Fractional CFO Services In London

A senior CFO who joins your management team, without the full-time cost

A fractional CFO gives a London business its own experienced chief financial officer on a part-time basis, working as a dedicated member of the management team. They take responsibility for delivering the financial strategy and help you make the big decisions, as a director would, bringing the judgement of a full-time CFO with the same person throughout and without the cost and commitment of a full-time appointment. We begin by listening to where the business is heading.

This page covers the local service. Our national guide to the Fractional CFO role explains the model in full, and you can also see our wider board-level support in London.

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What Does A Fractional CFO Do For A London Business?

A fractional CFO joins a London business's management team and takes responsibility for its strategic financial leadership. The areas of support typically include:

  • Direction. A three to five year financial forecast model covering profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow, plus a rolling forecast, so you can see what each choice costs and returns.
  • Funding. The case for lenders and investors, and the relationships that go with it.
  • Cash and results. A clear view of cash and the numbers that matter, read with you as they arrive.
  • Pricing and profit. Where pricing, product mix or costs are holding profit back.
  • Value and succession. Building a business that can be sold or handed on, when you are ready.
  • The board. The agenda, the information and the accountability that make board meetings useful.
  • A partner in the decisions. Working alongside the owner and the directors on the big calls, and building a stronger, more accountable management team.

You may also see this role called a part-time, outsourced or virtual CFO. They describe the same service: an experienced CFO working with your business on an ongoing basis. Our Part-Time CFO page in London covers it from the ongoing-support angle, and we also cover Outsourced CFO and Virtual CFO services.

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When Does A London Business Need A Fractional CFO?

A fractional CFO suits a London business that wants senior strategic financial judgement on funding, growth and the big decisions, but cannot yet justify a full-time CFO. A fractional CFO brings strategic leadership, a sounding board for the owner and the directors, and a plan the whole management team can work to. The need often shows when a plan needs funding, a lender or investor asks for forecasts you cannot yet produce, margins fall as sales grow, a sale or succession is on the horizon, or the owner has no one to test big decisions with. Our blog on what a Fractional CFO does in the first 90 days shows how the work typically starts.

How A Fractional CFO Helped A London Business

A London business had grown fast, to £9m of turnover, but its structure had not kept pace and it was losing £500,000 a year. Its bank had moved it into enhanced monitoring, so the owners needed a credible way back.

A Secantor CFO joined for one day a week and treated the job as a turnaround rather than a reporting exercise. The first piece of work was a forecast that showed the bank a believable route back to profit. The CFO then tightened pricing in the areas where the business had been undercharging, and led a programme of cost reductions to protect cash. Alongside, a Secantor Non-Executive Director set up the rhythm that made the plan stick: a clear turnaround plan, daily operational reporting, regular management meetings, and defined roles and reporting lines.

Two years later the business was back in profit, earning £750,000 on turnover of £12m, and its bank had returned it to normal management. A fractional arrangement suits work like this because the CFO stays long enough to see the plan through, bringing judgement at the right level and a rhythm the whole team follows.

A fractional CFO discussing strategy with a business owner

How A Fractional CFO Works With You

A fractional CFO engagement starts with Secantor listening to where the business is heading, then putting forward the advisor whose experience fits, or more than one if you would like to choose. All of our advisors have held CFO, Finance Director or Non-Executive Director roles themselves. Once you have chosen, the CFO joins your management team, works alongside your people, helps shape the decisions and takes ownership of delivering the priorities you agree together. The first weeks go on understanding the business and agreeing priorities, and after that the work settles into a regular rhythm with the same advisor throughout. You can increase or decrease the days to suit your business needs, with contact between sessions when you need it.

What Does A Fractional CFO Cost In London?

Secantor charges £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses for a fractional CFO in London, invoiced monthly for the days worked. You choose the days and can increase or decrease them to suit the business, with more around a funding round or a transaction. Our cost guide sets out the figures in more detail.

A fractional CFO meeting with an SME management team
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Choosing The Right Arrangement For A London Business

Secantor's fractional CFO suits a London business that needs ongoing strategic leadership. If control, reporting and cash come first, consider a Part-Time Finance Director. If you have a gap in leadership or a transaction to lead, an Interim CFO can start at short notice. If the board needs a fresh, independent perspective, a Non-Executive Director can help. Read Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO for the national picture.

Working With Your Existing Team

A fractional CFO works alongside your Finance Director or finance team, your accountants and your lenders. They set the strategic agenda, such as funding, pricing and the three to five year financial plan, and leave the day to day work with the people who run it, coaching them where that helps. The finance function grows stronger while the CFO leads on strategy and the board.

A fractional CFO reviewing financial information with an SME business owner

The Free Business Review

Secantor's Free Business Review is our no obligation starting point. We begin with a conversation, then come to you to hear the story of your business and where you want to take it. You leave with an independent view and our recommendation of the right support. See the Free Business Review.

WHAT DOES A FRACTIONAL CFO DO IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS?

Our 5-Point Commitment to You

✅ 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.

Next Steps

Start with a conversation. Our Free Business Review begins with a chat about where the business is heading and ends with an independent view and no obligation. Prefer to talk first? Book a discovery call with a Secantor Director.

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What Do London Business Owners Ask About A Fractional CFO?

What is a fractional CFO, and is it different from a part-time CFO?

A fractional CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works with your business on a part-time, ongoing basis, as a dedicated member of the management team. We use fractional and part-time to describe the same service, and you may also see it called outsourced or virtual.

Is a fractional CFO a consultant?

No. A consultant hands over a report and leaves. A fractional CFO takes a share of the leadership, answers for delivery of the financial strategy and helps you make the big decisions, as a director would, with the same person throughout.

How many days a month does a fractional CFO work?

It depends on what the business needs. We agree the level with you at the first meeting, and you can increase or decrease the days to suit the business, with more around a funding round or a transaction.

How quickly can a fractional CFO start?

That depends on the advisor you choose and when you need them. If the post has fallen vacant or a funding event is close, an interim CFO can usually start at short notice.

Can a fractional CFO help us raise funding or prepare for a sale?

Yes. A fractional CFO prepares the plan, forecasts and information that lenders and buyers expect, and leads the conversations with them. See our Exit Planning service.

Do we still need a Finance Director?

Often one advisor covers both roles in businesses of our clients' size. If you already have a Finance Director, the CFO works alongside them on strategy and funding.

Not quite found the answer you need? Contact our team and we will 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.

Want to dive deeper? Our blog on How Can a Fractional CFO Transform Your Bottom Line? is full of useful insights.

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