What kind of engineering work qualifies for R&D relief?

Far more than most firms think. Bespoke design, resolving technical uncertainty, prototyping and process improvement all typically qualify. I identify the qualifying work and build a defensible claim.

Can you help price complex, technical contracts?

Yes. We model contract scenarios and true project cost so your pricing reflects the technical risk you are actually carrying, not last year's rates.

Do you work with both consultancies and physical engineering firms?

Yes. Design consultancies, mechanical and electrical contractors, industrial engineers and specialist manufacturers all sit within my sweet spot.

How do you handle capital allowances on specialist equipment?

I review every asset purchase for allowances on tooling, machinery, software and integration work. Many engineering firms leave meaningful relief on the table each year.

Will you help us look tender-ready?

Yes. Clean, forward-looking financials and proper project reporting make a real difference when tendering for major contracts or framework agreements.

Sectors / Engineering & Industrial

Finance that understands technical project work.

Engineering margin lives in the detail: contract pricing, project economics, professional indemnity, and the R&D you are already doing without claiming for it. I turn that detail into clear numbers you can act on.

Book a deep dive

The problem

Winning technical work, but not sure which contracts pay?

As you move from ad hoc consulting to structured project delivery, the financial picture gets harder to read. You are investing in specialist staff and software, carrying professional indemnity costs, and pricing complex contracts with real technical risk. Without proper project costing, it is easy to be busy and still leave margin on the table.

Darren Jasper presenting to business owners

What I do for engineering firms

Clear numbers from the technical detail.

Project costing and contract analysis

Model different contract scenarios and track profitability by project, so your pricing reflects the real cost and risk, not guesswork.

R&D tax claims

A lot of technical design and problem-solving qualifies for R&D relief that never gets claimed. I identify the qualifying work and make sure you get what you are entitled to.

Capital allowances on equipment and software

Claim the allowances on specialist equipment, tooling and software that many firms miss, improving both tax and cashflow.

Structure and tender readiness

Efficient structuring for partnership or limited company status, plus clean, forward-looking financials that stand up when you tender for major contracts.

The difference

Cross-over strength with a tax lens.

Cross-over strength matters here. My background in financial analysis means I read project- and asset-heavy businesses well, and as a Chartered Tax Adviser I bring the tax angle most finance directors cannot. I sit alongside your existing bookkeeper and accountant, doing the proactive work that connects profit, cash and tax.

How this plays out

A typical first 90 days with an engineering client.

01
Deep dive
Review live contracts, project economics and technical spend. Identify unclaimed R&D and the capital allowances hidden in tooling, equipment and software.
02
Quick wins
File the R&D claim you have been sitting on, rebuild project costing so bids reflect real cost and risk, and tighten pricing on the contracts that pay.
03
Ongoing rhythm
Real-time project profitability, tender-ready financials and tax planning woven through every decision, so growth does not quietly cost you margin.

Client outcomes

Real transformations, not just case studies.

Moved from Sage to Xero and supported with Fractional CFO work through a management buy-out: significant change in both systems and ownership.

Solum SW Ltd

From employee, through redundancy, to running a £1.5m business. Forecasting, tax planning, monthly meetings and personal tax in one holistic relationship.

Ability Care Solutions Ltd

After 43 years with a compliance-only accountant: succession planning, restructuring, refinancing and bringing the next generation into the business.

Combers Limited

Services

The support we offer.

GROWTH

Fractional CFO support

Board-level financial leadership, without the full-time cost. Direction, forecasting and tax strategy.

See how CFO support works

Control

Financial Controller support

Reporting and control you can actually trust, on time, every month.

Improve financial visibility

Foundations

Operational Finance support

Accurate, up-to-date books that everything else is built on.

Build stronger finance foundations

FAQs

Common questions from engineering firms.

Want to see which contracts actually earn their margin?

No jargon, no pressure. Just a clear look at your numbers and the decisions that will improve them. Let's start with a deep dive.

Worth a conversation?

Resources

Resources for engineering firms.

Strategy

The 7 KPIs Every Owner-Managed Business Should Watch Monthly

Forget vanity metrics. These seven numbers tell you whether your business is actually getting healthier.

21 May 2026 11 min read

Strategic finance

When your business has outgrown year end accounting: what a Fractional CFO actually does

A Fractional CFO gives growing businesses senior financial leadership without the full-time salary. Here is what one does and how to know if you need one.

16 Jul 2026 8 min read