What does a Part-Time 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 a Part-Time CFO differ from a Full-Time CFO?

Part-time 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 a Part-Time CFO?

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

Part-Time 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 a Part-Time CFO cost?

Fees vary depending on the time commitment and complexity. Our Part-Time 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.

Do I still need an accountant if I hire a Part-Time CFO?

Yes — because their roles are different. An accountant operates outside your business and focuses on compliance, tax, and reporting. A CFO works inside your business to provide strategic financial leadership. The two roles complement each other. Your CFO will often manage the relationship with your external accountant and ensure their advice is implemented effectively.

Is a Part-Time 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 a Part-Time 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 a Part-Time 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 a Part-Time 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.

Part-Time CFO Services for UK SMEs | Flexible Strategic CFO Support

A Part-Time CFO provides senior strategic financial leadership to SMEs on a flexible, part-time basis. Businesses typically appoint a Part-Time CFO when financial complexity, growth ambitions or commercial decision-making requirements increase beyond the level that existing finance resources can comfortably support.

Unlike a traditional Finance Director role, which is often focused on operational finance management, reporting and financial control, a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) works more strategically across the wider business. A Part-Time CFO helps directors improve long-term financial planning, funding readiness, commercial strategy, cash flow forecasting and business value creation while supporting major decisions around growth, investment and scalability.

Secantor’s Part-Time CFOs work alongside business owners, leadership teams and boards to provide experienced strategic financial leadership without the cost, risk or commitment associated with employing a permanent full-time CFO.

For businesses requiring broader day-to-day financial management and operational finance support, our Fractional Finance Director services may also be helpful.

What Is A Part-Time CFO?

A Part-Time CFO is an experienced senior financial executive who works within a business for an agreed number of days each month while providing strategic financial leadership at board level.

Most SMEs do not initially require a full-time CFO. However, many reach a stage where directors require stronger financial visibility, more sophisticated forecasting, support with funding, investor discussions, acquisitions, growth planning or commercial decision-making.

A Part-Time CFO helps bridge this gap by providing high-level strategic expertise on a flexible basis that aligns with the size and complexity of the business.

Typical areas of support may include:

strategic financial planning
forecasting and scenario modelling
cash flow strategy and working capital management
funding and banking support
investor readiness
acquisition and exit planning
commercial performance analysis
board reporting and financial strategy
profitability improvement
business value creation

Part-Time CFO support is often particularly valuable for growing SMEs where directors are making increasingly important strategic decisions without access to experienced financial leadership internally.

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a CFO and Finance Director are not always the same role.

A Finance Director is typically more focused on financial operations, reporting accuracy, controls, management accounts and day-to-day financial management within the business.

A CFO operates more strategically across the wider organisation and often becomes heavily involved in:

long-term growth strategy
funding and investment planning
acquisitions and exits
business scalability
financial modelling
investor and bank relationships
commercial decision-making
strategic risk management

Why SMEs Often Delay Appointing A CFO

Many business owners continue managing strategic financial leadership themselves for longer than they ideally should.

This is understandable. In earlier stages of growth, directors can often manage using external accountants, bookkeeping support and basic reporting.

However, as businesses grow, financial complexity increases significantly. Directors frequently find themselves making larger strategic decisions while lacking:

reliable forward-looking forecasts
visibility over future cash flow
clear profitability analysis
strategic financial modelling
sufficient commercial financial challenge at board level

This can lead to delayed decisions, inconsistent profitability, unnecessary financial pressure and increased risk.

A Part-Time CFO helps businesses introduce stronger strategic financial leadership before these issues become more serious constraints on growth.

Businesses often appoint a Part-Time CFO when:

turnover and operational complexity are increasing
directors require stronger strategic financial visibility
cash flow forecasting becomes more critical
growth plans require financial modelling and scenario planning
funding or investment discussions are approaching
acquisitions or exit planning are being considered
profitability performance requires deeper analysis
leadership teams require stronger commercial financial insight
directors are carrying too much strategic financial responsibility themselves

For many SMEs, appointing a Part-Time CFO becomes a key step in moving from reactive financial management towards more structured strategic leadership.

Strategic Financial Leadership

Gain access to experienced board-level financial expertise without employing a permanent full-time CFO.

Improved Decision-Making

Use stronger forecasting, financial analysis and commercial insight to support better strategic decisions.

Better Better Cash Flow Visibilitydecision-making

Improve forecasting accuracy, working capital management and financial planning.

Support For Growth

Build stronger financial structures, reporting and planning processes capable of supporting sustainable growth.

Funding And Investor Readiness

Prepare the business more effectively for banking relationships, investment discussions or acquisitions.

Increased Business Value

Strengthen profitability, visibility and strategic planning to help build a more valuable and resilient business.

A Part-Time CFO often becomes heavily involved in helping directors make faster and more confident strategic decisions using stronger financial visibility.

This may include:

building robust financial forecasts
improving board reporting
developing KPI dashboards
supporting pricing strategy
analysing profitability by customer, service or product
improving cash flow forecasting
supporting lender and investor discussions
helping directors understand business performance more clearly
supporting acquisitions, exits or succession planning
strengthening financial processes and commercial reporting

Why Businesses Choose Secantor

Secantor Business Services provides experienced Part-Time CFOs to SMEs across the UK.

Our CFOs work as part of the management team, supporting directors with practical commercial financial leadership rather than acting as external consultants operating at a distance. Our CFOs become embedded within the business, working closely with directors and leadership teams to provide practical commercial support and accountability.

We focus on helping businesses:

improve financial visibility
strengthen strategic planning
improve profitability
manage growth more effectively
prepare for funding or investment
improve board-level decision-making
build stronger and more resilient businesses

Our flexible model allows SMEs to access experienced CFO-level expertise at a level appropriate to their stage of growth and commercial requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Part-Time CFOs

A Part-Time CFO is a senior financial expert who works with your business on a flexible basis, providing strategic financial leadership, commercial insight and board-level support without the cost of employing a permanent full-time CFO.

Part-Time CFOs help SMEs improve financial visibility, strengthen forecasting, support better decision-making and build stronger, more financially resilient businesses.

A Part-Time CFO helps businesses strengthen financial visibility, improve strategic planning and make better commercial decisions.

Typical responsibilities include:

producing and interpreting management accounts
building financial forecasts and scenario models
improving cash flow forecasting
supporting budgeting and strategic planning
analysing profitability and business performance
supporting funding or investment discussions
preparing board reports and KPI dashboards
advising on acquisitions, exits or growth plans
strengthening financial processes and controls
supporting leadership teams with commercial decision-making

A Part-Time CFO works as part of the management team, helping directors understand the financial position of the business more clearly and plan more effectively for the future.

A Part-Time CFO provides the same level of strategic financial expertise and commercial leadership as a full-time CFO but works on a flexible fractional basis, typically for a set number of days each month.

This allows SMEs to benefit from experienced CFO-level support without the cost, risk and long-term commitment associated with employing a permanent executive.

Many SMEs reach a stage where financial decisions become more complex and the business requires stronger financial leadership than basic bookkeeping, compliance reporting or year-end accounts alone can provide.

A Part-Time CFO helps businesses improve financial visibility, strengthen forecasting, support growth planning, improve profitability and make more informed strategic decisions.

For many SMEs, appointing a Part-Time CFO is a cost-effective way to introduce experienced strategic financial leadership without the need for a full-time appointment.

You may also find our guide Why Every SME Business Should Have A CFO helpful.

The roles often overlap and the terminology is sometimes used interchangeably, particularly within SMEs.

However, a Finance Director is typically more focused on operational finance, reporting, controls and day-to-day financial management, while a CFO usually operates more strategically across the wider business.

CFO support is generally more focused on areas such as:

growth strategy
funding and investment
financial modelling
acquisitions and exits
commercial decision-making
long-term business planning
board-level strategic support

In many SMEs, one individual may perform both Finance Director and CFO responsibilities depending on the needs of the business.

You may also wish to explore our Fractional Finance Director services page.

Yes. The two roles are different and complementary.

An external accountant typically focuses on compliance, statutory accounts, tax and year-end reporting, whereas a CFO works inside the business to provide strategic financial leadership, forecasting, commercial analysis and board-level support.

A Part-Time CFO will often work closely with your accountant and help ensure external financial advice is implemented effectively within the business.

Yes. Many SMEs appoint a Part-Time CFO specifically to help improve profitability, strengthen cash flow and provide clearer financial visibility.

A CFO can help businesses:

understand profitability by customer, product or service
improve pricing decisions
strengthen forecasting and budgeting
improve financial reporting
identify operational inefficiencies
improve cash flow management
support better commercial decision-making

Many businesses also combine CFO support with stronger management accounting processes to improve ongoing visibility and performance monitoring.

You may also find these resources helpful:

The Benefits Of Management Accounts
How To Use Management Accounts Effectively
Building Value In Your Business

Yes. A Part-Time CFO can play a critical role in preparing a business for funding, investment or banking discussions.

This may include:

building financial forecasts and models
preparing investor presentations
supporting due diligence
improving financial reporting
helping structure funding requirements
supporting lender or investor meetings
strengthening financial credibility

Many SMEs appoint a Part-Time CFO specifically to support growth funding, acquisitions or future exit planning.

You may also find our Financial Modelling and Business Planning resources useful.

Yes. At Secantor, many of our CFOs also operate successfully at board level as Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).

Our CFOs are commercially experienced, strategically minded and able to provide constructive challenge, strategic guidance and broader business support alongside financial leadership.

You may also wish to explore our Non-Executive Director services.

Part-Time CFOs are typically most suitable for growing SMEs where financial complexity is increasing but a full-time CFO is not yet commercially appropriate.

At Secantor, we commonly support businesses with turnover between £3m and £50m, although we also work with ambitious smaller businesses and larger organisations requiring flexible strategic financial leadership.

Businesses often appoint a Part-Time CFO when they experience:

rapid growth
increasing operational complexity
tighter cash flow pressures
funding requirements
acquisition activity
profitability challenges
greater board-level reporting needs

Fees vary depending on the size, complexity and requirements of the business, together with the level of time commitment required.

Our Part-Time CFO services typically start from approximately £1,200 +VAT per month.

Each engagement is tailored to the specific needs of the business to ensure the right level of support and commercial value.

We can often introduce an experienced CFO to your business within a matter of days, depending on the nature of the requirement and availability.

Every Secantor CFO is carefully selected and personally accredited to ensure they have the right combination of technical expertise, commercial experience and interpersonal skills to integrate effectively within your business.

Secantor provides experienced CFOs who work as part of your management team rather than acting as external consultants operating at a distance.

Our CFOs combine strong financial expertise with practical commercial experience gained across both SMEs and larger organisations.

Every engagement is supported by Secantor Directors to help ensure quality, consistency and long-term value for clients.

We focus on helping businesses:

improve financial visibility
strengthen strategic planning
improve profitability
support growth
strengthen decision-making
build more valuable and resilient businesses

The best place to start is with an initial conversation about your business, current challenges and future objectives.

Following an initial discussion, we typically arrange a meeting to gain a deeper understanding of your business, financial requirements, leadership structure and growth plans before recommending the most appropriate CFO support.

We then match businesses with carefully selected CFOs based on experience, sector fit, personality and commercial requirements.

There is no obligation — simply an opportunity to explore whether Part-Time CFO support may be beneficial for your business.

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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

Part-Time CFO Services for UK SMEs

Part-Time CFO Services Explained

What Is A Part-Time CFO?

How A CFO Differs From A Finance Director

Why SMEs Often Delay Appointing A CFO

When Businesses Typically Appoint A Part-Time CFO

The Benefits Of A Part-Time CFO

Strategic Financial Leadership

Improved Decision-Making

Better Better Cash Flow Visibilitydecision-making

Support For Growth

Funding And Investor Readiness

Increased Business Value

What A Part-Time CFO Typically Helps With

Why Businesses Choose Secantor

“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”

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Frequently Asked Questions: Part-Time CFOs

Other Terms Often Used

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

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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

Why Every SME Business Should Have a Finance Director

The Benefits of Management Accounting: Why Every SME Business Should Use Management Accounts

When Does An SME Need A CFO?

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Non-Executive Director

Finance Director

Operations Director

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