At Avanguard, our ambition is to become Atlantic Canada’s strategic financial and risk management partner of choice. Through fractional CFO and CRO services, we give SMEs, nonprofit organizations, public-sector institutions, and larger corporations access to senior financial and risk expertise without the cost or rigidity of hiring an additional full-time executive.
Three principles guide us toward that ambition: we are value-focused, forward-looking, and client-centric.
Value-focused and Forward-looking
Traditional accounting firms play an essential role in maintaining accurate financial records, preparing financial statements and tax returns, supporting external audits and reporting historical performance. Avanguard complements these services by helping leadership teams look ahead. For instance, we review your financial statements and management accounts, and identify opportunities to improve your future cash flow. We build financial models to support future investment decisions, pricing, market expansion, new product development and other strategic change initiatives, thereby helping our clients CREATE VALUE. Our risk management services help our clients anticipate uncertainty, strengthen resilience and PROTECT VALUE for their shareholders, stakeholders and communities.
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Our client-immersion approach
We believe meaningful advice begins with a genuine understanding of the client’s organization, operating environment and stakeholders. For this reason, Avanguard follows an “in-residence” consulting model. Whenever appropriate, we spend time at our clients’ premises, observe their operations and engage with employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders. This helps us understand the realities behind the numbers, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and recommend solutions that are practical and relevant.
Client immersion is more than being physically present. It means accompanying clients and stakeholders on the front line, listening carefully, learning continuously and building relationships that extend beyond a conventional client-consultant engagement.
Over the past weeks, we have visited numerous SMEs, nonprofit organizations, municipalities and community stakeholders across the Saint John region. Here are three recent examples.
Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce
We recently visited Lisa Pattman of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce while she was working from ConnexionWorks’ Grand Bay-Westfield location. The visit gave us an opportunity to learn more about the facility, interact briefly with students completing summer employment placements and meet the town’s Acting Chief Administrative Officer, whose office is located in the same building.
We seize this opportunity to thank the Chamber for placing its trust in Avanguard by inviting us to deliver a Lunch and Learn presentation on risk management maturity on July 14. Opportunities like these encourage important conversations about how organizations can move from reactive risk management toward more structured and resilient practices.
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Supporting the Outflow Ministry
Last Friday, we visited the Outflow Ministry’s fundraising barbecue, which took place outside Giant Tiger Uptown Saint John. Our participation was a small way of supporting an organization doing important work in the community. Outflow Ministry is a Saint John-based, faith-driven charity that supports people experiencing poverty by addressing challenges including unemployment, hunger, homelessness and barriers to healthcare. Its services include community meals, shelter, employment training and social-enterprise initiatives.
Homelessness and poverty remain complex challenges requiring sustained collaboration among governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations and community members. We recognize Outflow Ministry and the many other organizations working to restore dignity, create opportunities and strengthen the Saint John community.
WorkingNB at International Culturefest 2026
We also enjoyed visiting the International Culturefest 2026, which took place on Water Street in Uptown Saint John last Sunday, August 2, 2026. The event showcased the cultural diversity and community spirit of our region. We appreciated the opportunity to engage with representatives from the participating organizations and cultural communities, including PRUDE Inc., Ubuntu, and the Scottish, Indian, Chinese and Palestinian stands. The dance performance presented by the Sudanese community in Saint John was noteworthy and remarkable.
During the event, we spent time with Ayman Jaouni, a Workforce Consultant with WorkingNB in Saint John. WorkingNB provides valuable support to New Brunswick job seekers seeking career and training opportunities, while helping employers address recruitment, retention and workforce-training needs.
WorkingNB LFT Subsidy
Speaking of WorkingNB, it is worth interjecting that organizations that have already registered for Avanguard’s upcoming Risk Management Training may be eligible for financial assistance through WorkingNB’s Labour Force Training program. Depending on WorkingNB’s assessment, eligible participants may be reimbursed up to 50% of the risk management training fee. Interested organizations should contact a WorkingNB Workforce Consultant and obtain approval before the training begins. When applying for WorkingNB LFT training assistance, attach the Risk Management Training Proposal to the application form.
Register for the Risk Management Training
Every organization and stakeholder we visit matters to us, including those not featured in this article. These interactions deepen our understanding of the region and help us deliver financial and risk management solutions grounded in the realities our clients and communities face.
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