Virtual CFO Services In London

Senior CFO leadership, delivered flexibly and backed by regular visits

A virtual CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who supports your London business flexibly, combining regular days with you and support between them, rather than sitting in your office every day. You get senior strategic leadership on funding, planning and board decisions without the cost of a full-time appointment. We visit you to begin.

Our national guide to the Fractional CFO role covers the model in full, and our wider board-level support in London is on its own page.

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What Does A Virtual CFO Do For A London Business?

Secantor's virtual CFOs do the work of a CFO for London businesses and fit it around how each business runs. In practice that means:

  • Forecasts and models. A budget, a rolling forecast and scenario models that show what each decision costs and returns.
  • Funding. Choosing the right finance and preparing the case for lenders and investors.
  • Reporting you can act on. Clear monthly reporting and the handful of KPIs that matter, explained rather than just delivered.
  • Board packs. The information and commentary that make board meetings productive.
  • Availability between visits. A named advisor you can call when a decision cannot wait for the next meeting.

"Virtual" describes how the service is delivered, not what you get. The same role is also called a fractional, part-time or outsourced CFO. See our Fractional CFO, Part-Time CFO and Outsourced CFO pages for London.

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When Does A London Business Need A Virtual CFO?

Secantor's virtual CFO service suits a London business that wants senior financial leadership but not a full-time presence in the office. Typical situations include an owner who travels, a team split between sites or working from home, a business that needs a CFO for planning and funding but has no spare desk or budget for a permanent hire, or a plan that needs credible forecasts for a lender or investor. Our blog on when an SME needs a CFO lists the signs to look for.

How Does A Virtual CFO Help A Business?

Secantor's virtual CFOs help a London business by giving it senior financial leadership that fits around how the business already runs. The first benefit is access. A virtual CFO gives a growing business senior experience it could not otherwise afford, without the overheads of a full-time executive. The second is responsiveness: because support does not depend on being in the building, you can reach your CFO between regular visits and keep decisions moving.

The third is consistency. You work with the same experienced advisor each time, so the forecast, the plan and the numbers build up in one pair of hands, and progress is measured against what was agreed. Some businesses start with a virtual CFO and later add a Part-Time Finance Director as the finance function grows.

A virtual CFO discussing strategy with a business owner

How Does A Virtual CFO Work With You?

Secantor starts a virtual CFO engagement in London with a visit to your premises, to hear where the business is going and where the pressure is, before suggesting the right advisor. After that the work combines regular days each month with video calls, shared reporting and a named contact between visits. The pattern is agreed with you and changes as the business does.

What Does A Virtual CFO Cost In London?

Secantor charges £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses for a virtual CFO in London, invoiced each month for the days worked. Most businesses begin with two to four days a month, add days for a funding round or transaction, and scale back when it is done. See our cost guide for more.

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

Secantor's virtual CFO suits a London business that wants flexible, ongoing CFO leadership. If what you need first is a grip on control and cash, start with a Part-Time Finance Director. For a transaction or a vacancy, an Interim CFO can step in quickly, and a Non-Executive Director is the answer when the board needs an outside voice. Our comparison of Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO sets out the differences.

How Does A Virtual CFO Work With Your Existing Team?

Your finance team, accountants and board carry on as they are, with the virtual CFO adding a senior strategic layer above them. This is not outsourced accounts: bookkeeping stays with your bookkeeper or accountant, and we do not provide it.

A virtual CFO reviewing financial information with an SME business owner

What Is The Free Business Review?

The Free Business Review is a no obligation first step. We chat, then a couple of our team visit to hear the story of your business and your plans, and you receive an independent view and our recommendation of the right support. See the Free Business Review.

Next Steps

The simplest next step is a visit. Our Free Business Review starts with a conversation and brings us to your premises to hear where the business is heading, with an independent view for you at the end and no obligation. Would you rather talk first? Book a discovery call with a Secantor Director.

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What Do London Business Owners Ask About A Virtual CFO?

What is a virtual CFO, and is it different from a fractional CFO?

A virtual CFO is a senior chief financial officer who supports your business flexibly, combining regular days with you and remote support between them. We use virtual, fractional and part-time to describe the same service.

Does a virtual CFO work remotely or in the business?

Both. We visit you to begin and at regular intervals, and support the work between visits by video call and shared reporting. We agree the mix with you.

How many days a month does a virtual CFO work?

Many businesses start with two to four days a month. The level is agreed at the first meeting and adjusted as things change.

What does a virtual CFO cost in London?

A virtual CFO from Secantor costs £1,200 a day plus VAT and expenses.

Does a virtual CFO work with our existing finance team and accountants?

Yes. They work with your finance staff and accountants, adding a strategic layer above them. Bookkeeping and outsourced accounts are not part of our service.

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

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✓ 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
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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

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