Part-Time Finance Director Services in London for SMEs
Strategic Financial Leadership Without the Full-Time Cost
Work with Experienced, Commercially Focused FDs from Secantor
Secantor offers specialised Finance Director (FD) services designed to provide SMEs with the strategic financial leadership necessary for growth and stability. Our expert and commercially experienced team brings board-level financial expertise and leadership to SME businesses across London and the South East, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
Effective financial management is crucial for business success. While many SMEs rely on accountants for compliance, a Finance Director offers strategic insight that goes beyond number-crunching. An FD provides:
By integrating into your management team, an FD ensures that financial decisions are informed, timely, and aligned with your business strategy. Read our blog Why every SME business should have a Finance Director to find out more.
Ideal for SMEs that require high-level financial expertise without the commitment of a full-time hire. Our Part-Time Finance Directors work on a part-time basis, providing:
This flexible approach ensures you receive expert guidance tailored to your business needs.
When facing transitions such as mergers, acquisitions, or leadership gaps, our Interim Finance Directors step in to provide stability and continuity. They offer:
Our Interim Finance Directors ensure that your financial operations remain robust during times of change.
Whether you're based in Central London or the surrounding commuter belt, our experts bring national experience with local understanding. We've helped over 1,000 UK SMEs improve profitability, manage risk, and prepare for exit or growth.
With over two decades of experience, Secantor has been a trusted partner for SMEs across London. Our team comprises seasoned professionals who bring:
You’ll work with a proven business professional — fully qualified, commercially experienced, and focused on driving profit and growth.
We match you with the right expert — someone who fits your team and earns your trust as a long-term partner, not just a service provider.
We take time to understand your goals, challenges, and industry — then deliver practical advice that fits your business.
We do what we say we’ll do — on time, every time. You can count on us to follow through and stay focused on results.
We keep you informed, respond quickly, and talk in plain English. You’ll never be left chasing updates or wondering what’s happening.
CEO £30m Turnover Recruitment Company
Hiring a full-time Finance Director (FD) can be costly for many small to medium-sized businesses — but that doesn’t mean you should go without strategic financial leadership. With a part-time Finance Director , you gain access to expert financial guidance exactly when you need it, without the overhead of a full-time hire. Whether it’s one day per month or more, you only pay for the time you use — with the flexibility to call on your FD for advice whenever needed. At Secantor, our FDs bring cross-sector experience and commercial insight gained from supporting hundreds of UK SMEs. You benefit from best practices, fresh thinking, and a broader strategic perspective to support growth, improve profitability, and manage risk.
At Secantor, our Part-Time Finance Directors provide expert financial leadership and support for UK SMEs—without the overhead of a full-time hire. We take responsibility for every aspect of your business finance, from day-to-day processes to long-term strategy, helping you build a stronger, more profitable company.
Whether you're preparing for growth, managing cashflow, or planning for exit, your Secantor FD will embed within your team, providing practical, board-level financial expertise tailored to your needs. Our services typically include:
In short, we don’t just advise from the outside. Your Secantor FD becomes an integral part of your senior team—focused on driving growth, profitability, and long-term value.
Discover how our Finance Director Services can transform your business. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards financial excellence.
A part-time Finance Director (FD) provides your business with senior financial leadership on a flexible basis — giving you access to expert support without the cost of a full-time hire. They work alongside your leadership team to manage your finances, support strategic decisions, improve cash flow, and drive growth.
Part-time FDs offer all the skills and strategic input of a full-time FD but work with your business on a fractional basis — typically a few days per month. You get the benefit of experienced financial oversight, planning, and reporting without the overhead of a permanent hire.
Many SMEs reach a stage where financial decisions become more complex — but aren’t yet ready for a full-time FD. A part-time FD gives you the expertise to make informed decisions, plan ahead, secure funding, improve profitability , and avoid surprises. It's a cost-effective way to build a stronger, more resilient business. To dive deeper why not read our blog Why every SME business should have a Finance Director
Typical responsibilities include: producing and interpreting management accounts, building financial forecasts , managing cash flow, budgeting, advising on funding, supporting board meetings, training your finance team, and helping you make financially sound business decisions. Learn more about our part-time FD services.
Yes. At Secantor, many of our FDs also act as Non-Executive Directors (NEDs). Our FDs are commercially experienced, strategically minded, and have strong corporate governance expertise — making them well placed to contribute at board level.
The cost depends on the scope and frequency of support your business needs, but prices typically start at £1,200 +VAT per month. At Secantor, we tailor every engagement. Our FDs typically work with clients from 1 to 6 days per month. Contact us for a no-obligation discussion to get a proposal aligned to your business needs and budget.
Yes — but their roles are different. An accountant focuses on compliance, tax, and reporting. A part-time FD works inside your business to provide strategic financial leadership. The two roles complement each other. Your FD will often manage the relationship with your external accountant and ensure their advice is implemented effectively.
We typically work with UK SMEs with £3m–£50m turnover and 30–250 employees — but we also support ambitious smaller businesses preparing for growth or investment and we serve larger businesses too. If you’re experiencing growing complexity in your finances or strategic decisions , a part-time FD can help bring clarity and control.
We can often place a vetted, accredited Finance Director in your business within a matter of days. Every Secantor FD is carefully selected and personally accredited to ensure they not only have the right technical expertise, but also the commercial experience and interpersonal skills to fit seamlessly into your team.
Unlike many providers, we don’t just offer FDs or NEDs — we deliver the complete boardroom package. Our Finance Directors are also capable Non-Executive Directors, and every member of our team is personally accredited by Secantor. We don’t follow a rigid model — we match the right expert to your business and they tailor their approach to suit your needs.
The easiest way is to book a call with one of our experienced advisors. We’ll learn more about your business, explain how we work, and scope your requirements. Following a visit to meet you personally, we develop an in-depth understanding of your business needs allowing us to match you with a carefully selected FD based on your requirements, culture, and priorities. No obligation — just a conversation to see if we’re a good fit for you.
Not quite found the answer you need? Contact our team – we’ll get back to you personally.
Interested in how senior support could help in other areas too? Learn more about our Non-Executive Directors and Outsourced Operations Directors .
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Helen Pattinson, Co-Founder Montezumas Chocolates
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!
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Exiting your business is arguably the most important moment in your business life. It deserves time, planning, and the right support. Whether you're considering a sale, succession, or employee ownership, your exit plan will determine how smooth and successful the process is. This article explores the main business exit options available, how to prepare a robust exit plan, and why bringing in independent expertise helps you maximise value and ensure a smooth transition.
In the dynamic and challenging environment SME businesses face, having a well-thought-out business plan isn’t just a formality—it’s the cornerstone of success. A strong business plan drives business accountability, aligns stakeholders, and provides a clear path to achieving your goals. Yet, many small businesses either neglect this vital document or fail to revisit it once it’s written. This oversight can lead to missed opportunities, misaligned priorities, reduced profitability or worse; business failure.
This article outlines the benefits of having a business plan, highlights the key elements of strategic planning, and explores the essential role of a Non-Executive Director (NED) in driving SME success.
Running an SME as a Managing Director can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. The introduction of a Non-Executive Director offers a solution to many of the challenges MDs face. From providing independent oversight and strategic input to reducing feelings of loneliness, a NED can transform both your business and your personal experience as a leader. So, if you’ve ever thought of appointing a non-exec director, now might be the time to take that step. Embrace the advantages of non-executive directors and make loneliness at the top a thing of the past.
Management accounts are a vital tool for businesses to make informed decisions and plan strategically. Unlike financial accounting, management accounting focuses on providing internal financial information to key decision-makers such as FDs, CFOs, and the wider senior leadership team. By understanding the role of management accountants and the significance of management accounts, businesses can unlock numerous benefits. In this article we will explore the key features of effective management accounts and how to use management accounts in business.
The concept of Fractional CFOs is a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. Instead of hiring a full-time Chief Financial Officer, companies can tap into the expertise of seasoned financial professionals on a part-time or temporary basis. This approach allows businesses to benefit from the strategic financial insights and management skills of a CFO without the hefty price tag associated with a full-time executive.
Understanding the concept of gross profit is paramount to business success. It serves as a cornerstone for evaluating a company's financial health, making strategic decisions, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Yet despite this, many SME business leaders do not give it sufficient importance, and many focus their attention on turnover instead. In this blog we will examine the subject of gross profit, exploring its definition, significance in business, and how it plays a pivotal role in improving business profitability.
With all the pressures that come with running a business, having a seasoned guide assisting you at the helm can make all the difference. That's where a Non-Executive Director (NED) comes into play. These expert business practitioners are like the North Star for a company, offering invaluable guidance without being involved in the day-to-day operations. In this article, we will delve into the world of NEDs, exploring what they do, why they are crucial, and how they can elevate your business to new heights.
Management accounts are a vital tool for businesses to make informed decisions and plan strategically. Unlike financial accounting, management accounting focuses on providing internal financial information to key decision-makers such as CFOs, FDs and the wider senior leadership team. By understanding the role of management accountants and the significance of management accounts, businesses can unlock numerous benefits.
The Benefits of an Interim CFO
In today's dynamic business landscape, companies often encounter the need for specific financial expertise and leadership at various stages of their growth. This is where an Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) steps in. An Interim CFO brings temporary but impactful financial guidance and leadership to a business, helping it navigate critical financial challenges and achieve its strategic goals. In this article, we will delve into the role and responsibilities of an Interim CFO, shed light on the benefits of hiring one, and explore the range of services they provide.
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Bridging the Gap in Financial Leadership
Strong financial leadership is essential in every business so when the CFO / FD is missing, the company and its executive team can really suffer. That’s where an interim CFO / FD comes in, bridging the gap between finance executives. By providing financial expertise and a reassuring presence in the boardroom, an Interim FD (IFD) is worth their weight in gold. This business success story demonstrates the value a Secantor IFD added at fast-growing recruitment business when they suddenly found themselves without a CFO. Having stabilised the finances, our IFD was retained by the incoming permanent CFO to undertake specialist finance projects allowing him to focus on financial strategy.
Do you wish your business had a financial crystal ball? Sadly they don’t exist but the closest thing in reality is a detailed financial forecast covering your medium to long-term plans. By creating a financial forecast to quantify your business plan you will be able to see the likely financial outcome of achieving your goals and objectives. It is an essential tool for a successful business but despite this, many SME businesses don’t have one.
Every business, irrespective of its size needs financial strategy, clarity and control. Introducing an experienced and commercially-focussed Finance Director to your SME business will transform your finances. The good news is that high-calibre FDs are available part-time at a very affordable cost. That’s why every SME should have one.
If your business is struggling you need to take urgent action. Thankfully professional support is available to help you through.
At Secantor, we provide exit strategy consulting to support business owners as they plan the next stage of their lives
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