Matt is no stranger to the business, having worked with LAVA as a client at his former firm before becoming our fractional Head of Finance in 2024. As LAVA's growth journey continues apace, the time was right to bring Matt into the team full time.
A self-confessed 'numbers guy', Matt knew early on that he wanted to pursue a career in finance and dived into an accountancy apprenticeship at 18, gaining experience in a junior role before moving to a boutique practice where he was able to develop hands-on technical skills and work more closely with clients. The small team and intimate environment allowed Matt to accelerate quickly, progressing through roles and building strong commercial experience right from the start of his career. In 2021 he joined RPD where he continued to grow his responsibilities, achieving three promotions during his time there and taking on the role of LAVA's company accountant, preparing the firm's statutory accounts and developing a strong working relationship with Simon and the wider team.
As LAVA expanded, so did the need for more dedicated finance support. What began as a client relationship evolved into Matt stepping in as fractional Head of Finance in August 2024, supporting the firm through its next stage of growth. With the increasing scale and ambition of the business, the decision to bring Matt on board full time was a natural next step.
Matt says the culture at LAVA was a big factor in his decision to make the move in-house:
In his role as Head of Finance, Matt will focus on supporting LAVA's continued growth, strengthening financial oversight, and helping the leadership team make informed decisions as the business scales. He's particularly interested in developing the way financial insights support strategic decision-making across the firm:
'I'm looking forward to developing further in how I work with the board and the wider team – helping translate the technical financial side into something that's clear and useful for decision-making. Ultimately, it's about supporting the team and helping LAVA continue to grow in the right way, that preserves what a special place it is.'
Outside of work, Matt lives in Surrey with his girlfriend Molly. A keen sports fan and long-suffering Chelsea supporter, he spends much of his free time taking on physical challenges, from charity hikes to endurance events.
This year he'll be running the London Marathon as part of #TeamWellChild (with a little encouragement – or heavy bullying – from the LAVA team), and is already eyeing his next challenge: tackling the Three Peaks!
Welcome to the team, Matt!