We help finance organisations become more efficient, more controlled, and more effective — by aligning people, processes and systems to deliver measurable performance.
Four areas of deep expertise, grounded in real-world experience leading Finance functions inside some of the world's most complex financial institutions.
Having previously established and optimised Finance function Global Capability Centres, we assist clients in managing and optimising their GCCs — from location strategy and people frameworks to performance and governance.
Learn more →We lead multi-year transformation programmes, delivering mandatory and strategic change — including Finance system capability reviews, architecture design, and Fintech partnerships to solve specific Finance function challenges.
Learn more →We help organisations build high-performing offshore finance teams with confidence and clarity — from identifying optimal locations to designing operating models, governance, and end-to-end processes.
Learn more →We develop leaders and teams who thrive in technology-enabled environments — through capability assessments, development pathways, coaching, and succession planning that builds lasting Finance function strength.
Learn more →French & Wattle was founded when two senior leaders left a major global financial institution with a shared conviction: that Finance organisations could work far better — and that the path to improvement required someone who had actually done it from the inside.
Together, Serena Tolley and Etienne Marot bring over four decades of global banking leadership across Finance operations, reporting, risk, regulation, and transformation. Their vision is to support organisations using practical experience and deep expertise to deliver tangible outcomes, not just recommendations.
Meet the founding team"Our mission is simple — make Finance organisations more efficient, more controlled, and more effective."
Serena Tolley & Etienne Marot, Co-FoundersAs a boutique financial services consultancy, we specialise in transforming finance functions through people-centred design and modern technology — creating high-performing, future-ready organisations that unlock value and fuel sustainable growth.
Finance is powered by people. We prioritise collaboration, capability, and culture — ensuring every solution empowers teams, builds confidence, and elevates human performance alongside the right technology.
We use technology to solve real problems — not to create complexity. Our focus is on practical, scalable solutions that streamline processes, enhance insight, and enable smarter ways of working.
We believe great strategies mean nothing without delivery. We take ownership, move with urgency, and execute with precision — turning ideas into measurable outcomes for our clients.
Finance transformation programmes are ambitious, expensive, and all too often fall short of their promise. Understanding the root causes of failure is the first step to getting it right.
A well-designed Finance technology stack should enable insight, automation, and control. Most don't. Here's what a future-ready architecture actually looks like.
The Finance leaders of tomorrow need a different profile than those of the past. Technical depth alone is no longer enough — and the most effective organisations are already investing accordingly.
Let's start with a conversation. We'd welcome the opportunity to understand your challenges and explore how we can help.
