Receivables Finance Connect appoints Paul Stokes to lead Intermediary Council

The appointment signals a clear intent: to move invoice finance from the margins of intermediary conversations to the centre of them. Paul has spent years championing receivables finance, and he’s clear that it’s time to move from debate to delivery.

Paul Stokes said: “I’ve been an advocate for this industry for a long time and I’ve seen first-hand the difference receivables finance makes to growing companies. Intermediaries play a critical role in advising businesses and introducing them to the right lenders and funding solutions. Often the first call a business makes is to their broker, their accountant, their adviser. Get that trusted community fully behind invoice finance and you’ll transform outcomes for growing businesses across the UK. That’s the opportunity, and that’s why this channel is so important.”

Experience on both sides

Paul knows this market from both sides of the table: “I’ve been both a broker and a lender, so I understand what each side needs from the other. If lenders and intermediaries each move closer towards each other, we can create better solutions, processes and ultimately, markets.”

Driving change through the Intermediary Council

The Council brings together brokers, accountants, debt advisers, private equity sponsors and law firms, the entire ecosystem responsible for introducing quality transactions to lenders. Paul’s priorities fall into three areas:

Clear, credible communication To present a coherent, evidence-based case for invoice finance to the introducer community, neutral, nuanced, fact-based, and free from commercial agenda.

CPD programme To establish a structured, accredited CPD programme for professional advisers, designed and delivered by practitioners in operations roles.

Driving delivery To work closely with the Advisory Board and Innovation, Technology and NextGen Councils to deliver the changes intermediaries need most, from simpler processes to faster delivery and greater transparency.

Why evolving businesses need revolving solutions

Paul continued: “If you’re evolving, you need revolving, not fixed-ceiling, solutions. For businesses with a growing sales ledger, it’s vital that funding moves in line with their rising turnover. The so-called loan factories are built to push volume, and yes, they provide access to capital for SMEs. But if a business is growing month after month, putting it into a static facility, refinancing repeatedly, or stacking loans isn’t a solution, it’s a problem deferred. That’s not in the client’s best interests. Invoice finance, when properly understood and recommended, shouldn’t be viewed as an alternative form of finance. For many scaling UK businesses, it’s the structurally appropriate one.”

Putting receivables finance at the centre of the conversation

The Council is deliberately lender agnostic, placing invoice finance at the centre of funding conversations both for ambitious businesses and their advisers. Paul concluded: “This isn’t about promoting any one lender. It’s about promoting the right solution to the right businesses through the right channels to market.”

Mike Symes, Community Leader at Receivables Finance Connect, said: “The Intermediary Council exists to serve the vital channel community: brokers, accountants, debt advisers, private equity sponsors, and the businesses they support. Paul has the experience, the network and the passion and conviction to make that happen, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Receivables Finance Connect Advisory Board.”

Get involved

To find out more or express an interest in participating, contact Mike Symes at mikesymes@finance-connect.com or Edward Peck at
edwardpeck@finance-connect.com.

Save the date

Receivables Finance Connect is part of the Finance Connect Conference, taking place on Thursday 4 June 2026. The conference brings together more than 850 senior leaders from across financial services, with dedicated content, networking, and working sessions for lenders, intermediaries, and specialists across asset and receivables finance.

About Receivables Finance Connect

Receivables Finance Connect is a professional community for the receivables finance and asset-based lending sector. Its mission is to connect senior practitioners and enable meaningful engagement, providing a marketplace of ideas to encourage innovation, support sustainable growth, and better serve customers.