How does a Portfolio FD differ from a Full-Time FD?

Portfolio 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 a Portfolio FD?

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

Is a Portfolio 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, a Portfolio FD can help bring clarity and control.

How quickly can a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio 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.

Portfolio Finance Director Services | Secantor Business Services

What Is a Portfolio Finance Director?

If you are searching for a Portfolio Finance Director, you are likely looking for what Secantor calls a Fractional Finance Director: an experienced Finance Director who works with your business on an ongoing, part-time basis, alongside a small number of other clients. The term "portfolio" describes the working pattern from the FD's side, a career built around several part-time roles rather than one full-time position, but the value to your business is the same as any other Fractional Finance Director arrangement.

Working across a portfolio of businesses is what allows a Finance Director to reach this level of experience in the first place. Rather than progressing through one internal finance function, a Portfolio Finance Director has typically worked across a range of industries and business structures, and brings that breadth directly into your business.

Why Does A Portfolio Career Matter?

Because a Portfolio Finance Director works with several businesses at once, they are continually exposed to different financial challenges, systems and reporting practices. That breadth of current experience is difficult to replicate in a single full-time role, and it is often what allows a Portfolio Finance Director to spot inefficiencies or risks that an internal team, close to just one business, might miss.

Portfolio Finance Director Or Fractional Finance Director: What's The Difference?

There is no meaningful difference in what you receive. Fractional Finance Director describes the part-time engagement from your business's perspective; Portfolio Finance Director describes the same arrangement from the FD's career perspective. If you are unsure whether FD-level support is the right fit, our guide on when an SME needs a CFO explains the distinction between a Finance Director and a CFO.

Frequently Asked Questions about Portfolio Finance Directors

Is a Portfolio Finance Director the same as a Fractional Finance Director?
Yes. Portfolio Finance Director and Fractional Finance Director describe the same arrangement. Portfolio reflects the FD's career structure across several clients; Fractional reflects the part-time nature of the engagement from your business's side.

Does working across several businesses affect the quality of support?
No. A Portfolio Finance Director typically has a defined number of days allocated to each client, and the breadth of experience gained from working across several businesses often strengthens the reporting and advice they bring to yours.

How is a Portfolio Finance Director different from an Interim Finance Director?
A Portfolio Finance Director provides ongoing, part-time support as one of several clients. An Interim Finance Director covers a defined period, such as a resignation or a specific project, usually on a more intensive, single-client basis.

Do I still need an accountant if I hire a Portfolio Finance Director?
Yes. Your accountant handles statutory compliance and annual accounts. A Portfolio Finance Director works inside the business on live reporting, forecasting and financial control between those year-end filings.

What size of business typically uses a Portfolio Finance Director?
Most Secantor clients have a turnover of between £3m and £50m, at the point where the finance function needs more structure and senior oversight than the internal team currently provides.

How Do I Recruit a Portfolio Finance Director?

Organising Portfolio 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.

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

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

How Secantor Helped a £30m Recruitment Business at a Critical Time

“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”

CEO Of A £30m Turnover Recruitment Company

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

Profitability is the heartbeat of any successful business. Ready to take your business to the next level? Download your free guide and discover 10 powerful strategies to increase your business profits today!

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!

Click the button below to get instant access to your free guide and start growing your profits now!

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

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

The image shows a wooden surface with a row of six round, bite-sized chocolate truffles, each coated in various toppings like chocolate, nuts, and sprinkles. The background is blurred with hints of greenery.

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The image shows the edge of an underground station platform with the words

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

View Our Blog Posts

Non-Executive Director

Why Governance and Accountability Break Down in Growing SMEs

What is really causing the breakdown? Most owner-managed businesses do not have a governance problem caused by complexity. They have one caused by informality. Meetings do not happen with any real structure, or do not happen at all. Directors are managing…

Jul 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM

Business owner and finance advisor reviewing cashflow forecasts and financial models in a professional office setting.

Finance Director

Cashflow Forecasting for SMEs: The Three Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

The Three Cashflow Forecasts Every Owner-Managed Business Should Have in Place Most businesses that run into cashflow problems are not unprofitable. They are poorly informed. The bank account looks reasonable in the morning but by Friday, after payroll, a…

Jun 29, 2026 8:00:01 AM

Business owner and external adviser discussing operational improvements and hidden growth opportunities within a warehouse facility.

CFO

Why Business Owners Often Can't See Their Biggest Opportunities

How Being Too Close to Your Business Can Hide Profit Opportunities, Cash Flow Improvements and Growth Potential Most successful business owners know their businesses better than anyone else. They know their customers, products, suppliers, staff and market…

Jun 22, 2026 3:17:02 PM

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

Portfolio Finance Director Services

What Is a Portfolio Finance Director?

What Does A Portfolio Finance Director Do?

Why Does A Portfolio Career Matter?

Portfolio Finance Director Or Fractional Finance Director: What's The Difference?

When Does A Business Need A Portfolio Finance Director?

Frequently Asked Questions about Portfolio Finance Directors

How Do I Recruit a Portfolio Finance Director?

What Our Customers Have To Say

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book a Free 30-Minute Business Review

Paul Gibbins

No obligation

30-minute call

Expert advice

How Secantor Helped a £30m Recruitment Business at a Critical Time

“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?

Free Business Review

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 Governance and Accountability Break Down in Growing SMEs

Cashflow Forecasting for SMEs: The Three Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

Why Business Owners Often Can't See Their Biggest Opportunities

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Non-Executive Director

Finance Director

Operations Director

Free Business Review