ICAEW Chartered Accountant, based in London, working with SMEs across the UK
Fractional FD and part-time finance director services for UK SMEs
Senior finance leadership for businesses turning over £1M to £50M that have outgrown their accountant but do not need a full-time finance director yet.
You get a Big Four trained, ICAEW qualified FD a few days a month: running the numbers, improving cash flow, preparing board reports and sitting beside you in bank, investor and buyer meetings. One fixed monthly fee, agreed upfront.
Free and no obligation. Calls usually available within 48 hours.
- ICAEW regulatedChartered Accountant (ACA)
- Big Four trainedAudit, advisory and investment banking
- 12+ yearsAdvising UK founders and boards
- 100+ businessesAdvised across the UK
FD or CFO: which do you need?
The titles overlap, and many UK firms use them interchangeably. The difference is mostly about where your business is heading.
A finance director usually focuses on
- Running a tight, reliable finance function
- Cash flow, working capital and bank relationships
- Monthly management accounts and board reporting
- Budgets, forecasts and financial controls
- Managing the bookkeeper, accountant and auditor
A CFO usually adds
- Fundraising strategy and investor relations
- Investor-grade modelling and SaaS metrics
- Valuation, M&A and exit planning
- Longer-term capital structure decisions
- Board-level challenge on overall strategy
You do not have to choose. Because Kish has a Big Four and investment banking background, the same engagement covers day-to-day FD work and CFO-level work when a fundraise, refinancing or sale comes up. If you are a venture-backed SaaS business, see our fractional CFO for SaaS page.
Signs your business needs a part-time FD
These are the situations owners most often describe on a first call.
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Profitable on paper, short of cash in the bank
Growth is soaking up working capital and you cannot see far enough ahead to plan payroll, VAT or stock purchases with confidence.
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Your accountant looks backwards
You receive year-end accounts and tax returns, but nobody tells you what the numbers mean or what to do next.
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Management accounts arrive late or not at all
You run the business on the bank balance and instinct because reliable monthly figures are weeks behind.
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The bank or investors want more than you can give
A lender is asking for forecasts and covenant reporting, or an investor wants a model you do not have.
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You are thinking about selling in the next few years
Buyers pay more for clean numbers and a business that does not depend entirely on the owner. That work takes 12 to 36 months.
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A full-time FD does not make sense yet
You need senior judgement, but not 40 hours a week of it, and not the salary, National Insurance and benefits that come with a permanent hire.
What a fractional FD from Consult EFC does
The scope is shaped around your priorities after the first diagnostic. Most engagements cover some or all of the following.
Cash flow and working capital
Visibility of the next three months, and the levers to improve it.
- 13-week rolling cash flow forecast
- Debtor and creditor day improvements
- Stock and working capital review
Management accounts and board reporting
Accurate monthly numbers with commentary you can act on.
- Monthly board pack
- KPI dashboard
- Budget vs actual variance analysis
Budgets and forecasting
A financial plan the whole leadership team can work to.
- Annual budget
- Three-year financial model
- Scenario and sensitivity planning
Banks, lenders and investors
Kish prepares the numbers and attends the meetings with you.
- Lender and investor packs
- Debt facility negotiation
- Covenant monitoring
Financial controls and team
A finance function that runs reliably without you chasing it.
- Month-end close process
- Approval and payment controls
- Oversight of bookkeeper and accountant
Profitability and exit readiness
Understanding where you make money and what the business is worth.
- Customer, product and margin analysis
- EBITDA normalisation
- Due diligence preparation
Fractional FD compared with your other options
Most SMEs between £1M and £20M revenue weigh up these four routes.
| Fractional FD | Full-time FD | Interim FD | Your accountant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment | Ongoing, a few days a month | Permanent, full-time | Full-time for a fixed period | Annual compliance work |
| Typical cost | Fixed monthly fee | £80,000–£130,000+ salary, plus NI and benefits | Day rate, usually several days a week | Annual or monthly compliance fee |
| Forward-looking strategy | Yes | Yes | Focused on the specific project | Rarely |
| Cash flow forecasting | Yes | Yes | Usually | Rarely |
| Attends bank and investor meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Rarely |
| Best suited to | Growing SMEs needing senior input, not a full-time hire | Larger businesses with a big finance team | Covering a vacancy or a one-off project | Statutory accounts and tax |
A fractional FD works alongside your accountant, not instead of them. Your accountant continues to handle statutory accounts and tax.
How we start working together
Most clients go from first call to a working engagement within four weeks.
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Free strategy call
A 30-minute conversation about where the business is and the decisions in front of you. If a fractional FD is not the right answer, Kish will tell you.
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Financial diagnostic
In the first week we review your accounts, reporting and systems, and agree the three to five issues that matter most.
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Ongoing FD support
Regular check-ins, a monthly board pack, and direct involvement in any major financial decision, negotiation or meeting.
What the work looks like in practice
A growing e-commerce business had revenue up 60% year on year, yet kept running out of cash, and the bank was starting to ask questions.
This is a typical fractional FD engagement: diagnose the real problem quickly, give the owner visibility, then fix the funding.
The problem
Suppliers were paid in 45 days, but stock sat for 90. Every extra sale widened the cash gap.
What we did
Identified the working capital issue in week one, built a 13-week rolling cash flow model, and structured a revolving credit facility, presented to the bank with a full financial pack.
The result
The cash problem was resolved within six weeks. The business kept growing, and the owner had reliable financial visibility for the first time.
Who this service is for
We take on a limited number of FD clients so each one gets proper attention.
A good fit if you are
- A UK business turning over roughly £1M to £50M
- Owner-managed, family-run, PE-backed or venture-backed
- Growing, refinancing, raising money or planning a sale
- Ready to act on what the numbers tell you
Probably not the right fit if you
- Only need bookkeeping, payroll or year-end accounts
- Need someone on site five days a week
- Are pre-revenue and not yet raising investment
Fractional FD pricing
Every engagement runs on a fixed monthly fee agreed upfront, based on the size of your business, what you need and how much involvement it takes. No hourly billing and no surprise invoices.
After a free call, we will confirm a clear fee within 48 hours.
Every retainer includes
One fixed monthly fee, tailored to your business
- Monthly management accounts review and board pack
- 13-week cash flow forecast
- Regular check-ins with Kish
- Attendance at key bank and board meetings
Fractional FD questions
What is the difference between a fractional FD and a part-time FD?
In practice there is no real difference: both describe an experienced finance director who works for your business for part of the month on an ongoing basis. "Fractional" is the newer term and "part-time FD" is the more traditional UK phrase. "Outsourced FD" is also used for the same role.
What is the difference between a fractional FD and an interim FD?
An interim FD usually works full-time for a fixed period, while a fractional FD works part-time on an ongoing basis. Interim FDs typically cover a vacancy, maternity leave or a one-off project. A fractional FD becomes a long-term member of your leadership team at a fraction of the time and cost.
How much does a part-time finance director cost in the UK?
A part-time FD typically costs a fraction of a full-time finance director, whose salary alone often exceeds £80,000 before National Insurance, pension and benefits. At Consult EFC, fees are fixed monthly retainers based on the scope of work. Book a free call and we will confirm a fee within 48 hours.
How many days a month will you spend on my business?
Most fractional FD clients need the equivalent of two to six days a month, though this flexes around busy periods. Time goes up during a fundraise, refinancing, year-end or sale, and down once reporting is running smoothly. We agree the level of involvement upfront.
Will a fractional FD replace my accountant or bookkeeper?
No. A fractional FD works alongside your accountant and bookkeeper and provides the senior oversight above them. Your accountant continues with statutory accounts and tax, and your bookkeeper with day-to-day processing. We make sure what they produce is accurate, timely and useful.
Do you work with businesses outside London?
Yes. We are based in Covent Garden, London, and work with businesses across the UK. Most work happens remotely by video call and shared systems, with in-person attendance for board meetings, bank meetings and investor or buyer sessions where it matters.
Which accounting systems do you work with?
We work with the cloud accounting systems most UK SMEs use, including Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. If your current setup is slowing down month-end or limiting reporting, we can recommend and oversee improvements as part of the engagement.
How quickly can you start?
We can usually start within one to two weeks of the first call. If you have an urgent deadline such as a bank review, board meeting or transaction, tell us on the call and we will confirm availability straight away.
Related services
Get senior finance leadership without the full-time cost
Book a free 30-minute call with Kish. We will talk through where your business is, what is holding it back, and whether a fractional FD is the right next step.
Free and no obligation. ICAEW regulated.