About Aperio Advisory

Built by someone who has sat on both sides of the table.

Craig Rowan spent 20 years managing the finances of large Canadian companies — then advising corporate clients from inside a major Canadian bank. Aperio exists to bring that depth to businesses that have never had access to it.

The Story

Built for the business owner who deserves better than once-a-year advice.

For most of my career I worked at the top end of Canadian corporate finance — billion-dollar companies where financial infrastructure was taken for granted. But over the years, conversations with friends, family, and peers running their own businesses kept surfacing the same reality: a bookkeeper recording last month, an accountant showing up in March, and nobody in between helping them actually run the business. Nobody helping them plan, nobody watching for problems before they hit, nobody translating the numbers into something they could actually use.

"The advice that makes a real difference isn't complicated. It's consistent, clear, and connected to how your business actually works. Most small businesses have never had that."

I also spent time advising corporate clients at a major Canadian bank — working with them on cash management and financing. That showed me exactly what banks think when they look at a small business, what makes them say yes, and what makes them nervous. Most small business owners never get that perspective from someone genuinely on their side.

That's what Aperio is. A financial partner for Calgary businesses under $15M — one that most growing businesses have never had access to.

Craig Rowan
Founder & Managing Director, Aperio Advisory
CPA, CMAFMVAFPAP
20+
Years in corporate finance & treasuryDirector-level roles at major Canadian energy companies
2
Sides of the banking tableCorporate client and bank advisor — a perspective most advisors don't have
$1.3M
Recovered for real clientsFrom cash already inside the business — no new debt, no new revenue
What Working Together Looks Like

You finally have someone watching the whole picture.

The first conversation

Not a report. A straight talk about what the numbers mean, what's working, what isn't, and what's worth addressing first. In plain English.

Month one

We review your books, map your cash flow patterns, and give you an honest picture of where things stand. Most clients say it's the first time they've seen their finances clearly.

After six months

You stop dreading financial conversations. You start having them proactively. Decisions feel clearer because they are.

The Sunday night shift

The quiet anxiety about whether the numbers are okay — it gradually goes away. Not because things are perfect, but because you always know where you stand.

When a big decision comes up

Hire someone? Buy equipment? Take on a large contract? You call Craig. He knows your numbers and gives you a straight answer — not a hedge.

When the bank calls

You walk in prepared. Craig knows how banks evaluate a business and makes sure yours is seen accurately — not reactively.

The Background Behind The Advice

Why 20 years in corporate finance matters for your business.

That depth doesn't make the advice complicated — it makes it more reliable. You get someone who has seen what real financial problems look like at scale, and who brings that perspective to every client engagement.

And having advised corporate clients at a major Canadian bank, Craig knows exactly how banks evaluate a business. What they look for. What makes them nervous. How to make sure your business is seen accurately.

$500K

Freed in a single engagement

Cash already inside the business — found through working capital and payment timing analysis. No new debt, no cuts.

$800K

In interest savings recovered

From a loan the client was already carrying. One review of the debt structure and a conversation with the same lender.

Both

Sides of the banking table

The only perspective that matters when your credit line comes up for renewal — knowing exactly what the bank is looking for.

How We Work

Six things that guide every engagement.

01

Listen before advising

Every business is different. We ask questions and listen before we say anything — good advice starts with understanding your actual reality.

02

Plain English, always

We explain things the way you'd explain them to a smart friend — clearly, directly, without making you feel like you should already know this.

03

Find what's already there first

Before suggesting you borrow or cut costs — we look inside the business. Most companies have more financial leverage available than they realize.

04

Honest even when it's uncomfortable

If we see something you need to hear, we'll say it. If we can't help, we'll say that too. You deserve honest guidance.

05

Build things that last

We don't hand you a report and disappear. We build the model, set up the budget, implement the system — and make sure it sticks.

06

You get Craig, every time

No junior analysts, no hand-offs. The person you talk to in the first call is the person doing the work.

Let's Talk

Ready to work with someone who gets it?

A 30-minute conversation is all it takes. No pitch, no pressure — just a straight talk about your business and what's on your mind.

Book a Free 30-Minute Call Send Us a Message First