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FRACTIONAL CFO · LANCASTER · UK-WIDE
Senior finance leadership for your business - without the full-time cost
Most growing businesses need more than a bookkeeper but can't justify a full-time Finance Director. A Fractional CFO gives you board-level financial thinking, forecasting and strategic support - shaped around your stage of growth.
3 levels
Comfort, Reliance & Growth
Fixed fee
Agreed on the call
No contract
Cancel any time
CIMA qualified
Chartered Management Accountant
THE PROBLEM
Good businesses struggle when finance leadership is missing
You've got a bookkeeper. Maybe an accountant. But that still doesn't mean you have the senior financial leadership your business now needs.
When finance leadership is missing, business owners end up making big decisions with incomplete visibility - on hiring, pricing, investment and growth.
You might be asking questions like:
Are we actually making enough profit?
Why does cash still feel tight even when revenue is growing?
Can we afford to hire - and when?
What will VAT, PAYE and corporation tax do to our cashflow?
Are we making pricing and investment decisions with the right numbers?
SERVICE LEVELS
Support shaped around your stage of growth
Every business needs something different. Choose a starting point - each level is tailored around your exact situation on the call.
Oversight & visibility
For business owners who want experienced oversight, clearer numbers and a trusted point of contact when financial questions arise.
✓ Dedicated financial director contact
✓ Management reporting
✓ Finance function health check
✓ Unlimited email & phone support
✓ Overview & support for finance staff
Regular leadership & control
For businesses that need regular finance leadership, stronger reporting and support for an existing finance team or process.
✓ Everything in Comfort
✓ Cashflow forecasting & monitoring
✓ Cost control & expense analysis
✓ Credit control review
✓ Risk management
✓ What-if analysis & financial projections
Strategic finance partner
For ambitious businesses that want a hands-on strategic finance partner for forecasting, planning, decisions and scalable growth.
✓ Everything in Reliance
✓ KPI dashboard design
✓ Strategic planning & goal monitoring
✓ Monthly accountability programme
✓ Raising finance & investor reporting
✓ Exit strategy development
✓ Non-exec FD role for third-party credibility
Not sure which level is right? That's exactly what the free 20-minute call is for - we'll map your situation and recommend the right level. Your fixed fee is agreed on the call, not after it.
THE COMPARISON
Fractional CFO vs hiring in-house
For many growing businesses, the real question isn't whether they need finance leadership - it's the smartest route to access it at their current stage.
| Factor | Fractional CFO | In-house CFO hire |
| Cost | Fixed monthly fee | £90k–£138k salary + NI + pension |
| Flexibility | Scale up or down any time | Hard to reshape quickly |
| Start time | Up and running in under 2 weeks | Recruitment takes months |
| Experience | Broad cross-sector experience | One individual's background only |
| Commitment | No minimum contract | Employment contract, notice period |
| Tax deductible | Fully deductible - HMRC pays a portion | Salary deductible but NI adds 15% |
Fixed monthly fee
£90k–£138k salary + NI + pension
Scale up or down any time
Hard to reshape quickly
Up and running in under 2 weeks
Recruitment takes months
Broad cross-sector experience
One individual's background only
No minimum contract
Employment contract, notice period
Fully deductible - HMRC pays a portion
Salary deductible but NI adds 15%
The tax deductibility point matters
The cost of a Fractional CFO is fully deductible for corporation tax purposes. HMRC effectively refunds a portion of the fee at your corporation tax rate - making the real net cost significantly lower than the headline figure.
No employer's National Insurance
Unlike an employed Finance Director, there is no employer's National Insurance payable on a Fractional CFO engagement - saving 15% compared to the equivalent employment cost.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Fractional CFO - your questions answered
Everything you need to know before booking a call.
What does a Fractional CFO actually do?
A Fractional CFO provides board-level financial leadership - strategy, forecasting, reporting and growth planning - typically a set number of days per month. They fill the gap between a basic accountant and a full-time Finance Director, giving you senior financial thinking without the full-time cost or commitment.
How is a Fractional CFO different from my accountant?
Your accountant handles compliance - filing returns, keeping records, meeting deadlines. A Fractional CFO goes further: they help you understand what your numbers mean, plan ahead, make better decisions and build a finance function that supports growth. At Heights, both are available under one engagement.
How much does a Fractional CFO cost?
Your fixed fee is agreed on the free discovery call, based on your exact situation and the level of support you need. The fee is fully tax deductible - meaning HMRC effectively refunds a portion at your corporation tax rate. There is no minimum contract.
What size business is a Fractional CFO right for?
Typically service businesses with 5–50 staff who have outgrown basic bookkeeping but aren't ready for a full-time hire. If you're making decisions that carry real financial weight - hiring, pricing, investment, growth - a Fractional CFO adds immediate value.
Can I have a Fractional CFO alongside my existing accountant?
Yes - a Fractional CFO can work alongside your existing accountant or finance team, providing senior oversight and strategic input that complements the compliance work. At Heights, we can also handle both under one relationship if you prefer a single point of contact.
How quickly can we get started?
Most clients are up and running within 2 weeks of the discovery call. Once the scope and fee are agreed on the call, we send the Letter of Engagement, handle HMRC agent authorisation and book your onboarding session. You don't chase anything.
Have a question not covered here? Book a free 20-minute call - or email us directly and we'll get back to you within 1–2 working days.
GET STARTED
Ready to get senior finance support?
Pay less tax. Make more money. Free up more time.
Book a free 20-minute call with Björgvin. We'll map your situation, discuss which service level fits and agree a fixed fee - on the call, not after it.
Free · No obligation · Cancel any time
CLARITY · CONFIDENCE · CONTROL
Chartered accountants, tax advisors and strategists for UK SMEs and property investors. Based at Halton Mill, Lancaster.