Numbers are Chocolate Cake: Scaling Your Fractional Finance with Fiona Purves

About this episode

Brenda Hector interviews Fiona Purves about the importance of understanding business numbers and scaling finance departments for small businesses.

Are you spending three hours a week on bookkeeping when you should be making sales? Dr. Brenda Hector is joined by Fiona Purves , owner of Defacto FD , to discuss why your business numbers are more than just a tax bill—they are the story of your success. Fiona shares her transition from corporate industry to setting up a "pick and mix" finance department for small businesses. We dive into the importance of professional accreditation, why your bookkeeper might be feeling "professionally lonely," and how Fiona’s background as a yoga teacher brings a philosophy of "Karma Yoga" (selfless service) to her accounting practice. Key Takeaways: The Defacto Model: Scaling your finance department up and down based on your current needs. The Novel in the Numbers: Learning to see the real story behind the profit and loss sheet. The Un-Photoshopped Version: Why your accountant is your most trusted, judgment-free sounding board. Dooking and Balance: Why wild dipping and walking are Fiona's "non-negotiables" for avoiding burnout.

People in this episode

Host: Brenda Hector

Guest: Fiona Purves

Topics covered

• bookkeeping
• finance
• business growth
• professional accreditation
• work-life balance

Keywords

• bookkeeping
• finance department
• business success
• Karma Yoga
• accounting

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Defacto FD

More episodes of Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success

• The Ripple Effect: Mindset, Leadership and Scaling with Purpose — with Julie McCann · June 12, 2026 · 34 min
• From Dream to Ice Cream: How Jules Fleming Turned Intuition Into a Thriving Business · June 8, 2026 · 40 min
• Two Founders, Six Boys, and One Shared Mission: Scaling Flexibly with Lisa Gallagher and Nikki Slowey · June 5, 2026 · 37 min
• Killing the Monster Business: Finding the Courage to Exit with Oyin Adekola · June 2, 2026 · 45 min
• Beyond Box-Ticking: Driving Commercial Growth Through Social Value with Sarah Stone · May 28, 2026 · 39 min
• Walking Away from "Success": Pivoting to Avoid Burnout with Iska Walter · May 25, 2026 · 35 min