How does an Outsourced FD differ from a Full-Time FD?

Outsourced 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.

Why would an SME need an Outsourced FD?

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

What does an Outsourced FD 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 Outsourced FD also act as a Non-Executive Director?

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.

Can an Outsourced FD help with fundraising or investment?

Yes — an FD 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 much does an Outsourced Finance Director cost?

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.

Do I still need an accountant if I hire an Outsourced FD?

Yes — because their roles are different. An accountant works outside your business, focusing on compliance, tax, and reporting. An Outsourced 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.

Is an Outsourced FD 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 businesses too. If you’re experiencing growing complexity in your finances or strategic decisions, an Outsourced FD can help bring clarity and control.

How quickly can an Outsourced FD start?

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.

What makes Secantor different?

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.

How do I hire an Outsourced Finance Director?

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.

Outsourced Finance Director Services for UK SMEs

Many SME businesses reach a stage where stronger financial leadership is needed, but employing a full-time Finance Director is either unnecessary or commercially unrealistic.

An Outsourced Finance Director allows businesses to access experienced senior financial expertise on a flexible basis, providing strategic financial leadership, commercial insight and improved financial control without the cost and commitment of a permanent full-time appointment.

Businesses exploring outsourced support may also find it helpful to review our Fractional Finance Director services, as the terms are often used interchangeably.

At Secantor Business Services, we work closely with SME leadership teams to provide practical, commercially focused Finance Director support tailored to the needs of the business. Our Finance Directors become part of the management team, helping businesses improve visibility, strengthen decision-making and build a more structured platform for growth.

What Is An Outsourced Finance Director?

An Outsourced Finance Director is an experienced senior finance professional who works with a business on a flexible external basis rather than as a full-time employee.

The role typically involves supporting business owners and directors with areas such as:

financial strategy
management reporting
forecasting and budgeting
cash flow management
profitability analysis
pricing and margin improvement
board reporting
funding support
financial process improvement
commercial decision-making

Unlike a traditional external accountant who may focus primarily on compliance and year-end reporting, an Outsourced Finance Director works inside the business to provide ongoing strategic and commercial financial leadership.

For many SMEs, this creates access to senior-level expertise that would otherwise be difficult or uneconomic to recruit internally.

Outsourced Finance Director vs Fractional Finance Director

In practice, the terms Outsourced Finance Director and Fractional Finance Director are often used interchangeably.

Both typically describe experienced Finance Directors providing flexible part-time senior financial leadership to SME businesses.

Some businesses prefer the term "outsourced" because it emphasises flexibility and external support, while others use "fractional" or "part-time" terminology. The underlying objective is generally the same: accessing experienced financial leadership without employing a full-time Finance Director.

You may also find it helpful to review our:

Businesses often appoint an Outsourced Finance Director when:

the owner is carrying too much financial responsibility themselves
financial visibility and reporting are insufficient
profits are not converting into cash effectively
forecasting and budgeting are weak or inconsistent
the business is growing quickly and becoming more complex
management information is delayed or unreliable
funding or investment support is required
directors need stronger commercial insight before making decisions
an experienced financial leader is needed without recruiting full-time

Senior financial expertise without full-time cost

Businesses gain access to experienced board-level financial leadership without the salary, pension, benefits and long-term commitment associated with employing a permanent full-time Finance Director.

Improved financial visibility

Better reporting and clearer management information help directors understand performance, profitability, cash flow and operational trends more effectively.

Stronger commercial decision-making

An Outsourced Finance Director provides commercially focused insight to support pricing decisions, investment planning, recruitment, growth strategy and operational improvements.

Better forecasting and cash flow control

Many SMEs lack reliable forecasting disciplines. An experienced Finance Director can help improve forecasting accuracy, working capital management and forward planning.

More support for business owners

Many owner-managed businesses become overly dependent on the founder for financial oversight and operational decision-making. An Outsourced Finance Director provides experienced support, challenge and guidance to help reduce pressure on business owners and strengthen leadership teams.

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Our Outsourced Finance Directors typically help businesses with:

monthly management accounts and KPI reporting
budgeting and forecasting
cash flow management
profitability improvement
pricing and margin analysis
board reporting and leadership support
funding and banking relationships
finance team development
operational and commercial decision support
strategic planning

We work flexibly around the needs of the business, whether that involves a small number of days each month or more intensive short-term support during periods of change or growth.

Other Terms Often Used For Outsourced Finance Director Services

Businesses often use different terminology when searching for flexible Finance Director support.

An Outsourced Finance Director may also be referred to as a:

While there can be subtle differences depending on the level of involvement and nature of the assignment, these terms generally describe experienced Finance Directors providing flexible senior financial leadership for SME businesses.

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. Many businesses also use this process to identify opportunities to improve profitability, strengthen operations and build value in the business over time. 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

How Do I Recruit an Outsourced Finance Director?

Organising Outsourced Finance Director 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Outsourced Finance Directors

An Outsourced Finance Director (FD) provides your business with senior financial leadership on a flexible basis, giving you access to experienced strategic and commercial financial expertise without the cost of employing a full-time Finance Director.

They work alongside your leadership team to improve financial visibility, strengthen reporting, support strategic decision-making, manage cash flow and help drive sustainable business growth.

An Outsourced FD provides many of the same skills, experience and strategic input as a full-time Finance Director but works with your business on a flexible part-time basis, often for a few days each month.

This allows businesses to benefit from experienced financial leadership, forecasting, reporting and commercial support without the salary costs, benefits and long-term commitment associated with employing a permanent full-time FD.

In practice, the terms Outsourced Finance Director and Fractional Finance Director are often used interchangeably. Both describe experienced Finance Directors providing flexible senior financial leadership on a part-time basis.

Some businesses prefer the term “outsourced” because it emphasises external support, while “fractional” is often used to describe a Finance Director working with a business for a proportion of the week or month. In most cases, the underlying service is very similar.

Many SMEs reach a stage where stronger financial leadership becomes essential to support growth, profitability and better decision-making. An Outsourced FD provides experienced financial and commercial expertise without the cost of employing a full-time Finance Director.

They help businesses improve reporting, forecasting, cash flow management, strategic planning and financial control while supporting directors with more informed commercial decision-making.

To learn more, you may also find it helpful to read our article: Why Every SME Business Should Have A Finance Director.

Businesses often appoint an Outsourced Finance Director when financial complexity begins to increase beyond the experience or capacity of the existing leadership team.

Common triggers include rapid growth, cash flow pressure, declining profitability, funding requirements, weak forecasting, acquisition activity, management reporting issues or lack of reliable financial visibility.

Many SMEs reach a stage where stronger financial leadership is needed, but employing a full-time Finance Director is not yet commercially appropriate.

Typical responsibilities include producing and interpreting management accounts, building budgets and forecasts, improving cash flow management, supporting strategic planning, analysing profitability, advising on funding, improving reporting processes and helping leadership teams make better commercial decisions.

An Outsourced FD may also support board meetings, mentor finance staff, improve financial controls and help businesses build stronger operational and financial structure as they grow.

You may also find it helpful to read our guide explaining what a Finance Director typically focuses on during the first 90 days inside an SME business.

Yes. An Outsourced FD can play a significant role in supporting fundraising, investment activity and banking relationships.

This often includes preparing financial forecasts, presenting financial information to lenders or investors, supporting due diligence, improving reporting credibility and helping directors communicate financial strategy more effectively.

Yes, because the roles are different and complementary.

An accountant typically focuses on compliance, tax, statutory reporting and year-end accounts. An Outsourced FD works inside the business to provide ongoing strategic and commercial financial leadership.

Your FD will often work closely with your external accountant and help ensure financial information and advice are implemented effectively within the business.

Yes. At Secantor, many of our Finance Directors also have strong Non-Executive Director experience.

This means they can contribute not only financial expertise, but also strategic insight, governance support, commercial challenge and broader board-level perspective to help businesses strengthen leadership and decision-making.

The cost depends on the level of support your business requires, but Outsourced Finance Director services typically start from around £1,200 + VAT per month.

At Secantor, every engagement is tailored to the specific needs of the business. Our Finance Directors commonly support clients anywhere from one to six days per month depending on complexity, growth plans and operational requirements.

Outsourced Finance Director services are commonly used by growing SMEs that require stronger financial leadership but do not yet need a full-time Finance Director.

At Secantor, we typically support UK businesses with turnover between £3m and £50m and employee numbers ranging from approximately 30 to 250 staff, although we also support ambitious smaller businesses and larger organisations.

If your business is experiencing increasing financial complexity, growth challenges or greater strategic demands, an Outsourced FD can often provide valuable support.

We can often introduce an experienced Outsourced FD within a matter of days, depending on the specific requirements of the business and the type of expertise needed.

Every Secantor FD is carefully selected and personally accredited to ensure they have not only strong technical financial expertise, but also the commercial experience and interpersonal skills needed to integrate effectively with your leadership team.

Unlike many providers, Secantor delivers broader board-level commercial support rather than simply supplying finance professionals.

Many of our Finance Directors also have Non-Executive Director experience, allowing them to contribute strategically as well as financially. Every FD is personally accredited by Secantor and carefully matched to the specific needs, culture and objectives of the client business.

The best starting point is an initial conversation to understand your business, challenges and objectives.

Following this, we typically arrange a visit to develop a deeper understanding of your operations, leadership team and requirements before carefully matching you with an experienced Finance Director suited to your business, culture and priorities.

There is no obligation and no rigid process — simply an opportunity to explore whether the right Outsourced FD support could help your business move forward.

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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

Learn More

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

Outsourced Finance Director Services for UK SMEs

Flexible Senior Financial Leadership Without Employing A Full-Time FD

What Is An Outsourced Finance Director?

Outsourced Finance Director vs Fractional Finance Director

When Businesses Typically Use An Outsourced Finance Director

The Benefits Of An Outsourced Finance Director

Senior financial expertise without full-time cost

Improved financial visibility

Stronger commercial decision-making

Better forecasting and cash flow control

More support for business owners

“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?

How Secantor Supports SME Businesses

Other Terms Often Used For Outsourced Finance Director Services

Free Business Review

How Do I Recruit an Outsourced Finance Director?

What Our Customers Have To Say

Frequently Asked Questions: Outsourced Finance Directors

Related Financial Leadership Services

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Paul Gibbins

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

When Does An SME Need A CFO?

Why Developing Your Team Is Critical for SME Growth, Performance and Business Value

How to Build Business Value Buyers Truly Pay For

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Non-Executive Director

Finance Director

Operations Director

Free Business Review