When owners first think about senior finance help, they usually picture a full-time finance director. For a business turning over a few million pounds, that’s often more than it needs, and far more than it can comfortably afford.
What a full-time FD really costs
The salary is only the start. Based on roles advertised on Indeed, the average finance director salary is around £82,000, and it varies a lot by location and experience. On top of that you pay:
- Employer’s National Insurance on the salary
- Employer pension contributions
- Recruitment fees, often a percentage of first-year salary
- Bonus, benefits and equipment
- Months of searching before anyone starts, and notice periods both ways
What a fractional FD costs
A fractional finance director works with your business part-time for a fixed monthly fee. My packages start at £2,500 a month plus VAT for Finance Partner, £3,000 for Financial Controller and £3,500 for Finance Director. There’s no recruitment fee, and you can move up or down as the business changes.
When full-time makes sense
Full-time is the right answer when there’s a full-time job to do: a large finance team to lead, complex group structures, investors who expect a permanent board member, or daily decisions that need a senior finance voice in the room.
When part-time makes more sense
- You need senior thinking, but not five days a week
- You have a bookkeeper, but nobody senior owns the numbers
- You’re growing and want the systems in place before you hire
- You’re preparing for funding or a sale and need help for a defined period
The question to ask
Not “can we afford a finance director?” but “how much senior finance time does the business actually need right now?” For most founder-led companies £750k or more, the honest answer is a few days a month.
ICAEW chartered accountant and part-time finance director for founder-led UK companies.
This article is general information, not advice for your specific situation.
