This year marks a major personal and professional milestone for Finance Director Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam.
As he celebrates turning 50, he’s also marking five successful years at the helm of his business, The FD Consultant based in London yet working all over the UK.
With a career spanning global finance, start-ups and FTSE 100 corporations, Romesh reflects on what he’s learnt 
running his own business over the past five years.
“Building this business has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done. It’s pushed me in all the right ways, and reminded me that it’s never too late to keep growing – both personally and professionally,” Romesh said.
The FD Consultant offers high-level financial support to growing businesses that need the skills of a Chief Finance Officer, but not necessarily on a full-time basis. From helping founders raise funding and prepare for exit, to improving financial systems and providing board-level insight, the business has built a strong reputation for practical, strategic support that drives growth. Romesh now leads a small, trusted team of consultants.
Romesh’s approach is rooted in experience. After qualifying as a chartered accountant at EY he spent years travelling the world, working in senior finance roles across several sectors. He’s held leadership positions at large corporates like Bunzl, where he helped oversee over £1bn in revenue, and at mission-led start-ups such as London Bio Packaging, a supplier for the 2012 Olympics. It was in launching his own venture Romesh says he learnt some of the most valuable lessons of all.
- Stay open-minded
“No matter how much experience you have, there’s always more to learn,” says Romesh. “Running your own business forces you to grow quickly. I’ve had to get comfortable with digital marketing, learn how to build a website, and completely rethink how I present myself to the world. I am constantly looking to improve and seek out new ideas.
- Put yourself out there
Romesh is the first to admit that early in his career he wasn’t the loudest voice in the room. “I didn’t grow up seeing people who looked like me in leadership roles, and I didn’t always have the confidence to step forward. This developed as I progressed my career and becoming a business owner has cemented that. You have to put yourself out there – whether it’s networking, speaking or sharing your story. It’s how people connect with you in a meaningful way.
- Know your values
Having worked in both people-focused and profit-driven environments, Romesh is clear on what he stands for. “I believe business should be commercially smart, but also fair. It should benefit employees, customers and the wider community, not just shareholders. The best leaders I’ve worked with build businesses that are both profitable and principled.”
- Resilience is everything
Like many founders, Romesh launched The FD Consultant with a sense of uncertainty. “It was terrifying at the start,” he says. “One minute you’re busy, the next it’s quiet. You have to ride the waves, keep showing up, and trust that the work you’re doing will pay off.”
- Trust the process
According to Romesh, structure creates stability. “Strong systems, good habits and clear processes have been the backbone of this business. They give you the breathing room to focus on what really matters – like helping clients make better decisions and grow with confidence.”
The FD Consultant works with start-ups and scale-ups across the UK, offering fractional CFO support, board advisory and mentoring. To find out more, visit www.thefdconsultant.com.