Ken Dickson

Ken Dickson, the Managing Director of Axiom-e Limited, is an internationally experienced Finance Director. He believes that ‘finance is fun’ and, as a Tutor, reflects this in his interactive sessions with students. Through accessible talks, individual and group exercises, and examples from contemporary business as well as his own career, Ken seeks to show the practical relevance of business and financial theories and ideas. Through this Ken equips students with skills to use in their workplaces.

Ken is passionate about encouraging students to use their talents to develop purpose-led businesses for good. In his courses and articles, Ken highlights ethical principles for business and, using his wide experience, equips the next generation of entrepreneurs in various countries to benefit their communities.

Ken’s teaching and research interests include startups, entrepreneurship, business management, fundraising and empowerment through better financial management – areas of work that he has been involved with practically over many years

During his early career within subsidiaries of blue-chip multinational corporations such as Unilever, Rexam, Kodak and Johnson Matthey, Ken’s board responsibilities covered Finance, IT and Personnel. He has successfully managed 20 acquisitions, negotiated the sale of companies and implemented several multi-site accounting systems.

In 2001, Ken founded Axiom-e Limited, the Cambridge-based strategic financial management consultancy, through which he advises ambitious and visionary commercial companies, charities and social enterprises who want to maximise their long-term impact.

Ken has worked in many sectors (including high-tech, manufacturing and health) where he has focused on business planning, fundraising and improving profitability. He has secured millions of pounds for clients from venture capitalists, Innovate UK, R&D tax credits and banks.

As Strategic Accountant, Ken helped to run The Moller Institute at Churchill College, in the University of Cambridge. While there he also developed content for courses that he ran for staff and clients in Cambridge and Dubai.

During his career, Ken has been a University Lecturer and has had articles on accounting, IT and general business published in sector magazines and journals.

Ken provides pro bono support to voluntary associations, including Zambia 2050 for whom he designed and ran ‘The Pillars of Business Success’, elements of which he brings into his other talks. Ken is a Trustee of City Church (Cambridge). Honorary Treasurer of Faith in Business CIO and on the Faculty of BE:iT, a Nigerian-based organisation which provides on-line training, advice, mentoring and assistance to help businesses and entrepreneurs support their communities..

When not working, Ken enjoys reading, cycling and bagging Munros – not necessarily simultaneously!

Qualifications:

• Member in Practice, Practising Certificate [updated annually], The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• Certificate in Teaching Adults, University of Surrey
• FCMA (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• ACMA (Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• "Executive MBA Equivalent" (Unilever Business Education Programme), Bradford and London Business Schools
• BAcc(Hons) (Bachelor of Accountancy with Honours), University of Glasgow
• FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts), The Royal Society of Arts

Selected Publications (active tab)

JOURNAL ARTICLES

• "Zambia 2050: challenging the status quo via business" Faith in Business Quarterly, Volume 20.3, pp27-30 , 2020

REVIEWS

• "'The Accidental Social Entrepreneur' by Grant Smith" Faith in Business Quarterly, Volume 21.1, pp18-19 , 2021
• "For such a time as this - review of 'Virtual Leadership' by Penny Pullan and 'Called to Influence' by Karen Kircher" Faith in Business Quarterly, Volume 20.4, pp26-27 , 2020

MAGAZINE ARTICLE

• "Stay ready: the process of grooming your business for sale" Mergers and Acquisitions, July-August 2006 , 2006
• "Funding fundamentals" Anglia Industry & Business, May-June 2007 , 2007
• "Building on firm foundations" Anglia Industry & Business, March-April 2006 , 2006