uFlexReward is a fast-moving technology company that helps businesses manage total employee rewards – pulling salary, bonus, benefits and share plan data into a single real-time platform. Reporting into a global public company, uFlexReward faces all the audit and compliance demands of a listed business – but operates with a lean, agile startup mindset.
When CEO Leigh Bornstein decided it was time to rethink how they handled finance, she had a clear goal: Keep the team light. Stay strategic. Avoid the cost and complexity of an in-house CFO.
“I don’t think startups really need full-time CFOs,” Leigh explains. “What they need is flexibility – someone who can handle the day-to-day financials, but also be a real strategic partner when needed. That’s what I was looking for.”
After speaking to several providers, Leigh chose Standard Ledger.
Why? Unlike many firms offering only accounting services, Standard Ledger combined fractional finance support with true CFO-level strategic input – exactly what uFlexReward needed to stay compliant, audit-ready and agile.
If you’re considering a similar approach for your startup, find out how our fractional CFO service works.
Making the Shift
Standard Ledger helped uFlexReward transition from a traditional finance structure to a fractional model, handling everything from audit prep to monthly reporting – without losing the strategic insight Leigh needed as CEO.
“There were a few bumps at the start, which you’d expect when you’re changing how you work,” Leigh says. “But once Michael Budnow (Managing Partner) got directly involved, it was night and day. He really took the time to understand our business – not just file accounts, but support decision-making at a strategic level.”
Today, the partnership has helped uFlexReward:
- Save time and cost by operating without a full-time CFO.
- Stay compliant with public company reporting requirements.
- Keep leadership focus where it matters – on scaling the business.
“It’s made a huge difference to me personally,” Leigh adds. “Being able to lean on a trusted finance partner lets me focus more on my CEO and COO responsibilities.”
A Model Built for the Future
For Leigh, working with Standard Ledger is about more than just finance – it’s about changing how startups think about building leadership teams.
“Fractional C-Suite support is the future,” she says. “I’ve already recommended Standard Ledger to other founders. The flexibility and strategic support they offer has been a game-changer for us.”
If you’d like to explore whether a fractional model could work for your business, get in touch with our UK team.
