Senior Finance Leadership Without the Full-Time Cost

A full-time CFO at the level of experience we bring would typically cost £150,000 to £200,000 per year in salary alone, before benefits, pension and employer NIC. Fractional CFO advisory provides the same calibre of financial leadership at a fraction of that cost, because you are paying for the specific time and output required rather than a full-time salary. The practical difference is that the engagement is focused entirely on the work that matters, strategy, lender relationships, financial controls and board reporting, without the overhead of managing a full-time hire. For businesses below £20m-£30m turnover, fractional is often the more effective model.

Yes, and it works well. A finance director is typically responsible for the operational side of finance, management accounts, payroll, VAT returns, compliance. CFO advisory sits above that, at the strategic and board level. We work alongside your existing finance function rather than replacing it. In practice, this means your FD handles day-to-day financial operations while we focus on lender relationships, strategic planning, scenario modelling and board-level financial challenge. Many of our engagements operate exactly this way. If there is any overlap in responsibilities, we agree clear boundaries at the outset to avoid duplication.

CFO advisory is most valuable for businesses with a turnover of around £2m to £30m, businesses that are beyond the start-up stage, generating real revenue, and making decisions that require proper financial leadership, but have not yet reached the point where a full-time CFO is justified or practical. It is particularly beneficial where the business is growing quickly, has lender relationships to manage, is considering acquisition or disposal, or is operating across multiple entities where consolidated reporting and governance matter. It also works well for businesses going through a period of change, a refinancing, a restructure, or preparing for an exit.

Ongoing CFO advisory is priced as a fixed monthly retainer, agreed in advance based on the scope and volume of work required. There are no hourly rates and no variable billing, you know exactly what you are paying each month. The retainer covers all regular work including board attendance, management pack review, lender reporting, cash flow oversight and strategic planning. Any additional project work, such as a refinancing, an acquisition review or a restructure, is scoped and quoted separately at the outset. We find that a transparent fixed fee structure works better for both parties, because it means we focus on outcomes rather than time sheets.