Services
Audit & Assurance
External, internal and joint venture audit services
Business Advisory
Management accounts, strategic planning, profit improvement, ESG
Corporate Finance
M&A advisory, selling a business, fundraising, valuations, due diligence
ESG
Baseline assessments, materiality assessments, carbon footprint and sustainability reporting
Hotel Accounting
Accounting function, automation, daily reconciliations and dashboards, accounts payable
Payroll & Employment
Payroll, global mobility, employee benefits, employment taxes
Private Clients & High Net Worth Individuals
Tax planning & compliance, tax residence and domicile, trust planning
Restructuring & Recovery
Business rescue, liquidations, administrations, insolvency, debt recovery
Tax
Corporate tax, customs duty, VAT, R&D, tax investigations, international tax
Virtual Finance
Bespoke service providing real-time information about your business performance
More from AAB
AAB PEOPLE
Full-service people consultancy – human resources, learning and development
AAB WEALTH
Financial planning, cash flow modelling, retirement planning
AAB Consulting
Business consultancy helping organisations with the challenge of change
Sectors
Business Services
Professional services, medical, recruitment and media
Construction & Property
Property developers, construction companies, housebuilders, landlords
Energy
Renewables, clean energy, energy producers, energy transition, exploration and production
Family Business
Specialist support for businesses owned/managed by families
Food & Drink
Food & drink producers, processors, importers, wholesalers and retailers
Industrial
Engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, shipping, distribution
Leisure, Retail and Hospitality
Fashion, entertainment, activity centres, hoteliers
Not For Profit
Charities, social housing, higher and further education institutions
Public Sector
Government, non-departmental public bodies, health boards, ALEOS
Technology
Software companies, tech start-ups, cybersecurity firms, and AI innovators.
About
AABout Us
Our story
Our Team
Meet the specialists
Careers
Join the AAB team
Diversity & Inclusion
Building a business where everyone feels they belong
Growing Sustainably - ESG
ESG – Our commitment to building a sustainable business
News
Latest news from across AAB Group
AABIE
AAB charitable initiative
Latest deal boosts AAB Wealth assets under advice beyond £1 billion
Insights
Blogs
Stay informed with cutting-edge news for business growth. Our experts offer industry insights and invaluable advice on accountancy and business strategies.
Case studies
Explore insightful case studies tailored to specific industries, offering invaluable lessons and strategies for success.
Webinars & Events
Engage with dynamic webinars and events tailored to your interests, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities.
ESG Diligence: The Key To Sustainable M&A Transactions
AAB / Our Team / Mark Bain
LinkedIn
Meet the Virtual Finance team
Family-Owned Businesses. Owner Managed Businesses. Private Equity Businesses.
Permanent, Interim and Fractional CFO & FD Support. Finance Team Expertise and Resource. Management information. Board reporting. KPI setting and reporting. Process and transactional support.
Professional Services. Leisure. Live Entertainment. Event Management. Corporate and Retail Hospitality.
Mark Bain is a Virtual Finance Function (VFF) Partner based in our Leeds office, where he leads the VFF team across both Leeds and the North of England. As a partner, he is instrumental in ensuring that businesses receive high-quality CFO and FD specialist skillsets tailored to their specific needs. With a wealth of experience, Mark has an impressive background in supporting organisations within the professional services, leisure, retail, and hospitality sectors, helping them to achieve financial excellence. His deep understanding of these industries and his ability to drive impactful results have made him key in delivering value to his clients.
Mark is known for providing insightful and actionable financial information that enables businesses to make informed decisions. His expertise lies in leveraging specialist KPI reporting, enhancing board reporting, and creating efficient finance functions. By diving deeper into management information, Mark ensures his clients are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive landscape.
“I believe that building genuine, long-lasting relationships with clients is essential to delivering exceptional service. I strongly value the personal element in my work, as I feel that meaningful connections are the foundation for understanding clients’ needs and offering tailored financial guidance that will help them achieve their goals.
I’m committed to ensuring that my support truly adds value, and I find that my ability to help clients succeed is directly linked to the strength of our relationship. By fostering trust and collaboration, I can act as a dependable partner in their financial journey.”
“I love when the support and advice I provide help clients get into a better financial situation, allowing them to take important steps forward in their business journey. Clients work with us because they know we have the expertise and knowledge, but it’s our responsibility to show them that we also provide consistent support and reliability in every engagement. That means working to agreed deadlines and ensuring regular communication. This approach helps us develop a relationship built on trust, allowing me to be a dependable resource. I aim to exceed expectations by offering reliability and guidance that makes a genuine difference.”
“I often say that VFF is a virtual service, but that doesn’t have to be literal. To build the personal relationships I strive for, I focus on being as hands-on as possible. I want to be present, understanding my clients’ businesses and what they’re hoping to achieve right there alongside them, in the office. There’s so much value to be gained from spending time with clients and getting to know them and their teams.
However, I also recognise the power of technology. It helps us create efficiency in our clients’ finance functions and allows us to support more businesses, wherever they may be. By giving clients access to our team of experts, we help them thrive beyond geographical boundaries.”
“I have spent years working in both practice and in industry. This has been invaluable in helping me to develop my knowledge, skills, and experience, to support our clients in the best way possible. From my time working in industry, I’ve been on the ground facing the same challenges as my clients. I can relate first hand to my client’s circumstances and this experience allows me to provide practical alternative solutions to the challenges they face.
This isn’t just unique to me, however. Across the VFF team, we have a depth of knowledge and experience that enables us to be a flexible and highly skilled team that can provide the extra horsepower and capacity to our client’s finance teams when needed. The real value in our service delivery is our teams’s agility and our ability to provide clients with the right people and expertise for their requirements.”
“At my core, I’m a people person. I love that in my role, I get to work with such a diverse portfolio of clients, meaning every day is different for me. Across AAB, I also have the privilege of working with a high calibre of people—experts in their fields who are always willing to lend an ear or a hand in support when needed.
That’s why I resonate so deeply with our value that nothing is more important than our people. It’s true for me because I see the direct benefits every day. When everyone in the workplace feels valued and knows their contribution makes a difference, it’s rewarding not just for our teams but for the clients we support as well.”
“There’s this perception that accountants are boring—I’m sure you’ve heard it too. But I’m here to tell you it’s not true. Through accountancy, I’ve met so many incredible people, worked in the most exciting industries, and travelled around the world. My career has been so varied and interesting, and I hate that people think we’re just number crunchers sitting with calculators. We are so much more than that!”