Board-Level Finance Director, CFO & NED Services In High Wycombe
Experienced advisors who join your management team, a few days at a time
Secantor provides part-time Finance Directors, CFOs, Non-Executive Directors, Operations Directors and Management Accountants to owner-managed businesses in High Wycombe and the Chilterns. Most of our advisors have held senior board roles themselves, and they work alongside you for the days you need, so you get board-level judgement without a full-time hire.
We visit businesses in High Wycombe, Hazlemere, Flackwell Heath, Loudwater and West Wycombe, and across south Buckinghamshire, the Thames Valley and Oxfordshire.
What Does Board-Level Support Mean For An Owner-Managed Business In High Wycombe?
At Secantor, board-level support means an experienced Finance Director, CFO, Non-Executive Director, Operations Director or Management Accountant takes on the senior work that has outgrown the owner, for the days the business needs. The advisor joins your management team rather than advising from the outside.
In practice the work covers five things:
- Direction. A plan, budget and rolling forecast the board can run the business against.
- Money. Cash, funding and the relationship with your bank and other lenders.
- Control. Timely, reliable reporting and the handful of numbers that matter.
- Challenge. An independent view that tests big decisions before they are made.
- Delivery. Clear accountability, so plans turn into results.
High Wycombe sits on the M40 between London and Oxford, so owners here compete with both cities for customers and for people, yet senior financial and operational leadership for a few days a month is hard to find nearby.
The businesses we meet are rarely short of ideas. What they lack is time and an outside view: the figures arrive late, the plan lives in the owner's head, and big decisions are made alone. Part-time senior support closes that gap without a full-time salary.
Which Board-Level Roles Suit High Wycombe Businesses?
It depends on the first problem you want solved. Four starting points are common.
- Profit that does not match the effort. A Part-Time Finance Director brings reporting, forecasting and margin control, and a Part-Time Operations Director tightens accountability.
- Decisions bigger than the owner's experience. A Part-Time CFO leads funding, planning and sale preparation.
- No one to challenge the board. A Non-Executive Director adds independent judgement.
- Figures you cannot rely on. Start with a Part-Time Management Accountant.
If a Finance Director has left or a transaction is coming, an Interim Finance Director or Interim CFO can start at short notice. Read Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO for the national picture.
How Does Secantor Work With High Wycombe Businesses?
We start with a visit, to hear how the business works, where the pressure is and what you want from the next few years, and then propose the advisor who fits you and your people. We choose on experience, availability and chemistry.
Because we come to you, it makes no difference whether you are in High Wycombe itself or one of the villages around it. We can also introduce the banks, lenders, law firms and accountants we work with in the Chilterns and the Thames Valley. Our Strategic Business Review is a good first step if you want an independent test of the business across the eight areas where owner-managed companies most often have gaps.
How Have We Helped Owner-Managed Businesses Like Yours?
From founder-led growth to a business a larger group wanted to buy
A facilities management business with £14m turnover and £1.5m net profit had been built by technically strong founders and had solid finances, but still relied heavily on its directors.
Over seven years Secantor helped put in a clear structure and leadership framework, regular board meetings with proper governance, stronger operational processes and accountability, and a plan for sale, including a corporate finance partner. A larger overseas group acquired the business, and Secantor was retained to mentor the new Managing Director and develop the leadership team.
Since the acquisition the business has invested significantly in its management structure, with high quality hires in board level leadership, operational management, compliance, sales and key account management. Turnover has grown from £14m to £18m and net profit from £1.5m to £2m, ahead of the targets set by the group. Read the full case study.
What Do High Wycombe Business Owners Ask About Board-Level Support?
Do you work with businesses across the Chilterns as well as High Wycombe?
Yes. We visit businesses in the villages around High Wycombe and across south Buckinghamshire, the Thames Valley and Oxfordshire.
How much does board-level support cost?
Finance Director, CFO and Non-Executive Director support is charged at £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses, and many businesses start with two to four days a month. Our cost guide sets out the figures.
Which role should we start with?
Start with the problem that costs you most. Weak margins or late figures point to a Finance Director or Management Accountant. Funding, planning or a sale points to a CFO. A board that needs challenge points to a Non-Executive Director.
Do you provide bookkeeping?
No. We provide the senior finance layer above your bookkeeper or accountant, who carry on with the day to day.
What happens at the first meeting?
We visit your premises and listen to the story of the business, then give you an independent view and our recommendation, with no obligation.
Next Steps
Book a Free Business Review. We begin with a conversation, then visit your High Wycombe premises to hear where the business is heading and where it is under pressure. You receive an independent view with no obligation. Prefer to talk first? Book a discovery call with a Secantor Director.
Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals
Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review
Paul Gibbins
Use the calendar to book a free 30-minute call with Paul and get clarity on your next steps
On the call, you’ll:
- Identify what’s holding back your profit and growth
- Gain clearer direction on your business priorities
- Understand how to improve cashflow and performance
- Explore practical steps to move your business forward
No obligation
30-minute call
Expert advice
“Secantor has made a world of difference - we are now in control. It's a very cost effective way for us to have high level management and strategic help”
Helen Pattinson - Co-Founder, Montezumas Chocolates
Want to Boost Your Business Profits?
Profitability is the heartbeat of any successful business. Ready to take your business to the next level? Download your free guide and discover 10 powerful strategies to increase your business profits today!
Inside this guide, you'll discover how to:
✓ Create a budget that works for you
✓ Identify profit hotspots (and tackle any losses)
✓ Maximise sales while keeping costs in check
✓ Master the difference between 'Mark-up' and 'Margin'
…and so much more!
Click the button below to get instant access to your free guide and start growing your profits now!
Ways Secantor Will Help You
Develop & Implement A Successful Plan
Optimise Your Finances
Develop A Strong Accountable Team
Build Value In Your Business
Improve Operational Efficiency
Exit Your Business Successfully
How Secantor Helped a £30m Recruitment Business at a Critical Time
“Secantor provided the senior business & financial support my fellow director & I needed at a very critical time for our company. I cannot recommend the incredible service we received highly enough”
CEO Of A £30m Turnover Recruitment Company
Read Our Latest Case Studies
Achieving the Dream Business Exit
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The Value of an Interim Finance Director
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Resolving Boardroom Conflict
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What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?
This guide is designed for ambitious SME owners who want to:
- Focus on what actually drives growth
- Spot where profit is being lost
- Improve margins with smarter decisions
- Strengthen cash flow and financial control
- Build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth
- Take practical action that moves the business forward
Read Our Latest Blog Posts

Peter Laurie Joins Secantor As Regional Director
Experienced entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director to support SME owners across London and the South East Secantor Business Services is delighted to welcome Peter Laurie as Regional Director for London and the South East, bringing several decades of expe…

What Financial Support Does A Business Need At Each Stage Of Growth?
How does financial support change as a business grows? The financial support a business needs changes as it grows, but the change is driven less by turnover than by the complexity and consequence of the decisions the owner is facing. A start-up needs a cr…

Fractional Vs Part-Time Vs Interim CFO: Which Does Your Business Need?
A Fractional CFO and a Part-Time CFO are, in practice, the same arrangement: senior financial leadership for an agreed number of days each month, with no fixed end date. An Interim CFO is different. They join temporarily, usually for more days, to cover a…
Our Services
We help you make strategic decisions
Secantor provides expert financial and management support to SME owners and directors. Our commercially experienced team covers the following roles.
Non-Executive Director
Strategic support and experience to guide you as you make decisions and build value in your business. A NED acts as a sounding board for your ideas, improves business performance, holds you and your team to account and helps you achieve a successful exit.
✓ Strategic business planning
✓ Support strategic decision-making
✓ Set business goals and objectives
✓ Rejuvenate struggling businesses
✓ Manage growth effectively
✓ Implement best practice
✓ Sounding board for your ideas
✓ Set and communicate vision
✓ Hold you & your team to account
✓ Build an effective management team
Finance Director
Expert financial leadership from a commercially experienced, qualified accountant. An FD will create financial plans, report your monthly performance against budget and interpret the figures to help you make sound decisions & improve profitability.
✓ Expert financial advice
✓ Interpret financial results a support decisions
✓ Develop & oversee your finance team
✓ Improve profitability & control costs
✓ Prepare management accounts
✓ Create 3-5 year financial plan
✓ Budget setting
✓ Source appropriate funding
✓ Cashflow forecasting & management
✓ Prepare reports & commentaries for your bank
Operations Director
Strategic operational leadership to transform your people and business processes to improve efficiency and profitability. An Operations Director helps you build a strong management team, delegate operational actions and improve business performance.
✓ Develop strength in your management team
✓ Establish key performance indicators (KPIs)
✓ Hold people accountable to achieve results
✓ Process and quality improvement
✓ Help you delegate effectively
✓ Create clear job descriptions
✓ Identify and recruit talent
✓ Implement robust operational systems
✓ Establish clear goals and expectations
✓ Enable your team to achieve excellence

