What does an Independent CFO do for a business?

They lead financial strategy, produce and interpret management accounts, build financial models, manage risk, guide funding decisions, support acquisitions or exits, and ensure your board has timely, accurate financial insight.

How does an Independent CFO differ from a Full-Time CFO?

Independent CFOs offer all the skills and strategic input of a full-time CFO 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.

Why would an SME need an Independent CFO?

Many SMEs reach a stage where financial decisions become more complex — but aren’t yet ready for a full-time CFO. An Independent CFO 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 CFO.

What does an Independent CFO do day-to-day?

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.

Can an Independent CFO also act as a Non-Executive Director?

Yes. At Secantor, many of our CFOs also act as Non-Executive Directors (NEDs). Our CFOs are commercially experienced, strategically minded, and have strong corporate governance expertise — making them well placed to contribute at board level.

What size of business uses an Independent CFO?

Independent CFOs are ideal for SMEs with growing complexity but without the need for a full-time finance leader. At Secantor, we typically support businesses with £3m–£50m turnover, though some clients are smaller and others larger.

How is a CFO different from a Finance Director?

The roles often overlap, and the title is often used interchangeably. In very large organisations, a Finance Director typically focuses on internal financial control and reporting, while a CFO adds a layer of strategic foresight, often acting as a key advisor to the CEO or owner and supporting investor relationships. However, in most SMEs, one individual covers all aspects of strategic financial leadership, so the role is in effect the same.

How much does an Independent CFO cost?

Fees vary depending on the time commitment and complexity. Our Independent CFOs typically cost from £1,200 +VAT per month. We tailor each engagement to match your business stage, budget and goals. Contact us for a personalised proposal.

Is an Independent CFO suitable for my business size?

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 companies too. If you’re experiencing growing complexity in your finances or strategic decisions, a CFO will help bring clarity and control.

Can an Independent CFO help with fundraising or investment?

Yes — a CFO plays a crucial role in preparing forecasts, engaging with investors or banks, presenting financial strategy, and structuring funding rounds. They bring credibility and clarity to the process.

How quickly can an Independent CFO start?

We can often place a vetted, accredited CFO in your business within a matter of days. Every Secantor CFO 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.

What makes Secantor different?

Our CFOs are personally accredited by Secantor Directors and chosen for their blend of technical expertise, commercial judgement and interpersonal skills. Our team have held senior roles in both large corporates and growing SMEs — and every engagement is backed by Secantor’s oversight to guarantee quality and results.

How do I hire an Independent CFO?

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 CFO based on your requirements, culture, and priorities. No obligation — just a conversation to see if we’re a good fit for you.

Independent CFO Services | Secantor Business Services

What Is an Independent CFO?

If you are searching for an Independent CFO, you are likely looking for what Secantor calls a Fractional CFO: an experienced Chief Financial Officer who works with your business on an ongoing, part-time basis, bringing an outside perspective that is genuinely independent of the internal politics, history and assumptions that can build up inside a growing business.

An Independent CFO is not tied to any one department, does not report to internal management, and has no personal stake in decisions beyond what is genuinely best for the business. That independence is often what makes the advice valuable. Where an internal finance team can find it difficult to challenge the founder or flag uncomfortable numbers, an Independent CFO is free to say what needs to be said.

What Makes A CFO Independent?

Independence comes from having no employment relationship, no departmental loyalty and no personal agenda within the business. An Independent CFO is engaged specifically to provide honest, commercially grounded advice, even when that advice challenges the board's own assumptions. This is particularly valuable around funding decisions, acquisitions, exit planning and performance issues, where an internal perspective can be clouded by proximity to the problem.

Independence From The Business

Because an Independent CFO is not a permanent employee, they have no career incentive to tell the board what it wants to hear. Their only obligation is to give an honest, commercially sound view.

Independence From The Accountant

Your accountant is independent in a different sense: they focus on statutory compliance and historic accounts. An Independent CFO works inside the business on live decisions, forward planning and strategy, complementing rather than duplicating that role.

Independent CFO Or Fractional CFO: What's The Difference?

In practice, there is no meaningful difference. Independent CFO simply emphasises the objectivity of the arrangement, while Fractional CFO describes the part-time working pattern. Both describe an experienced CFO who joins your leadership team without becoming a full-time employee. If you are weighing up whether you need CFO-level support or something more operational, our guide on when an SME needs a CFO explains the distinction between a CFO and a Finance Director.

Frequently Asked Questions about Independent CFOs

Is an Independent CFO the same as a Fractional CFO?
Yes. Independent CFO and Fractional CFO describe the same arrangement, an experienced CFO working part-time with your business, with the term "independent" simply emphasising the objectivity that comes from not being a permanent employee.

Why does independence matter in a CFO?
An Independent CFO has no departmental loyalty or career incentive to avoid difficult conversations, which means the board gets an honest, commercially grounded view rather than one shaped by internal politics.

How is an Independent CFO different from an Interim CFO?
An Independent CFO provides ongoing, part-time support. An Interim CFO covers a defined period, such as a resignation, maternity leave or a specific project, usually on a more intensive basis.

Do I still need an accountant if I hire an Independent CFO?
Yes. Your accountant handles statutory compliance and annual accounts. An Independent CFO works inside the business on live financial strategy and decision-making between those year-end filings.

What size of business typically uses an Independent CFO?
Most Secantor clients have a turnover of between £3m and £50m, at the point where the board benefits from an objective, senior financial voice alongside its own team.

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How Do I Recruit An Independent CFO?

Organising Independent CFO services with Secantor is easy - simply get in touch and we'll manage the rest. As well as providing expert financial services, we can improve your business with part-time Management Accountant, Non-Executive Director and Operations Director services too, so why not take a look at the other pages of our website to see how we can help you in more ways than one?

What Our Customers Have To Say

Over the years we have helped hundreds of businesses take control of their finances. By working closely with owners and directors we become an integral part of the management team and as a result have long-standing relationships with our customers, many of whom have relied on our expert knowledge, advice and guidance for many years. Why not review some of our case studies or listen to what our customers have to say.

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

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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.

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.

✓ 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

Learn More

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.

✓ 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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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.

✓ 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

Independent CFO Services

What Is an Independent CFO?

What Makes A CFO Independent?

Independence From The Business

Independence From The Accountant

Independent CFO Or Fractional CFO: What's The Difference?

When Does A Business Need An Independent CFO?

Frequently Asked Questions about Independent CFOs

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

Paul Gibbins

No obligation

30-minute call

Expert advice

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”

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

Free Business Review

How Do I Recruit An Independent CFO?

What Our Customers Have To Say

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

Build Value In Your Business

Improve Operational Efficiency

Exit Your Business Successfully

Read Our Latest Case Studies

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

“Secantor has made a world of difference - we are now in control. It's a very cost effective way for us to have high level management and strategic help”

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

Peter Laurie Joins Secantor As Regional Director

What Financial Support Does A Business Need At Each Stage Of Growth?

What Good Management Information Looks Like at Different Stages of Growth

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Non-Executive Director

Finance Director

Operations Director

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