Independent FD

An Independent 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.

Independent FDs offer all the skills and strategic input of a full-time FD but work with your business on a part-time 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. An Independent 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.

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 — because their roles are different. An accountant works outside your business, focusing on compliance, tax, and reporting. An Independent 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 , an Independent FD can help bring clarity and control.

We can often place a vetted, accredited FD 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.