Public Finance Specialists

Independent thinking securing change and improvement

Boutique consultancy providing sector-specific knowledge and expertise to help councils and public bodies deliver lasting, meaningful change.

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30+
Years Combined Experience
£20m+
Benefits Delivered
100%
Public Sector Focused
UK
Nationwide Coverage
About Us

Deep sector expertise, focused on outcomes and measurable improvements

CMS Financial Advisory and Consulting Ltd is a boutique consultancy established to serve the public sector. We bring together decades of hands-on experience across financial management, organisational transformation, and strategic advisory.

Unlike large, generalist firms, we focus exclusively on the public sector. This means we understand the pressures public bodies face — from funding constraints and changing regulatory demands to the growing expectations of residents and stakeholders. We work alongside your teams, not above them, to build capacity, resilience and knowledge that endures long after our engagement ends.

Based in the UK, we partner with councils, combined authorities, and public bodies of all sizes to deliver practical, sustainable improvements grounded in real-world experience.

Our Promise

We are committed to honest, independent advice that puts your council and your residents first. Every recommendation we make is grounded in what works — not what's fashionable. We measure success by the lasting improvements our clients achieve, not by the length of our engagements.

Proven Track Record
Across the UK public sector
Partnership Approach
Working with your teams
Our Team

Led by experienced practitioners

Our directors bring direct, senior-level experience from within local government — meaning we understand your challenges because we've lived them.

Chris Mayo
Chris Mayo
Director & Consultant

Chris is a CIPFA qualified public sector leader with over two decades of local government experience. He specialises in strengthening the commercial approach of councils, with a proven track record in unlocking value and income generation. He combines strong technical expertise with strategic leadership to deliver sustainable improvements in performance and control.

Mark Shanahan
Mark Shanahan
Director & Consultant

Mark has a focus on financial strategy, medium-term planning, budget management and corporate governance. Known for his pragmatic approach, he uses independent thinking and deep sector knowledge to help shape and influence public policy. Mark helps councils navigate complex financial challenges with clarity and confidence.

What We Do

Services tailored to local government

We offer a focused range of advisory and consulting services designed specifically for the challenges and opportunities facing councils today.

Financial Strategy & Planning

Medium-term financial planning, budget setting, and strategic financial reviews to ensure your council is financially resilient and well-positioned for the future.

Organisational Transformation

Delivering change alongside existing Transformation partners, providing specialist finance knowledge and support. Developing business cases and financial modelling to support the programme.

Fees and Charges Reviews

Comprehensive review of sales, fees and charges levels and activity against peers, neighbouring authorities and relevant competitors within the private sector.

Governance & Assurance

Independent reviews of governance frameworks, risk management, and internal controls to give elected members and officers confidence in decision-making.

Service Reviews

Detailed analysis of service areas to identify improvement opportunities, benchmark performance, and develop evidence-based recommendations for change.

Performance Improvement

Working with your teams to establish clear performance frameworks, identify efficiency gains, and deliver measurable improvements in outcomes.

Why CMS

What sets us apart

We are not a large, multi-sector consultancy. We are specialists who have dedicated our careers to local government. This focus makes a real difference to the quality and relevance of our advice.

01

Sector-Specific Knowledge

Every member of our team has direct local government experience. We speak your language and understand the political, financial, and operational challenges you face.

02

Practical, Not Theoretical

Our recommendations are grounded in what has worked in practice. We focus on achievable improvements that deliver real, lasting value.

03

Boutique & Personal

You will work directly with senior consultants throughout your engagement — not with juniors learning on the job. We invest in relationships built on trust.

04

Sustainability First

We design solutions that your teams can own and sustain after we leave. Lasting improvement, not dependency, is always the goal.

Contact Us

Let's start a conversation

Whether you have a specific challenge in mind or simply want to explore how we might help, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Email
query@cms-financial.co.uk
Location
United Kingdom

Office Hours

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM GMT. We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day.

Send Us a Message

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