Also known as a fractional FD, using an established professional is a great way for growing SMEs to access skills and expertise for a manageable cost.

I will typically work directly with the owner/director to determine what services are required. In larger companies, I can take ownership of the finance team or act as a mentor to your existing finance manager.

As well as management of finance functions, I will usually help with longer term, strategic vision.

1 – Help build a strategy. When it comes to making decisions in your business, if there’s no one in the company saying “let’s run the numbers” then it’s time to hire a part-time FD. You may think you have a strategy and know exactly how to get there. But is this turnover-focused, or headcount-focused perhaps? We all love aspiring towards a great big top-line figure, but do you have a detailed cash flow forecast telling you how you’ll get there and where the pitfalls may be? 

2 – Turn things around. A dearly departed mentor of mine used to coin the phrase, “looking for the rivers of cash”. Business is tough and in a lot of cases it’s only getting tougher. We don’t know what we don’t know. Part-time FDs have experience of spotting areas to focus & release cash. Businesses don’t go bust because they haven’t made enough profit, they go bust because they’ve run out of cash. Many MDs are embroiled in the detail and know how to sell their product, or develop it, but have lost control of the cash.

3 – Keep a steady hand on the wheel. There are some incredibly bright business leaders. They have a plan, and they know how to get there. The most enlightened of them recognise the areas where they need help. They can’t do everything. Having a part-time FD is the sense-check or the comfort blanket. The finances are being managed and if there’s an issue then the MD can be made aware. 

With me, you won’t get a junior manager or an overpaid consultant who only talks in industry buzzwords and jargon. You will be adding to your team a proven local professional who has shown that they can get results.

I will quickly work to understand the unique challenges your business is facing and can help you start solving your problems from day one. .