Fractional Financial Controller Jobs UK 2025

Entry route to fractional finance. Find part-time financial controller opportunities with day rates £500-£1,000, career progression to CFO roles.

Role Overview

Fractional controllers provide operational finance leadership part-time for multiple clients. Focus on accounting, reporting, compliance, and team management.

£500-£1K

Day rate range

4-6

Typical clients

8-15 yrs

Experience needed

Core Responsibilities

Month-end close and management accounts
Financial reporting and KPI dashboards
Cash flow forecasting and working capital management
Budgeting and variance analysis
Systems implementation (Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite)
Process improvement and automation
Finance team management and development
Audit coordination and compliance

Career Progression: Controller to CFO

Many fractional CFOs start as controllers. Typical progression:

Years 1-3: Fractional Controller

Build client portfolio, establish processes, earn £50K-£80K annually

Years 3-5: Senior Controller / Part-time CFO Advisory

Take on strategic projects, advise on fundraising/systems, earn £80K-£110K

Years 5+: Fractional CFO

Full CFO positioning with board interaction, earn £120K-£200K+ annually

Learn more about becoming a fractional CFO.

Find Controller Opportunities

Join Fractional Quest to access part-time financial controller opportunities across the UK.

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Fractional Controller FAQs

Controllers focus on operations (accounting, reporting, compliance) while CFOs provide strategic leadership (fundraising, M&A, board relations). Controllers earn £500-£1,000/day vs CFOs at £1,200-£1,800/day. Many start as fractional controllers and progress to fractional CFO roles after 3-5 years.

UK fractional controllers earn £500-£1,000/day depending on experience. Entry (5-10 years): £500-£700, Mid-level (10-15 years): £700-£900, Senior/specialist: £900-£1,200. With 4-5 clients at 2 days/week each, annual earnings range £48K-£115K.

ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification is expected for controller-level positions. Part-qualified accountants can work as financial accountants (£300-£500/day) but fully qualified status significantly improves rates and opportunities. 8-10 years post-qualification experience typically required.

Related Resources

Remote CFO Jobs

Progress to CFO-level opportunities

Contract Finance Jobs

Full-time interim positions

Core Responsibilities

Month-end close and management accounts

Financial reporting and KPI dashboards

Cash flow forecasting and working capital management

Budgeting and variance analysis

Systems implementation (Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite)

Process improvement and automation

Finance team management and development

Audit coordination and compliance