You’ve outgrown the year-end accountant, but a full-time finance director is a £95k decision. I’m Hayley Ayres, a chartered accountant, and I’m the part-time finance lead for a small number of founder-led companies.
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★★★★★ 40+ Google reviews · ICAEW Chartered Accountant
One hour on the problem you can’t get past
“[Scaffolding client’s Google review goes here when it lands.]” Client, scaffolding firm
These are the things owners tell me on a first call, almost word for word.
0/6Tap any that sound familiar and I’ll suggest where to start.
See pricesThat gap is where most founder-led companies get caught out, and it widens fastest when growth is unplanned. It’s usually several things at once:
Shaped to your business. Move between them as it changes.
Know what’s happening in your business financially, and what needs your attention.
Reliable numbers, control over cash and confidence in your decisions.
Experienced leadership for profitability, risk and better decisions.
For comparison, a full-time finance director costs £95k+ a year once NI, pension and benefits are added.
“Business owners shouldn’t bury their heads in the sand when it comes to the finance. If something’s on your mind, let’s talk.”
For years my work was year-end accounts and tax returns, always looking backwards. Now I work with a small number of founder-led companies as their part-time finance lead: fast-growing companies, companies preparing to sell, and founders carrying a large team on their own. I know media, construction and scaffolding best.
“We have some nuances to our business when it comes to accounting and VAT treatment. Hayley has been great at understanding these and working with us as founders to make the right decisions for the business.”
HHarry HallGoogle review“Hayley has transformed the way my company finances run. She has improved my cash flow no end with her knowledge of how CIS works.”
AAdam ClareGoogle review“On some occasions she has quite literally saved their businesses when they’ve found themselves financially stuck. She really takes the time to understand our clients and their businesses, and what they want to achieve.”
IIda FranssonGoogle reviewPick a time and bring the thing that’s been on your mind.
60 minutes on Teams. You leave with your priorities and next steps, and whether we’re the right fit to support you.
Fixed monthly fee, shaped to your business, with someone senior who owns the numbers.
A fractional finance director is an experienced FD who works with your business part-time, for a fixed monthly fee, instead of a full-time salary. You get senior financial leadership sized to what your business needs.
My packages start from £2,500 a month plus VAT for Finance Partner, £3,000 for Financial Controller and £3,500 for Finance Director. A full-time finance director typically costs £95,000 or more a year once salary, NI, pension and benefits are included.
An accountant usually looks back: year-end accounts and tax returns. A finance director looks forward: cash forecasts, monthly reporting, pricing, hiring and funding decisions, and the financial strategy of the business.
Yes, broadly. Virtual finance director, outsourced FD, fractional CFO and part-time FD all describe the same thing: senior finance leadership for a fixed monthly fee instead of a full-time salary. The difference is how much of my time your business needs, which is what the three packages set out.
Yes. I work fully virtually with founder-led companies across the UK, with meetings on Microsoft Teams.
Move or cancel with at least 24 hours’ notice and you get a full refund or a new slot. Inside 24 hours, or if you don’t attend, the fee is unfortunately non-refundable, because the hour was held for you.
Yes, alongside a monthly package. You may prefer someone independent of the day-to-day to do it, which helps if the business is ever audited, and I’ll say so if that applies to you. Existing compliance clients continue as before.
Bring the thing that’s been on your mind. You’ll leave with your priorities and next steps, for £150.
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