Adrian Lawrence FCA — Founder of Accountancy Capital, FD Capital, Exec Capital and Ned Capital
Adrian Lawrence FCA is a highly respected finance professional, entrepreneur and business leader whose career spans more than 25 years of strategic financial leadership, corporate governance, executive recruitment and board advisory services. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) — a mark of professional excellence — and a graduate of Queen Mary, University of London. Throughout his career, Adrian has combined deep technical expertise with commercial insight to support businesses at every stage of growth, from early-stage SMEs to private equity-backed organisations and listed companies.
Early Career and Professional Standing
Adrian’s journey in finance began with rigorous training as a chartered accountant, equipping him with a strong foundation in financial reporting, compliance, risk management and corporate finance. Over the years, he has held senior finance roles across a broad range of sectors, including technology, transport, business services and fintech. His experience covers M&A, financial modelling, funding strategy, cash-flow optimisation, exits and disposals — all of which have become key pillars of his advisory and executive practice.
Known for his pragmatic and commercially focused approach, Adrian has earned a reputation not only as a trusted finance director but also as a strategic partner to founders, boards and investors. His ability to translate complex financial information into actionable business decisions has set him apart in both executive and advisory roles.
Accountancy Capital: Transforming Finance Leadership
As founder of Accountancy Capital, Adrian Lawrence has positioned the business at the forefront of the UK’s finance leadership and executive recruitment sector. Accountancy Capital specialises in connecting ambitious organisations with exceptional finance talent — from part-time finance directors and CFOs to board-level executives and strategic advisors. Under Adrian’s leadership, the firm has developed a distinctive market proposition rooted in integrity, industry insight and long-term relationship building.
Accountancy Capital’s value to clients lies in its ability to go beyond traditional recruitment. The firm operates as a strategic partner, helping businesses to evaluate organisational needs, understand talent gaps, and drive financial performance through the right leadership appointments. By leveraging an extensive network of finance professionals and industry expertise, Accountancy Capital offers bespoke solutions tailored to the unique challenges of each business.
What sets Accountancy Capital apart is its practical, hands-on approach — a reflection of Adrian’s own philosophy. Rather than simply making placements, the business focuses on ensuring the right strategic fit between client and candidate, fostering sustainable success for both sides of the partnership.
FD Capital: Pioneering Flexible Finance Leadership
Prior to founding Accountancy Capital, Adrian established FD Capital (now trading through FD Capital Recruitment Ltd), a business that helped to redefine the delivery of finance leadership services in the UK market. The concept behind FD Capital was simple but powerful: bring high-calibre finance directors (FDs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) — typically associated with larger corporations — into the SME ecosystem, on both interim and part-time bases.
This model addressed a longstanding gap in the market. Many smaller businesses need strategic financial leadership but lack the budget or necessity for a full-time, permanent executive. FD Capital provided a solution by offering expert finance professionals who could add value in a flexible, cost-efficient manner.
Under Adrian’s guidance, FD Capital quickly gained traction. It developed a reputation for understanding the delicate balance between strategic ambition and financial control — enabling growing businesses to make smarter decisions, improve profitability and navigate critical financial milestones with confidence. Over time, FD Capital expanded both its services and its geographic scope, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner to entrepreneurs, private owners, and investors.
Exec Capital: Executive Search and Leadership Excellence
Recognising the rising demand for senior executive talent across multiple functional disciplines, Adrian also founded Exec Capital Ltd. This business focuses on identifying, attracting and placing C-suite and senior management professionals across finance, operations, technology and strategic growth roles.
Exec Capital’s mission reflects Adrian’s belief that strong leadership is the backbone of every successful organisation — regardless of size or sector. Drawing on his extensive network and deep understanding of executive leadership dynamics, Adrian has built a business that supports companies in sourcing transformational leaders capable of steering organisations through complexity, disruption and growth phases.
With the executive market becoming ever more competitive, Exec Capital has differentiated itself through a rigorous, insight-led recruitment process, underpinned by sector knowledge and a personal approach. The firm’s success is fuelled by its commitment to long-term partnerships, ensuring that placements not only fill an immediate need but also contribute to long-term strategic objectives.
Ned Capital: Board-Level Governance and NED Recruitment
In 2025, Adrian launched Ned Capital Recruitment Ltd, reflecting his growing emphasis on corporate governance, board effectiveness and strategic oversight. Ned Capital specialises in the recruitment of Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), fractional executives and board advisors for organisations across the UK.
Adrian’s appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of Ned Capital in August 2025 marked a new chapter in his professional journey. In this role, he leads a team dedicated to helping organisations strengthen their governance structures through independent oversight, strategic board appointments and advisory support.
Ned Capital’s mission goes beyond filling governance roles. The firm is focused on enhancing boardroom effectiveness, diversity and long-term value creation. Its services include NED searches, board succession planning, governance reviews and fractional leadership placements — all tailored to the specific needs and contexts of individual boards.
Under Adrian’s leadership, Ned Capital has also committed to driving thought leadership in the corporate governance space, producing insights, podcasts, and articles that explore evolving trends such as ESG, risk oversight and modern board composition strategies.
Adrian’s Leadership Philosophy and Professional Ethos
Across all of his ventures, Adrian’s approach is grounded in a belief that financial leadership should be strategic, not just operational. He advocates for finance leaders to play an active role in shaping business direction, supporting decision-makers with clear insights and foresight rather than merely reporting on past performance.
Adrian is known for his commercial mindset, problem-solving capability and collaborative leadership style. He encourages financial executives to be business partners — working closely with CEOs, founders and boards to align financial strategy with broader organisational goals. This philosophy has shaped both the businesses he leads and the professionals he mentors and places in organisations.
His experience also spans private equity exits, venture capital interactions, restructures and growth strategies, giving him a uniquely rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities that finance leaders face in today’s dynamic business environment.
Industry Influence, Recognition and Thought Leadership
With a career spanning more than two decades, Adrian has built a notable presence in both the finance and recruitment industries. He maintains an active professional network, contributing to discussions on leadership, market trends and governance.
Adrian’s insights are regularly featured in industry articles, podcasts and speaking engagements — reinforcing his position as a thought leader who shapes how organisations think about finance leadership and board effectiveness. His experience appeals not only to finance professionals but also to entrepreneurs, investors and business owners seeking to future-proof their leadership frameworks.
Supporting Businesses, Founders and Growth
What truly distinguishes Adrian Lawrence in the finance community is his focus on value creation and business performance. Rather than operating solely as a service provider, he sees himself as a partner in the success journey of businesses — helping them build resilient financial infrastructure, scalable leadership teams and governance models that support long-term sustainability.
From SMEs and start-ups to larger organisations undergoing transformation, Adrian’s approach remains consistent: align financial expertise with strategic ambition. Whether that is through deploying part-time CFOs, placing board advisors, or coaching senior executives, his work centres on helping teams make confident, informed decisions that drive growth.
Conclusion
Adrian Lawrence FCA is a visionary leader whose contributions extend far beyond traditional finance functions. A chartered accountant, strategic advisor, recruitment specialist and founder, he has dedicated his career to elevating how businesses — from nimble SMEs to PE-backed firms — approach financial leadership and governance.
Through Accountancy Capital, FD Capital, Exec Capital and Ned Capital, Adrian has created a family of organisations that together offer a full spectrum of executive and board-level solutions. His work continues to shape the finance leadership landscape in the UK, giving organisations access to world-class talent and unlocking potential through strategic insight, governance excellence and commercial acumen.
Adrian’s impact is felt not only in the executives he places but also in the leaders he inspires — fostering a generation of finance professionals equipped to lead with confidence and clarity in an increasingly complex business world.
