Ciaran Maguire
Founder and lead consultant
18 years as an MD in manufacturing and distribution before starting the firm. Leads engagements in operational restructuring and strategic planning. Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA).
How we started
Astute Biz Advisors grew out of a frustration. Our founder, Ciaran Maguire, spent 18 years running mid-market companies in Northern Ireland. During that time he hired consultants three times. Twice the result was a glossy report that gathered dust. The third time, a hands-on adviser helped him turn around a struggling division in under four months. That experience shaped everything about how we work.
Ciaran started the firm in 2016 with one principle: never recommend something you would not do yourself. That meant staying small enough for senior people to lead every project, pricing transparently, and measuring success by client outcomes rather than billable hours.
We began with two consultants and a shared office in Belfast. Today we are a team of six, still based in Northern Ireland but working with clients across the UK. We have no plans to become a 200-person firm. Growth for its own sake is exactly the kind of bad strategy we advise our clients against.
What we believe
These are not slogans on a poster. They are the filters we use when deciding which projects to take on, how to structure our fees, and when to tell a client something they might not want to hear.
Specificity over generality
A recommendation that could apply to any business is not a recommendation. We ground every suggestion in your actual numbers, your actual team and your actual market. If we do not know your industry well enough, we say so before you sign anything.
Implementation over insight
An insight that never gets implemented is worth nothing. We stay involved through execution, track progress weekly, and adjust the plan when reality does not match the model.
Honesty over comfort
We will tell you if your pricing is wrong, if a product line should be shut down, or if a team member is in the wrong role. Paying for a consultant who only tells you what you want to hear is a waste of money.
Fixed fees over open-ended billing
We quote a fixed price for every engagement. If the scope changes, we agree a new price in writing before doing the extra work. No surprises on the invoice.
The team
Every person on our team has at least 15 years of experience working inside businesses, not just advising them. That means we understand the politics, the resource constraints and the reality of implementing change when people are already busy with their day jobs.
Laura Chen
Senior consultant
Background in retail and e-commerce operations. Spent 12 years at a UK high-street retailer before moving into consulting. Specialises in pricing strategy, customer segmentation and supply-chain cost reduction.
David Okonkwo
Financial modelling lead
Qualified ACA with 16 years in corporate finance, including five years at a Big Four firm. Builds the cash-flow models, financial projections and due-diligence packs that underpin our recommendations.
We also work with two associate consultants and a project coordinator. On larger engagements we bring in specialist associates for areas like HR restructuring or IT systems selection, but a core team member always leads the relationship.
Where to find us
Our office is in Jacobi-upon-Smitham, Northern Ireland. Most of our client meetings happen on-site at your premises, but you are welcome to visit us for an initial conversation.
Address: 7 Marks-Glover Side, Jacobi-upon-Smitham, Northern Ireland, WC9 0JJ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 7152 938427
Email: [email protected]