Outsourced CFO Services In London

A senior CFO from outside your payroll, working as part of your management team

An outsourced CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works for your London business on an outsourced basis rather than as an employee. You get senior strategic leadership on funding, planning and the board, for the days you need. It is a senior finance leadership service, not outsourced bookkeeping or accounts. We visit you to begin.

Read our national guide to the Fractional CFO role for the full model, or see our wider board-level support in London.

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What Does An Outsourced CFO Do For A London Business?

Secantor's outsourced CFOs provide London businesses with the strategic financial leadership of an in-house CFO, without a place on the payroll.

  • Strategy and planning. A budget, a rolling forecast and a financial plan that links your ambition to cash.
  • Funding. Choosing the right finance and preparing the case for lenders and investors.
  • Margin and cost. Finding where pricing, product mix or costs are holding profit back.
  • Reporting and KPIs. The handful of measures that show how the business is performing, explained to you and your board.
  • Board leadership. Bringing financial discipline and challenge to board meetings.

"Outsourced" is sometimes used to mean outsourced accounts: bookkeeping, payroll and statutory accounts. That is not what we provide. Your bookkeeper or accountant carries on with that work, and the CFO sits above it. The same CFO role is also called a fractional, virtual or part-time CFO. See our Fractional CFO, Virtual CFO and Part-Time CFO pages for London.

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When Does A London Business Need An Outsourced CFO?

Secantor's outsourced CFO service suits a London business that wants CFO-level leadership without adding a permanent executive to the payroll. Typical situations include a growth plan that needs funding, a sale or succession on the horizon, a board that wants credible numbers, or a business that has outgrown its accountant but is not ready for a full-time CFO. For the signs in more detail, read our blog on when an SME needs a CFO.

How Does An Outsourced CFO Help A Business?

Secantor's outsourced CFOs help a London business by providing CFO-level leadership from outside the payroll, for the days it is needed. The first benefit is seniority without the overhead. An outsourced CFO brings experience a growing business could not otherwise afford, without the cost and commitment of recruiting and employing a full-time executive. The second is breadth: Secantor's advisors bring decades of hands-on experience with owner-managed businesses, so they have usually seen your situation before.

The third is flexibility. The days can be increased for a funding round or a sale and reduced afterwards, so you pay for the leadership you need when you need it. Some businesses later add a Part-Time Finance Director as the finance function grows.

An outsourced CFO discussing strategy with a business owner

How Does An Outsourced CFO Work With You?

Secantor starts an outsourced CFO engagement in London with a visit to your premises, so that we understand where the business is going and where it is under pressure, and then proposes the advisor whose experience fits. From there the work runs in regular days each month with the same advisor, and contact between visits when you need it. The number of days is agreed with you and changes as the business does.

What Does An Outsourced CFO Cost In London?

Secantor charges £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses for an outsourced CFO in London. Invoices are raised monthly for the days worked, and a typical start is two to four days a month, with extra days around a funding round or transaction and fewer afterwards. Our cost guide explains the figures in more detail.

An outsourced CFO meeting with an SME management team
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Which Arrangement Suits A London Business?

Secantor's outsourced CFO suits a London business that wants senior leadership on an ongoing basis without a permanent hire. If control, reporting and cash matter most, look at a Part-Time Finance Director. A vacancy or a deal that needs a senior lead points to an Interim CFO, who can start quickly, while a Non-Executive Director brings independent challenge to the board. Our guide to Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO explains how they differ.

How Does An Outsourced CFO Work With Your Existing Team?

The CFO sits above your existing finance function and works with your accountants, your board and your finance team, using the records your bookkeeper or accountant keeps. They do not replace anyone, and we do not provide bookkeeping or outsourced accounts.

An outsourced CFO reviewing financial information with an SME business owner

What Is The Free Business Review?

Start with a Free Business Review, which carries no obligation. After an initial chat, a couple of our team visit you to hear your story and your plans. You then receive an independent view and our recommendation of the right support. See the Free Business Review.

Next Steps

Next, we visit. The Free Business Review begins with a conversation and then comes to your premises to understand where the business is heading; you finish with an independent view and no obligation. If you prefer to talk first, book a discovery call with a Secantor Director.

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What Do London Business Owners Ask About An Outsourced CFO?

What is an outsourced CFO, and does it include bookkeeping?

An outsourced CFO is a senior chief financial officer who works for your business on an outsourced basis, for a set number of days each month. It does not include bookkeeping or outsourced accounts, which stay with your bookkeeper or accountant.

How is an outsourced CFO different from an in-house CFO?

An in-house CFO is a full-time employee. An outsourced CFO provides the same senior leadership for the days you need, with no place on your payroll.

Is an outsourced CFO the same as a fractional or virtual CFO?

Yes. We use outsourced, fractional, virtual and part-time to describe the same service: a senior CFO delivered flexibly.

How many days a month does an outsourced CFO work?

Two to four days a month is a typical start. The level is set at the first meeting and adjusted as the business changes.

What does an outsourced CFO cost in London?

Outsourcing the CFO role costs £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses.

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

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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

✓ Identify profit hotspots (and tackle any losses)

✓ 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
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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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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