About us
At FBP Academy®, we are your one-stop shop for supercharging your finance career. We ignite passion, boost skills and propel finance professionals to become world-class business partners.
Our mission
Our mission is simple. We empower finance professionals to transform from number crunchers to strategic business partners who drive meaningful impact. We provide the tools and knowledge needed to supercharge confidence and turn finance teams into valued assets within organisations, all in a fun and interactive learning environment.
Comprehensive training solutions
We offer a wide range of cutting-edge training solutions, from our flagship 12-month FBP Transformation Programme to 1-day, half-day and 90-minute sessions – and so much more! Our courses are all designed to be immersive, fun and packed with actionable insights.
Award-winning training
We’re a proud ‘Provider of Training Excellence’, and we’re delighted to have earned recognition and awards from some respected industry organisations.
Best Online Training Services Provider
Business Training & Education Awards UK, 2024
Best Online Training Services Provider
Business Training & Education Awards UK, 2024
GENCFO Pioneer Award
Winner 2023
Digital Finance Function Awards
Shortlister 2022
Ilkley Business Awards
Finalist 2016
Meet the team
At the heart of FBP Academy® is our team of enthusiastic, seasoned finance professionals. Each brings their own unique expertise to the table, but we share the same contagious energy and passion for bringing subjects to life.
Andi Lonnen
FCCA, Founder & CEO
Andi brings a contagious energy and passion to delivering training. An international trainer, conference speaker and author, Andi is also a fully qualified FCCA accountant with extensive experience as a Finance Director. Her trademark upbeat and enthusiastic approach ensures skills can be implemented immediately.
Sophie Turner
MSc, CGMA, Former Finance Business Partner
With a Master’s degree in International Business Management and experience in various sectors including financial accounts, healthcare and supply chain, Sophie brings a wealth of knowledge to her training sessions. Her diverse background allows her to tailor training sessions that resonate with audiences of all levels, ensuring they’re always relevant and practical.
Nikki Wild
CGMA, Former Finance Director
Following an impressive 18-year career as an accountant and Finance Director, Nikki brings a unique blend of financial expertise, management skills and coaching qualifications to her sessions. An accredited CPD coach with certifications including NLP, CMI (L4) and Goal Mapping, Nikki empowers participants and provides them with the motivation to succeed.
Andy Gifford
FCCA, Former Managing Director & Finance Director
Andy’s diverse background is a true testament to his versatility. He has accumulated a wealth of expertise across roles in finance, procurement, shared services and real estate. This multifaceted perspective allows him to bring a unique depth to his training sessions, so participants gain a well-rounded understanding of finance business partnering.
Ismail Hafeji
Now a trainer, mentor & coach, Ismail has a background as a strategic and operational NHS Director of Finance with over 14 years of Board level experience and an outstanding track record of implementing financial strategies, delivering statutory duties and building organisational resilience.
With an engaging personal style with highly developed communication skills, Ismail is skilled at motivating and empowering staff to break through barriers and achieve outstanding results.
Ann Lucas
FCCA, former Deputy Finance Director
A qualified accountant (FCCA), Ann has enjoyed a long & varied career holding senior level roles in Finance, Programme Management & Workforce Development.
Now a career development coach & trainer for Finance Training Academy, Ann was also a Branch Executive member of the Healthcare Finance Management Association (HFMA), as well as being Chair of two ACCA Member Network Panels. She is also the founder, chair & award winner of various personal development networks for finance & other professional groups.
Nick Auer
Nick leads Finance and Training strategy work across central and local government organisations. He is an expert in learning and development. Nick has deep expertise in implementing training strategies, undertaking training needs analysis, designing and delivering training, as well as the evaluation of its effectiveness. Much of this work relates to financial management, business cases and procurement but he has also worked on many consulting skills and soft skills programmes.
Nick is a highly experienced consultant who has worked with many public sector organisations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their finance functions. He has also implemented business change programmes in the areas of Output Management, Procurement and Performance improvement.
Nick has also led capacity building programmes in the areas of Value for Money and sustainability for local authorities. He is a qualified accountant, a certified practitioner of NLP and a Prince 2 practitioner.
Stephen Bailey
ACA, Finance Director, Trainer, Coach & Coaching Psychology
With a very practical training approach, Stephen’s passion is to develop financial and commercial awareness. Material is delivered in an easily understood and engaging manner and newly acquired knowledge has immediate relevance to the workplace. Having worked as a senior financial professional for over twenty years in various industries and business ownership structures, Stephen brings a wide range of experience to share with both finance and non-finance professionals alike.
Furthermore, Stephen completed with merit his Post Graduate Certificate in Executive and Business Coaching in 2016 and Post Graduate Diploma in Coaching Psychology in 2018 both from Leeds Beckett University. The Certificate course is accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and both courses are founded in a Gestalt methodology. Passion for working with individuals and teams to help them grow and develop though raising awareness of current circumstances and exploring possibilities for change.
Stephen is a fully qualified ACA accountant and a current part-time Finance Director.
Zoe Lawrence
MBA, FCCA
Starting her finance career with Baker Tilly, Zoe has a strong financial background working in auditing, practice & subsequently managing a SME for over 10 years.
Now with an MBA, Zoe joined University of Gloucestershire Business School where she is now a Senior lecturer in Accounting & Finance as well as overseeing all Business School apprenticeships & managing the courses for the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship and Senior Leader Degree Apprenticeship.
Begin your journey today
Ready to embark on a transformational journey with FBP Academy®? We’re here to take your finance career to the next level. Contact us today to get started.