Local Government Specialists

Sustainable improvements for local government

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

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40+
Years Combined Experience
20+
Council Engagements
100%
Public Sector Focused
UK
Nationwide Coverage
About Us

Deep sector expertise, delivered with care

CMS Financial Advisory and Consulting Ltd is a boutique consultancy established to serve local government. 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 councils face — from funding constraints and regulatory demands to the growing expectations of residents. We work alongside your teams, not above them, to build capacity 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 brings over two decades of experience in local government finance, having held senior positions including Section 151 Officer roles across multiple councils. His expertise spans financial strategy, medium-term planning, budget management, and corporate governance. Chris is known for his pragmatic approach, helping councils navigate complex financial challenges with clarity and confidence.

Mark Shanahan
Mark Shanahan
Director & Consultant

Mark has extensive experience leading transformation and improvement programmes across local authorities. With a background spanning strategic management, service redesign, and performance improvement, Mark works closely with leadership teams to identify opportunities for sustainable change. He is passionate about building organisational capacity that delivers better outcomes for residents.

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

Designing and delivering change programmes that improve efficiency, strengthen services, and build capacity — all while maintaining service continuity.

Interim Management

Experienced interim support for senior finance and management roles, providing continuity and expertise during periods of transition or vacancy.

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 realities 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
info@cmsadvisory.co.uk
Phone
+44 (0) 20 7946 0123
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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