Part-time CFO reviewing financial strategy with business leadership team

Portfolio Finance Leadership

Part-Time CFO: Your Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about part-time CFO roles.

Day rates, responsibilities, who hires part-time finance directors, and how to build a portfolio career.

Browse Part-Time CFO Jobs All CFO Jobs UK

£1,200/day

Average Day Rate

1-3 days/week

Typical Commitment

250% since 2020

Market Growth

70%

Hybrid Available

What is a Part-Time CFO?

A part-time CFO is an experienced Chief Financial Officer who works with companies on a reduced schedule, typically 1-3 days per week.

Unlike a full-time CFO, a part-time finance director provides senior financial leadership without the commitment or cost of a permanent executive hire.

The part-time CFO model has grown 250% since 2020, driven by SMEs, startups, and PE-backed companies recognising they can access CFO-level expertise at a fraction of full-time cost.

UK Market Context: According to ICAEW, 45% of growing UK SMEs now use part-time finance leadership. As BBC reports, fractional executive work is transforming how companies access senior talent.

Whether called a part-time CFO, fractional CFO, or portfolio finance director, these roles provide strategic financial guidance, board-level reporting, fundraising support, and financial systems implementation on a flexible basis.

Part-Time CFO vs Fractional CFO vs Interim CFO

Understanding the differences between engagement types helps companies choose the right model for their needs.

Factor	Part-Time CFO	Fractional CFO	Interim CFO
Schedule	1-3 days/week ongoing	1-3 days/week, flexible	Full-time (5 days)
Duration	12+ months typical	6-24 months	3-12 months
Annual Cost	£50,000-£150,000	£50,000-£180,000	£200,000-£400,000
Best For	SMEs, ongoing support	Growing companies	Vacancy, M&A, turnaround

The terms "part-time CFO" and "fractional CFO" are often used interchangeably. "Part-time CFO" emphasizes the reduced hours on a set schedule, while "fractional CFO" emphasizes working across multiple clients.

Part-Time CFO Day Rates UK 2026

Day rates for part-time CFOs vary by sector, complexity, and location. Here are current UK market rates:

PE-Backed Companies

Highest rates, complex reporting requirements

£1,200-£1,800/day

Typical: £1,400/day

FCA-Regulated / Fintech

Regulatory expertise premium

£1,100-£1,600/day

Typical: £1,300/day

Scale-Ups / High-Growth

Fundraising and systems focus

£1,000-£1,400/day

Typical: £1,200/day

SME / Family Business

Operational finance leadership

£800-£1,200/day

Typical: £1,000/day

Non-Profit / Charity

Purpose-driven, often flexible

£700-£1,000/day

Typical: £850/day

Source: Glassdoor UK, ICAEW, Fractional Quest market data

Who Hires Part-Time CFOs?

Part-time CFO roles are most common in these company types:

SMEs (£2-20m revenue)

Companies needing financial leadership but not 5 days/week. Part-time CFOs provide strategy, board reporting, and growth planning.

2 days/week, £1,000/day

Startups (Series A/B)

Funded startups preparing for growth, needing CFO-level support for investor relations, financial modelling, and governance.

1-2 days/week, £1,200/day

Scale-Ups

Fast-growing companies building finance function, implementing systems, and preparing for next funding round or exit.

2-3 days/week, £1,200/day

PE Portfolio Companies

Investor-backed businesses needing financial rigour, reporting cadence, and value creation tracking.

2-3 days/week, £1,400/day

Family Businesses

Professionalising finance operations, succession planning, and governance improvement.

1-2 days/week, £1,000/day

Part-Time CFO Responsibilities

Core deliverables that part-time CFOs provide across engagements:

Strategic Finance

✓Financial strategy and planning
✓Board reporting and governance
✓KPI frameworks and dashboards
✓Business partnering with CEO

Fundraising & Investors

✓Investor deck preparation
✓Financial modelling
✓Due diligence management
✓Investor relations

Financial Operations

✓Cash flow management
✓Working capital optimization
✓Finance team leadership
✓Systems implementation

Compliance & Control

✓Audit coordination
✓Tax planning
✓Risk management
✓Internal controls

How to Become a Part-Time CFO

Building a career as a part-time CFO requires strategic planning and the right qualifications.

Build Your Foundation

Obtain ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification. Gain 10-15+ years post-qualification experience including FD or CFO roles.

Develop Sector Expertise

Build deep experience in 2-3 sectors. PE-backed, SaaS, manufacturing, or FCA-regulated experience commands premium rates.

Start Your Portfolio

Begin with one part-time CFO engagement while employed or consult. Build track record and testimonials.

Build Your Brand

Develop LinkedIn presence, network through ICAEW/ACCA events, connect with PE firms and recruitment agencies.

Scale Your Practice

Add 2-3 clients working 6-8 days total. Typical portfolio: 2-3 companies at 2 days each.

Professional Bodies & Resources

🏢 ICAEW - Chartered Accountants 🏢 ACCA - Global Accountancy 🏢 CIMA - Management Accounting 🏢 BVCA - Private Equity

Part-Time CFO Services & Packages

Part-time CFO engagements typically follow these service models:

Strategic CFO

1 day/week

£1,200-£1,500/day

£50,000-£75,000/year

Focus: Board, strategy, investor relations

Best for: Established SMEs with finance team

Growth CFO

2 days/week

£1,000-£1,400/day

£100,000-£140,000/year

Focus: Fundraising, M&A, systems

Best for: Scale-ups and PE-backed companies

Full CFO

3 days/week

£900-£1,300/day

£135,000-£195,000/year

Focus: Complete finance function leadership

Best for: Growing companies building team

Calculate

Part-Time CFO Day Rate Calculator

Fractional CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£1,000

£750Avg: £1000£1500

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£5,000

Monthly

£21,650

Annual

£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

FAQ

Part-Time CFO FAQ

A part-time CFO provides strategic financial leadership on a reduced schedule, typically 1-3 days per week. Responsibilities include financial strategy, board reporting, fundraising support, cash flow management, finance team oversight, and investor relations. They deliver CFO-level expertise without the cost of a full-time hire.

Part-time CFO day rates in the UK range from £800-£1,800 per day depending on sector and complexity. A typical 2-day per week engagement costs £80,000-£140,000 annually - compared to £150,000-£250,000+ for a full-time CFO package. This represents 50-70% cost savings.

The terms are often used interchangeably. 'Part-time CFO' emphasizes reduced hours on a set schedule, while 'fractional CFO' emphasizes the portfolio nature of working across multiple clients. Both refer to senior finance leaders working less than full-time with ongoing engagements.

Companies should consider a part-time CFO when they need strategic finance leadership but don't require or can't afford a full-time CFO. Common triggers include: preparing for fundraising, needing board-level financial oversight, building finance systems, or professionalising financial operations.

Most part-time CFOs are ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with 10-15+ years post-qualification experience. Prior CFO, Finance Director, or senior FP&A experience is typically required. Sector expertise (PE, FCA, SaaS) adds significant value and commands premium rates.

Most part-time CFOs work with 2-4 clients simultaneously, totalling 6-10 days per month. This portfolio approach provides variety and income stability. Some work with just one client part-time alongside other activities like NED roles or consulting.

Yes, around 30% of part-time CFO roles are fully remote, with 70% offering hybrid arrangements. Remote works well for SaaS, eCommerce, and consulting sectors. Regulated sectors and PE-backed companies often require some on-site presence for board meetings.

The most effective approaches are: specialist platforms like Fractional Quest, networking through ICAEW/ACCA, building PE firm relationships, LinkedIn presence, and executive recruitment agencies. Search for 'part-time CFO jobs', 'fractional CFO', or 'part-time finance director' to find opportunities.

Meet the Expert

Written by a Practicing Fractional Executive

Dan Keegan

Founder & Fractional GTM Expert

With over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, go-to-market strategy, and business development, Dan brings real-world fractional expertise to help professionals navigate the executive job market.

Dan founded Fractional Quest after working as a fractional executive himself, understanding firsthand the challenges of finding quality opportunities and the value fractional leaders bring to growing businesses.

15+ Years Executive ExperienceFractional GTMStrategy & Growth

Connect on LinkedIn

Prior executive experience includes

SONY

Sony

Orange

H3G

Hutchison

Current fractional client

OneUp Productions

Gaming & Esports Production

Fractional GTM Lead

New Markets Entered

GTM

Strategy Delivered

2-3

Days Per Week

The Challenge

OneUp Productions needed to expand into new international markets but lacked the in-house expertise for go-to-market strategy. They needed senior GTM leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire.