As a partner at Opus Business Advisory Group, Adrian Dante combines hands-on management with strategic oversight to help businesses navigate financial and operational challenges
Business is a volatile thing. Some organisations have a legacy that lasts centuries, weathering countless economic storms and adapting to changing times, whereas others are short-lived ventures that sadly fall short under the weight of pressures and unforeseen circumstances.
In the ever-evolving and unpredictable business landscape, companies must navigate a myriad of risks and opportunities to sustain growth and achieve longevity. This is where insolvency and business advisory services become essential, offering a lifeline to firms in distress and guiding them towards stability and prosperity.
Opus Business Advisory Group specialises in offering multi-faceted support to businesses, empowering them to gain control of financial and operational challenges, and embrace change and growth opportunities. Leading the charge at the Kent office in Maidstone is partner Adrian Dante, who joined the Restructuring & Insolvency division in 2021 to bring his expertise to the region.
Adrian has worked in the corporate recovery sector for over 30 years, qualifying as an insolvency practitioner in 2005. “I went straight from school into the business world, working my way up the career ladder,” he explains. “So, I’ve had the full experience of being an administrator, manager, director and eventually moving into the partner role. I feel this experience really gave me insight into the restructuring and insolvency world that allows me to support our staff and ensure work is delivered well on cases.”
Adrian has always worked in financial services and naturally migrated into specialising in insolvency. “Problem solving and helping business owners turn around their company always feels like a great accomplishment,” he says. “Then, even if after assessment, closing the business is what is needed, while not nice for anyone, taking the stress away for the business owners and making sure compliance is met and it is closed correctly is important.”
Although initially focused on insolvency and restructuring, Opus has evolved over the years to offer a wide range of business advisory services. For engagements where a business is struggling, the ethos has always been to rescue and help it turn around, rather than close it down, but there are also services that support businesses on a day-to-day basis and help with growth plans. Opus aims to provide comprehensive support, saving clients time by operating as a one-stop shop.
Each division in the Group is managed by partners who are specialists in their market. The core divisions are advisory, which includes M&A, finance and change management; restructuring and insolvency; and forensic accounting. “We also have a vast contact base of professional firms that deliver services outside of our skillset so we can always introduce the best people for the project to our clients,” points out Adrian. “I think what makes us different is that we really do what is right for the business, and we have plenty of case stories of long-term engagements and successful turnarounds to back this up.”
As an Opus partner, Adrian is responsible for managing his own team. He describes his management style as hands-on and practically engaged. “I’ve got a fantastic and very strong team at our Maidstone office, but with change happening so rapidly and our market being so busy, it’s always good for us to be in regular communication. Our suite of digital tools allows us to touch base quickly and be proactive in a cost-effective manner. However, being client-facing helps build relationships and trust, which is so important in our line of work.”
Effective leadership, according to Adrian, hinges on communication, awareness and conflict resolution. He explains: “Being able to ‘read the room’, both internally and with clients, plus conflict resolution, is essential, especially when managing cases where pressures are high and tensions are elevated.”
The past year has been eventful for Opus, with several new partners joining and expanding the firm’s advisory offering, particularly in M&A (mergers and acquisitions). Adrian notes that the company has also experienced a surge in advisory engagements from businesses seeking an independent assessment of their solvency status. Many of these businesses are not in a critical position but are proactively seeking assistance in developing turnaround strategies.
Alongside this, Opus has been focused on growing both its local and international presence. “Many of our partners have cross-border insolvency experience and we have a partner who is authorised to accept insolvency appointments in Qatar,” explains Adrian. “In the UK, Opus is established in 14 locations nationally, with local people heading up each office, and we recently opened an office in Manchester.”
Despite mixed economic news in the UK, Adrian remains optimistic. Overall, he feels that the news for business owners is getting better and has considerably improved from last year. The lingering effects of the pandemic still pose challenges, with much of Opus’ current work revolving around assisting businesses with liquidations, debt management and optimising profit margins while navigating the complexities of accessing credit for future investments. Nevertheless, Opus’ message to businesses is clear: focus on steady growth and remain vigilant to both risks and opportunities.
Opus prides itself on being the largest independent firm of insolvency practitioners in the UK. This independence allows the company to focus on what is right for each case, without being constrained by remote owners or rigid pricing models. “Our growth into other areas of the business has been fantastic in enabling us to support businesses through all stages of their lifecycle to achieve the desired outcome,” Adrian observes.
However, establishing a presence in new locations always presents challenges. “We will always recruit local partners and teams who really know the local market. It’s always about getting out, meeting people and being visible to establish a new brand and build a trusted advisor reputation.”
Looking ahead, Opus remains on a strong growth trajectory across all services. The vision is to maintain local understanding while building national growth. International expansion is also on the horizon, though details remain under wraps for now. “This is a bit of a ‘watch this space’,” Adrian hints, leaving us eager to see what the future holds for Opus.
