Board-Level Finance Director, CFO & NED Services In London

Senior advisors who join your management team to build a stronger, more valuable business

Secantor provides part-time and interim Finance Directors, CFOs, Non-Executive Directors, Operations Directors and Management Accountants to owner-managed businesses across London and the Home Counties. Our advisors work alongside you, bringing board-level experience to strategy, performance, people and the decisions that shape the business, without the cost of a full-time appointment.

We support businesses wherever they are in London, and work with owners and leadership teams across the wider South East and the Thames Valley.

London has more private sector businesses than any other part of the UK, with nearly a million at the start of 2024, and the South East comes second. For an owner-managed business that concentration cuts both ways. London offers access to customers, talent, lenders and investors, but it also brings high fixed costs, intense competition for senior people and little tolerance for weak financial control.

Our London clients span a wide range of sectors including e-commerce, financial services, software, professional services, manufacturing, construction, property, fashion and recruitment. What they share is an owner who has built something valuable and now needs the financial leadership, board discipline and independent challenge to take it further, without the cost of a full-time executive team.

Which Secantor Advisor Is Right For A London Business?

London businesses can work with experienced Fractional Finance Directors, CFOs, Non-Executive Directors, Operations Directors and Management Accountants through Secantor, and for many owners a single advisor brings the breadth of commercial and board-level experience the business needs.

Each advisor combines a core discipline with wide experience of running and advising businesses, with the wider Secantor team and our network behind them for anything specialist.

Margins and fixed costs: a Part-Time Finance Director finds where profit is really made, and an Operations Director tightens delivery.
Cash and funders: a Part-Time CFO leads forecasting and funder relationships, and an Interim CFO can step in if the post has suddenly fallen vacant.
Fast growth: a Non-Executive Director gives the board an independent voice on direction.
Dependable monthly numbers: a Management Accountant builds the reporting the rest of the board relies on.

The same part-time service is also known by other names, and each has its own page: Fractional Finance Director, Outsourced Finance Director and Virtual Finance Director, and Fractional CFO, Outsourced CFO and Virtual CFO.

Need cover in a hurry? See our Interim Finance Director service, or read Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO.

London owners have more choice of advisors than anyone, and less time to sort through them. Our job is to match you with the advisor best suited to the business, supported by a senior Secantor director, or more than one if you would like to choose.

We can introduce the clearing banks, specialist lenders, law firms and accountants we work with in London and across the South East, which helps most when you are refinancing, raising investment or preparing for a sale. If the board disagrees about where the business is heading, our Strategic Business Review gives an independent, evidence-based view first, and is often the quickest way to find common ground.

How Have We Helped London Businesses?

A building materials business with sites in London and the Thames Valley that found £350,000 of hidden profit

A long-established building materials business with three sites across London and the Thames Valley was turning over about £3.5m but making a net loss of £225,000, and its bank was reviewing its overdraft. The directors knew their market well but were too close to the day to day to see what was driving the losses.

Secantor carried out an independent review and built a financial model. It showed that falling wholesale sales were only part of the problem: an oversized warehouse was an underused asset, not just a cost. The directors launched a storage and logistics service for other businesses, cleared slow moving stock through a dedicated platform, shifted attention from sales volume to margin and began charging for delivery.

The review identified more than £350,000 of additional profit opportunities. Read the full case study.

✅ Expert Advice You Can Rely On: You’ll work with qualified, experienced advisors who are focused on results.

✅ A Trusted Working Relationship: We select advisors who fit your culture, team and goals.

✅ Tailored Support for Your Business: No templates, just relevant, practical, hands-on input.

✅ Dependable, Consistent Delivery: We meet deadlines, keep promises and deliver lasting impact.

✅ Clear, Proactive Communication: No jargon. Just senior-level expertise, clearly delivered.

Do you work with businesses that have sites outside London?

Yes. We have worked with businesses with sites across London, the Thames Valley and the wider South East. We come to wherever the decisions are made.

We have large swings in cash through the year. Can you help?

Yes. A rolling cashflow forecast, tighter credit control and an honest conversation with the funder usually make the biggest difference.

What does a part-time Finance Director or CFO cost in London?

Our Finance Director and CFO support is charged at £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses. See our guide.

Can an interim Finance Director or CFO start at short notice?

Yes. They can take control of cash, reporting and funder relationships while you decide on the permanent solution. See our Interim CFO service.

Can you help us raise funding or prepare for a sale?

Yes. Our CFOs and Finance Directors prepare forecasts, lender presentations and due diligence information, and can introduce lenders and advisors where that helps.

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

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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

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Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The Value of an Interim Finance Director