree what we'll deliver and when, respond to messages within one working day and flag delays in advance. On Financial Management engagements, we follow up agreed corrective actions until they are resolved or accepted by management.
Our work in practice
Restoring reliable reporting after a finance leadership change
When a food producer's Head of Finance was leaving, its accounting records were not sufficiently accurate, complete or timely, and production costs were not always reflected correctly.
We moved its accounting from Sage to Zoho Books, addressed weaknesses in the records and helped its remaining accountants establish regular reconciliations and more disciplined reporting.
We continue to oversee the finance team's work and advise management. Our financial analysis has also brought the implications of long-term borrowing into sharper focus, helping leadership understand what its financing commitments mean for the business.
Giving leadership a clearer view of a logistics business
Following the departure of its CFO, a logistics company wanted greater confidence in the figures prepared by its internal team. Reporting was irregular, and important questions about business performance were going unanswered.
We worked with the team to address outstanding accounting matters and introduced continuing financial oversight and management reporting. The reports examine performance across service lines and the effect of short-term borrowing on the business.
Our engagement continues, including presentations to the board, giving leadership an independent and more detailed understanding of the company's financial position.
Bringing financial visibility to a growing retail business
When we began working with a fragrance business in 2022, its accounting records were unreliable and management had limited visibility of sales and profitability.
We established its accounting system and took responsibility for regular accounting and financial reporting. The first management accounts gave the founder a clearer picture of several months of revenue than had previously been available.
Our relationship continues as the company moves from trading towards production, bringing more complex requirements for inventory tracking, production costing and financial reporting.
When we began working with a fragrance business in 2022, its accounting records were unreliable and management had limited visibility of sales and profitability.
We established its accounting system and took responsibility for regular accounting and financial reporting. The first management accounts gave the founder a clearer picture of several months of revenue than had previously been available.
Our relationship continues as the company moves from trading towards production, bringing more complex requirements for inventory tracking, production costing and financial reporting.
From a finance-process review to the right leadership appointment
A hotel engaged us to review its accounting processes, systems, controls and reporting arrangements.
Our assessment identified weaknesses in how financial work was organised and led us to recommend appointing a Financial Controller rather than a CFO. We developed the role requirements and assessed candidates through practical exercises designed around the responsibilities of the position.
The successful candidate took up the role, and the client subsequently reported that the appointment was working well.
A hotel engaged us to review its accounting processes, systems, controls and reporting arrangements.
Our assessment identified weaknesses in how financial work was organised and led us to recommend appointing a Financial Controller rather than a CFO. We developed the role requirements and assessed candidates through practical exercises designed around the responsibilities of the position.
The successful candidate took up the role, and the client subsequently reported that the appointment was working well.
Strengthening financial operations in a microcredit institution
A growing microcredit institution engaged us to assess its finance function and strengthen the arrangements supporting treasury management, controls and reporting.
We reviewed its financial operations, developed policies and procedures, and prepared practical tools for cash planning, budgeting, reporting and compliance. We also supported the appointment and orientation of a new Head of Finance.
The agreed frameworks and tools were completed and handed over to the incoming finance leader, who assumed responsibility for taking the work forward.
A growing microcredit institution engaged us to assess its finance function and strengthen the arrangements supporting treasury management, controls and reporting.
We reviewed its financial operations, developed policies and procedures, and prepared practical tools for cash planning, budgeting, reporting and compliance. We also supported the appointment and orientation of a new Head of Finance.
The agreed frameworks and tools were completed and handed over to the incoming finance leader, who assumed responsibility for taking the work forward.
Establishing financial management before opening
A new hospitality business combining a family club and restaurant engaged us before opening, allowing its accounting arrangements to be established before trading began.
We configured its accounting system around the different activities, established transaction recording and customer invoicing, and took responsibility for the accounting and reporting work as the business commenced operations.
Over an engagement lasting more than two years, we provided monthly management reports and weekly budget-versus-actual updates, giving the founders regular information on the business's financial performance.
A new hospitality business combining a family club and restaurant engaged us before opening, allowing its accounting arrangements to be established before trading began.
We configured its accounting system around the different activities, established transaction recording and customer invoicing, and took responsibility for the accounting and reporting work as the business commenced operations.
Over an engagement lasting more than two years, we provided monthly management reports and weekly budget-versus-actual updates, giving the founders regular information on the business's financial performance.
Clients we have worked with
See what we would recommend for your company
Before arranging a conversation, you can get an initial view of your company's finance function through our Finance Function Scorecard. Based on your answers, it shows what appears to be working, what may need attention and whether CA recommends any work. If you would like a proposal, you can continue to a few scoping questions on the same page.