Fractional CFO Services In London

A senior CFO who joins your management team for the days you need

A fractional CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works with your London business for a set number of days each month, as part of your management team. You get the judgement of a full-time CFO on the decisions that matter, without the cost and commitment of a full-time appointment. We visit you to begin.

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?

Secantor's fractional CFOs keep London businesses pointed in the right direction, working to a regular rhythm. The easiest way to see the role is by time horizon.

  • This month. Reading the latest results with you, spotting what has moved and agreeing what to do about it.
  • This year. A budget and rolling forecast, a clear view of cash and the funding the plan needs.
  • Over three to five years. A financial plan that links your ambition to cash, and builds a business that can be sold or handed on.
  • Around the board. The agenda, the information and the accountability that make board meetings useful.

You may also see this role called a part-time, outsourced or virtual CFO. They describe the same service: a senior CFO delivered flexibly. 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?

Secantor's fractional CFO service suits a London business whose decisions have outgrown the owner and the finance function, but which cannot yet justify a full-time CFO. Typical signs include a plan that needs funding, a lender or investor asking for forecasts you cannot yet produce, margins that fall as sales grow, a sale or succession within a few years, or an owner who 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 Has 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: regular days each month, judgement at the right level, and a rhythm the whole team follows.

A fractional CFO discussing strategy with a business owner

How Does A Fractional CFO Work With You?

Secantor starts a fractional CFO engagement in London with a visit to your premises, to hear where the business is heading and where it is under pressure, and then proposes the advisor whose experience fits. The first weeks go on understanding the business and agreeing priorities. After that the work settles into a regular rhythm of days each month, with the same advisor each time and contact between visits 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. Many businesses start with two to four days a month, with more during a funding round or a transaction, and the days are adjusted as the business changes. Our cost guide sets out the figures in more detail.

A fractional CFO meeting with an SME management team
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Which Arrangement Suits 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 an independent voice, a Non-Executive Director can help. Read Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO for the national picture.

How Does A Fractional CFO Work With Your Existing Team?

Secantor charges £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses for a fractional CFO in London, invoiced monthly for the days worked. Many businesses start with two to four days a month, with more during a funding round or a transaction, and the days are adjusted as the business changes. Our cost guide sets out the figures in more detail.

A fractional CFO reviewing financial information with an SME business owner

What Is The Free Business Review?

It is our no obligation starting point. We begin with a chat, then a couple of our team visit 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?

Next Steps

Start with a visit. Our Free Business Review begins with a conversation, then we come to your premises to hear where the business is heading. You leave 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 a senior chief financial officer who works for your business a set number of days each month. We use fractional and part-time to describe the same service, and you may also see it called outsourced or virtual.

How many days a month does a fractional CFO work?

Many businesses start with two to four days a month. We agree the level with you at the first meeting and adjust it as the business changes, with more days around a funding round or a transaction.

What does a fractional CFO cost in London?

Our fractional CFO support is charged at £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses.

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 – 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.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our blog on How Can a Fractional CFO Transform Your Bottom Line? — it’s full of useful insights.

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

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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

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Free Business Review

No two businesses are the same. This is why we offer a free business review. We can arrange an initial chat with one of our experts to get things started. Then a couple of our team members will visit you to listen to the story of your business. From this meeting, we’ll be able to provide you with some interesting insights into your business from our independent experience. This will allow you to see how we work and help us to select the right expert for your business. Contact us to book a free consultation.

Why not read one of our short case studies to learn about Secantor's impact.

“We will never forget your huge contribution to Montezuma’s and your constant support, encouragement and all the board room laughs. Thank you for everything!” - Helen Pattinson, MD & Co-founder of Montezuma’s Chocolates

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Inside this guide, you'll discover how to:

✓ Create a budget that works for you

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✓ Maximise sales while keeping costs in check

✓ Master the difference between 'Mark-up' and 'Margin'

…and so much more!

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Ways Secantor Will Help You

4 Develop a Plan
Develop & Implement A Successful Plan
5 Optimise Finances
Optimise Your Finances
6 Develop a Team
Develop A Strong Accountable Team
7 Build Value in Your Business
Build Value In Your Business
8 Improve Operational Efficiency
Improve Operational Efficiency
9 Exit Your Business Successfully
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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
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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

1 Non-Executive Director

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.

Responsibilities

✓ 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

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2 Finance Director

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.

Responsibilities

✓ 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

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3 Operations Director

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.

Responsibilities

✓ 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

Learn More

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