Fractional Finance Director Services In London

Senior finance leadership for owner-managed businesses, without the full-time cost

A fractional Finance Director gives a London business its own experienced Finance Director on a part-time basis, working as a dedicated member of the management team. They take responsibility for the finance function and help you make the big decisions, as a director would, bringing the judgement, the forecasting and the board-level challenge of a full-time Finance Director, with the same person throughout. Secantor provides fractional Finance Directors to owner-managed businesses across London and the Home Counties, understanding the business before proposing the advisor we think fits you and your people.

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What Does A Fractional Finance Director Do?

A fractional Finance Director joins the management team and takes responsibility for the finance function. The areas of support typically include:

  • Control: reliable management accounts, a clear KPI pack and tight cash management, so you know where the business stands every month.
  • Insight: analysis of margin by customer, product or project, so you can see where money is made and lost.
  • Foresight: 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 decision will do to profit and cash before you take it.
  • Funders: dealing with the bank and other funders, so the relationship rests on clear information.
  • A partner in the decisions: sitting in the room when the big decisions are made, coaching your finance team and building a stronger, more accountable management team.
For the day to day detail of control and reporting, see our Part-Time Finance Director page. Our guide to what a Fractional Finance Director does in the first 90 days shows how the work unfolds.
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When Is A Fractional Finance Director Better Than A Full-Time Hire?

A fractional Finance Director suits a London business that wants senior financial judgement, forecasting and board-level challenge sized to what the business needs. A full-time Finance Director in London is a major fixed cost, and a business turning over less than £20m rarely has enough finance leadership work to fill the role. The need often shows when an owner is still carrying the forecasting and funding conversations alone, monthly figures arrive late, or growth is consuming cash faster than expected.

Our article on why every SME should have a Finance Director sets out the case, and the guide to Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO explains how the models compare.

How A Secantor Finance Director Helped A London Business

A London business that turned a loss into a plan

A building materials business had seen falling volumes and the loss of several wholesale customers, and was making a net loss of £225,000 on turnover of about £3.5m. Its bank had begun to look hard at the overdraft. The business had little reliable visibility of where profit was made and lost.

A Secantor Finance Director rebuilt the management information, then used it to model each part of the business. The model pointed to a spare warehouse that could earn money from other firms, a way to turn surplus stock into cash, a sharper focus on margin and a proper charge for delivery. The same figures gave the bank a forecast it could rely on, and it agreed to keep its facilities in place. The Finance Director continues to review performance with the directors regularly. Read the full case study.

A fractional Finance Director in London discussing the business with its owner

How A Fractional Finance Director Works With You

We begin a fractional Finance Director engagement by understanding how the business works, then propose the Finance Director we think suits you and your people, or more than one if you would like to choose. All of our advisors have held Finance Director, CFO or Non-Executive Director roles themselves, and each is personally accredited by our directors. Once you have chosen, the Finance Director takes a place in your management team, helps shape the decisions and answers for the finance function, supported by a senior Secantor director.

How Big A Fraction Does A London Business Need?

The right amount depends on what the business is trying to do. As a guide:

Days a month What it typically covers
1 A monthly review of the numbers and a sounding board for the owner
2 Monthly reporting, an up to date forecast and cash oversight
4 Funding, a turnaround, a systems change or a sale in preparation
8 An intensive project, or a finance function being rebuilt

Most businesses start small and adjust. The days are agreed in advance and you have full flexibility to increase or decrease them to suit your business needs.

What Does A Fractional Finance Director Cost In London?

Our Finance Director, CFO and Non-Executive Director support is charged at £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses, invoiced monthly for the days worked, and you can increase or decrease the days to suit the business. Our guide to how much a Fractional CFO costs in the UK sets out the figures in full.

A fractional Finance Director working with a London leadership team
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Choosing The Right Finance Director Arrangement For Your Business

  • Fractional Finance Director when the need is ongoing and you want senior judgement alongside the team, with the time agreed to suit the business.
  • Interim Finance Director when the post has fallen vacant or a funder is changing. See our Interim Finance Director service.
  • Part-time CFO when strategy, funding and growth are the priority. See our CFO service.
  • Management Accountant when the first need is timely, reliable monthly figures. See our Management Accountant service.

The same role is also called a Part-Time Finance Director, Outsourced Finance Director or Virtual Finance Director, each with its own London page. For the national picture, see our Fractional Finance Director page.

Working With Your Existing Team

A fractional Finance Director works alongside your finance team, your bookkeeper or your outsourced accountant, adding the senior leadership and forecasting the team does not have. Secantor does not provide bookkeeping, so we work with whoever keeps your books and build the reporting and planning on top. We can also introduce the lenders, law firms and accountants we work with in London and across the South East when that would help.

Starting With A Free Business Review

The Free Business Review is a natural first step towards a fractional Finance Director: a conversation about the business, time with you to see how you work, and an independent view of where senior financial leadership would help most, with our recommendation of the right advisor and no obligation.

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

Book your Free Business Review, or book a discovery call with a Secantor Director.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fractional Finance Directors In London

Is a fractional Finance Director the same as a part-time Finance Director?

In practice, yes. Both describe an experienced Finance Director working with your business on a part-time basis, as a dedicated member of the management team. "Fractional" emphasises that you are buying a fraction of a senior role.

Is a fractional Finance Director a consultant?

No. A consultant hands over a report and leaves. A fractional Finance Director takes a share of the leadership of the finance function, helps you make the big decisions, as a director would, and is the same person every time.

How is a fractional Finance Director different from a full-time one?

You pay only for the days you need, and you have no employment costs. You choose the days and can increase or decrease them to suit the business, so we agree the priorities up front and adjust as things change.

Will I always work with the same person?

We propose an experienced advisor to work with you, or more than one if you would like to choose, supported by a senior Secantor director, so you build a long term relationship rather than meeting a new face each month.

How quickly can a fractional Finance Director start?

That depends on the advisor you choose and when you need them. If the post has fallen vacant, an interim Finance Director can usually start at short notice while you decide on the longer term arrangement.

Do I need a Finance Director or a CFO?

In a business of this size one advisor usually covers both. Choose a Finance Director if control, reporting and cash are the priority, and a CFO if funding, strategy and growth are.

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 Fractional Operations Directors.

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

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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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