What's the difference between a fractional FD and fractional CFO?

The roles are often interchangeable, especially in the UK. Traditionally, 'Finance Director' is the UK term while 'CFO' is more American. In practice, both provide strategic financial leadership. The main difference is that CFO roles are typically at larger companies or carry board-level responsibility, while FD roles may report to a CFO or CEO.

How much does a fractional Finance Director cost?

Fractional Finance Directors typically charge £600-£1,000 per day in the UK. Working 2 days per week, this equates to £4,800-£8,000 per month, compared to £90,000-£140,000+ total cost for a full-time Finance Director with benefits.

When should I hire a fractional Finance Director?

Consider a fractional FD when: you've outgrown your bookkeeper but don't need a full-time FD, you need better financial reporting and forecasting, you're preparing for investment or exit, you need someone to improve cash flow management, or you want commercial finance insight without full-time overhead.

What qualifications should a fractional FD have?

Most fractional FDs are qualified accountants - ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, or CIMA qualified. Look for 10+ years post-qualification experience, ideally with prior FD/FC experience. Industry experience may be valuable but strong transferable commercial skills often matter more than specific sector knowledge.

What's the difference between a fractional FD and fractional CFO?

The roles are often interchangeable, especially in the UK. Traditionally, 'Finance Director' is the UK term while 'CFO' is more American. In practice, both provide strategic financial leadership. The main difference is that CFO roles are typically at larger companies or carry board-level responsibility, while FD roles may report to a CFO or CEO.

How much does a fractional Finance Director cost?

Fractional Finance Directors typically charge £600-£1,000 per day in the UK. Working 2 days per week, this equates to £4,800-£8,000 per month, compared to £90,000-£140,000+ total cost for a full-time Finance Director with benefits.

When should I hire a fractional Finance Director?

Consider a fractional FD when: you've outgrown your bookkeeper but don't need a full-time FD, you need better financial reporting and forecasting, you're preparing for investment or exit, you need someone to improve cash flow management, or you want commercial finance insight without full-time overhead.

What qualifications should a fractional FD have?

Most fractional FDs are qualified accountants - ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, or CIMA qualified. Look for 10+ years post-qualification experience, ideally with prior FD/FC experience. Industry experience may be valuable but strong transferable commercial skills often matter more than specific sector knowledge.

Fractional Finance Director UK | Part-Time FD Guide

Q: What is a fractional Finance Director?

A fractional Finance Director (FD) is a part-time finance leader who works with companies on a flexible basis, typically 1-3 days per week. They provide strategic financial leadership, reporting, and commercial guidance without the commitment of a full-time hire. Also known as a fractional FD or part-time FD.

What is a Fractional Finance Director?

A fractional Finance Director provides the same strategic financial leadership as a full-time FD, but on a part-time basis. Unlike full-time Finance Directors earning £90,000-£140,000 annually, a fractional FD works with multiple companies simultaneously, bringing diverse experience and best practices to each engagement.

This model is especially valuable for SMEs that have outgrown their bookkeeper, companies preparing for investment or exit, businesses needing better financial visibility, or organisations requiring commercial finance expertise without full-time costs.

Fractional FD vs Fractional CFO

In the UK market, Finance Director and CFO are often used interchangeably. Key differences:

Aspect	Finance Director (FD)	Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Typical Usage	UK / Europe	US / Global corporations
Company Size	SME to large	Typically larger / listed companies
Board Status	May or may not be on board	Usually board member
Day Rate	£600-£1,000	£800-£1,400
Best For	SMEs, growth businesses	PE-backed, pre-IPO, large enterprises

What Does a Fractional FD Do?

📊

Financial Reporting

Management accounts, board packs, KPI dashboards, and investor reporting

💰

Cash Flow Management

Working capital optimisation, forecasting, and treasury management

📈

Commercial Finance

Pricing strategy, margin analysis, business case development

📋

Budgeting & Forecasting

Annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and scenario planning

⚙️

Systems & Processes

Finance team development, system selection, process improvement

🎯

Fundraising Support

Due diligence preparation, financial modelling, investor relations

Fractional Finance Director Cost UK

Typical Fractional FD Pricing

1 day/week: £2,400-£4,000/month (£29,000-£48,000/year)
2 days/week: £4,800-£8,000/month (£58,000-£96,000/year)
3 days/week: £7,200-£12,000/month (£86,000-£144,000/year)

Compare to full-time FD total cost: £110,000-£180,000+ (salary + benefits + NI)

When to Hire a Fractional Finance Director

Revenue £1-10m: You've outgrown your bookkeeper and need strategic finance leadership
Preparing for investment: Need financial due diligence readiness and investor-grade reporting
Cash flow challenges: Working capital optimisation and improved forecasting needed
Management buyout: Financial modelling and deal structuring expertise required
Rapid growth: Finance function can't keep up with business expansion
Interim requirement: Bridging gap while recruiting full-time FD

Fractional Finance Director

Fractional FD Definition

What is a Fractional Finance Director?

Fractional FD vs Fractional CFO

What Does a Fractional FD Do?

Financial Reporting

Cash Flow Management

Commercial Finance

Budgeting & Forecasting

Systems & Processes

Fundraising Support

Fractional Finance Director Cost UK

Typical Fractional FD Pricing

When to Hire a Fractional Finance Director

Fractional Finance Director Cost Calculator

Calculate Your Potential Income

Current Fractional FD Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions About Fractional FDs

Related Resources

Fractional CFO Jobs UK

What is a Fractional CFO?

How to Hire a Fractional CFO

External Resources

ICAEW

ACCA

CIMA

London Fractional Jobs

Written by a Practicing Fractional Executive

Dan Keegan

OneUp Productions

The Challenge

Our Approach

Cost Effective

Immediate Impact

Flexible Scale

Ready to Work with a Fractional Finance Director?