Fractional Finance Director Services In London

Senior finance leadership for a fraction of the week, not a full-time salary

A fractional Finance Director gives a London business a fixed share of an experienced Finance Director's time, usually between one and four days a month, with the same person each time. You get the judgement, the forecasting and the board-level challenge of a full-time Finance Director, sized to what the business actually needs. Secantor provides fractional Finance Directors to owner-managed businesses across London and the Home Counties. We visit you, understand the business and propose the advisor we think fits you and your people.

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What Does A Fractional Finance Director Do?

The role comes down to three jobs.

  • 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 forecast and financial plan that show what each decision will do to profit and cash before you take it.

Alongside those, a fractional Finance Director coaches your finance team, deals with the bank and other funders, and sits in the room when the big decisions are made. 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?

When the business needs senior judgement but not five days a week of it. 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 signs that a fraction fits are an owner still carrying the forecasting and funding conversations alone, monthly figures that arrive late, and growth 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 Has 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 Does A Fractional Finance Director Work With You?

We visit you at your premises, hear how the business works and then propose the Finance Director we think fits you and your people. Every Secantor advisor is personally accredited by our directors for technical expertise, commercial experience and leadership impact, and most have held Finance Director, CFO or Non-Executive Director roles themselves. You work with one experienced advisor, 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 monthWhat it typically covers
1A monthly review of the numbers and a sounding board for the owner
2Monthly reporting, an up to date forecast and cash oversight
4Funding, a turnaround, a systems change or a sale in preparation
8An intensive project, or a finance function being rebuilt

Most businesses start small and adjust. The days are agreed in advance and can go up or down as the business changes.

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. Many London businesses start with two to four days a month, and the number of days can be increased or reduced as the business changes. 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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Which Finance Director Arrangement Fits Your Business?

  • Fractional Finance Director when the need is ongoing and you want senior judgement for a share of each month.
  • 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.

For the national picture, see our Fractional Finance Director page.

Can A Fractional Finance Director Work With My Existing Team?

Yes. They work 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.

What Happens At A Free Business Review?

We start with a conversation about the business and its objectives, then visit your premises to hear the full story and see how you work. You receive an independent view of where senior financial leadership would help most and our recommendation of the right advisor, with no obligation.

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 you for an agreed number of days a month. "Fractional" emphasises that you are buying a fraction of a senior role.

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. The trade-off is that your Finance Director is not in the business every day, so we agree the days and the priorities up front.

Will I always work with the same person?

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

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, and many businesses start with two to four days a month.

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 – 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.

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

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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

No obligation

30-minute call

Expert advice

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

Learn More
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

Learn More
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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