Learning by Questions (LbQ) develops and provides award-winning, curriculum-aligned software for schools, combining real-time assessment and instant feedback to drive faster learning and improved attainment. They also used to provide hardware to schools across the UK. As demand grew, Pauline was hired to support the team across supply chain management, finance processes, internal reporting and forecasting. They brought Pauline in as their fractional CFO to strengthen all these areas.
What Pauline Delivered
Supply Chain, Sourcing & Supplier Management
When LbQ was selling hardware into schools, Pauline’s background in supply chain and logistics became essential. Greg from LbQ explains:
“Her experience in the supply chain (specifically sourcing from the Chinese market), logistics and supplier management provided just what we needed to operate a smooth process.”
Pauline focused on strengthening supplier relationships, negotiating better commercial terms, and ensuring the business had the right agreements in place to protect both the company and the end customer.
As Greg puts it:
“Pauline was key to getting the correct contract terms and agreements in place with our suppliers, as well as ensuring our warranty and support processes met customer expectations.”
Finance Process Review & Systems Upgrade
Alongside the operational work, Pauline took a leading role in reviewing and improving the company’s finance function.
From Greg: “Pauline also came in to help review and overhaul our finance processes. She led the upgrade of our internal systems as well as the design and implementation of day to day rigorous processes.”
This work created stronger structure, better controls, and clearer visibility across the numbers – all essential for a growing distribution business.
Management Reporting With Real Insight
Pauline also rebuilt LbQ’s internal management reporting and forecasting processes so the team could make confident, data-driven decisions.
Greg says: “Pauline… led work on our internal management reporting processes, helping to get us to a point where we have excellent insight to all the data we need to make the key decisions on an ongoing basis.”
This reporting framework now supports operational planning, financial forecasting, and strategic decision-making across the team.
Mentoring & Upskilling the Finance Team
Pauline continues to act as a key part of the LbQ team, providing ongoing fractional CFO support with oversight of both finance and operations.
Greg highlights: “Pauline continues to operate as a key part of our team on a fractional CFO basis, with a keen oversight of the internal finance and operations processes.”
A core part of her role includes developing and mentoring the internal finance lead and supporting the senior leadership team:
“[She provides] mentoring [to] the day to day financial lead, and valued input and counsel to the SLT.”
This long-term relationship has strengthened the financial capability inside the business, not just the processes.
The Impact
Every outcome listed here comes directly from Greg’s testimonial, summarising the value Pauline brought:
- A smoother, more reliable supply-chain process
- Correct commercial terms and supplier agreements
- Warranty and support processes aligned with customer expectations
- Upgraded financial systems and rigorous day-to-day processes
- Clear, high-quality management reporting and forecasting
- Stronger decision-making across the business
- Ongoing CFO-level input, support, and mentoring
Greg concludes: “Working with Pauline has been an excellent experience. As a strategically focused, results oriented person, she has helped shape the way we have built the business over the last few years.”
About Pauline
Pauline Healey is the founder of Logical BI, an outsourced CFO and financial advisory practice supporting manufacturing and service businesses. A CIMA-qualified accountant with an MBA and over 25 years’ senior leadership experience, Pauline provides strategic financial guidance without the fixed overhead of a full-time Finance Director.
