In this episode of Beyond SEO, Glen and Kevin are joined by Jack Moore, founder of My Finance Function, to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of sustainable growth: financial clarity.
As we move into 2026, rising costs, tighter margins, and increased wage pressure mean that “hoping the numbers work out” is no longer a viable strategy. This conversation cuts through compliance-led finance and focuses on what founders actually need: visibility, forecasting, and decision-grade numbers.
Why compliance-only finance holds businesses back
Jack began his career in traditional accountancy, focusing on audit, compliance, and statutory reporting. He later transitioned away from that model for a simple reason: filing accounts on time does not help founders make better day-to-day decisions.
“Running a successful business is clearly not just making sure accounts are filed on time.”
For many businesses, finance is still treated as a necessary cost rather than a strategic tool. The result is predictable: founders know what happened last quarter but not what will happen next.
The biggest mistake founders make: only looking backwards
A recurring theme in the episode is the risk of depending solely on historical data. Management accounts and annual reports provide insight into the past but do not equip you for future challenges.
“A lot of business owners underestimate how important it is to project forward.”
Looking ahead involves modeling scenarios that have not yet occurred, such as wage increases, price changes, hiring decisions, or reduced demand. These projections can be unsettling because they depend on assumptions, but ignoring them does not eliminate the associated risks.
2026 reality: rising costs force real decisions
The conversation turns to cost pressure heading into 2026, particularly the impact of minimum wage and National Living Wage increases in the UK.
Find more statistics at Statista
According to the UK government, National Living Wage rates continue to rise, directly affecting labour-heavy businesses across retail, hospitality, logistics, and services. You can see the latest official figures on GOV.UK.
Jack explains that businesses are left with three options:
- Increase prices
- Absorb the cost and accept margin compression
- Redesign how the business operates
None of these decisions can be made sensibly without forward-looking financial models.
Cash flow is still the real constraint
Profit on paper does not keep a business alive. Cash does. Jack repeatedly stresses that cash flow — not revenue, not growth — is the limiting factor for most businesses.
“Cash flow is key.”
Common structural issues include:
- Customers paying on long credit terms
- Suppliers requiring faster payment
- Marketing and hiring decisions made without cash runway visibility
These problems often only become visible when it’s already too late to react calmly.
Why marketing budgets are often cut first
The episode also explores a tension many founders and marketers recognise: marketing spend is often the first thing cut when cash tightens.
Not because it’s unimportant — but because some activities (SEO, brand, content) don’t produce immediate cash inflow. When cash is tight, businesses prioritise survival.
The long-term risk is obvious: cutting future demand to protect short-term cash often creates the same problem again 6–12 months later.
Bootstrapping vs funding: when does investment make sense?
Jack takes a pragmatic view on funding. External investment isn’t “good” or “bad” — it’s contextual.
If a founder wants controlled, lifestyle-scale growth, bootstrapping can work. If the goal is rapid scale, funding may be necessary to build delivery capacity before revenue catches up.
“If you grow too quickly and you’re not able to deliver, you’re not going to build a good name for the business.”
He also highlights a common failure pattern: overspending simply because investment is available, followed by repeated cost-cutting cycles when reality catches up.
AI, automation, and the future of finance
Looking ahead, Jack expects bookkeeping and transaction processing to become increasingly automated through platforms like Xero and QuickBooks.
This isn’t about removing humans from finance — it’s about shifting human effort away from manual processing and toward interpretation, planning, and decision support.
“You always need to verify what the output is.”
AI can surface insights quickly, but businesses still need experienced advisers to ensure accuracy and context — especially when decisions involve tax, cash, or hiring.
Jack’s core advice for 2026
The episode closes with a simple but uncompromising message:
“Financial clarity is not a luxury. It’s a necessity now.”
As costs rise and margins tighten, businesses that understand their numbers — and act on them early — retain control. Those who don’t are forced into reactive decisions.
Where to find Jack Moore
You can connect with Jack on LinkedIn or learn more about My Finance Function here:
If you found this episode useful, make sure to follow Beyond SEO for more conversations that go deeper than surface-level tactics.
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