Outsourced Finance Director Services
Strategic financial leadership for UK businesses with turnover £1m–£15m
What is an Outsourced Finance Director?
An outsourced finance director (also called a fractional FD, virtual FD, or part-time finance director) provides the strategic financial leadership of a senior FD without the £80,000–£120,000 annual salary cost. You get access to C-suite financial expertise on a flexible, scalable basis—whether that’s one day per week, a few days per month, or project-based support during critical growth phases.
For businesses turning over £1m to £15m, this model bridges the gap between transactional accounting and sophisticated financial strategy. You move beyond compliance and bookkeeping into forward-looking financial leadership that drives profitable growth.
Is an Outsourced FD Right for Your Business?
Our outsourced finance director services are specifically designed for:
- Turnover £1m–£15m – You’ve outgrown basic accounting but aren’t ready for a full-time FD
- Owner-managed businesses – Founder-led companies where the MD handles too much of the finance function
- Scaling businesses – Preparing for growth capital, acquisition, or geographic expansion
- Complex operations – Multi-site, multi-currency, or project-based businesses needing sophisticated reporting
- Professional services – Agencies, consultancies, and practices managing work-in-progress and utilisation metrics
We work particularly heavily with manufacturing, property and construction, technology/SaaS, engineering, and e-commerce businesses—sectors where financial complexity meets high growth potential.
Why £1m+ Businesses Choose a Fractional Finance Director
At £1m turnover, your financial complexity outpaces your internal capabilities. At £15m, you’re considering your first full-time FD. In between, you need sophisticated financial infrastructure without the overhead.
The challenges we solve:
- Cash flow visibility – You’re profitable on paper but constantly managing cash gaps from growth investment, stock holding, or client payment terms
- Funding readiness – You need clear management accounts, investor-grade reporting, and robust forecasts for Series A, growth debt, or private equity conversations
- Board reporting – Your management team and investors need monthly KPI packs, variance analysis, and strategic commentary, not just P&L printouts
- Margin optimisation – You’re growing revenue but unsure if you’re growing profitably across all product lines, services, or locations
- Exit preparation – You’re 2–5 years from a sale, management buyout, or succession event and need to build financial value and clean reporting
Outsourced FD vs Financial Controller vs Fractional CFO: Understanding the Hierarchy
Clients often ask whether they need a financial controller, an FD, or a CFO. Here’s how we distinguish the roles:
Financial Controller – Focuses on the accuracy of historical data: managing bookkeepers, ensuring month-end closes happen on time, overseeing VAT and payroll, and producing management accounts. Essential for businesses £500k–£2m turnover.
Outsourced Finance Director – Focuses on strategic interpretation of that data: cash flow forecasting, funding strategy, board reporting, pricing analysis, and financial planning. The bridge between operations and ownership. Optimal for £1m–£15m turnover.
Fractional CFO – Focuses on capital markets and complex transactions: fundraising rounds, mergers and acquisitions, international expansion, and plc-level governance. Typically for businesses £10m–£50m+ or those pursuing rapid external investment.
Most of our clients at the £1m–£8m range benefit most from our outsourced FD service, upgrading to fractional CFO support during funding rounds or acquisition activity.
What Our Virtual FD Service Includes
Your outsourced finance director becomes an integral part of your leadership team, attending board meetings and providing ongoing strategic counsel. Services include:
Strategic Financial Management
- Monthly management accounts with strategic commentary (not just numbers)
- Annual budget setting and quarterly reforecasting
- KPI dashboard development specific to your sector and growth stage
Funding & Investment Support
- Investment readiness assessments and data room preparation
- Financial modelling for fundraising (growth debt, equity, or grants)
- Investor presentation support and due diligence management
- Scenario planning for best case/base case/downside projections
Operational Finance Leadership
- Oversight of your internal finance team or external bookkeepers
- Review and optimisation of financial systems and reporting workflows
- Margin analysis by product, service, customer, or location
- Cost base reviews and efficiency programmes
Governance & Compliance
- Board pack preparation and presentation at monthly/quarterly meetings
- Risk management frameworks and internal controls review
- Liaison with external auditors, tax advisors, and banks
- Strategic tax planning coordination (R&D claims, capital allowances, EMI schemes)
Why striveX?
You’re not hiring a freelance bookkeeper who calls themselves an FD. You’re accessing a senior finance professional with experience across owner-managed businesses, private equity, and high-growth environments.
- Qualified expertise – Your outsourced FD is qualified (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with experience in businesses £1m–£50m+
- Sector specialism – We understand the specific cash flow patterns and margin drivers in your industry
- Tech-enabled – We work with your existing systems (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) or implement cloud forecasting tools (Fathom, Float, Futrli) for real-time visibility
Commercial focus – We speak the language of business, not just accounting. Our advice connects financial metrics to operational decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an outsourced FD and a virtual CFO?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but we distinguish them by complexity. An outsourced FD typically supports £1m–£10m businesses with forecasting, board reporting, and operational finance strategy. A fractional CFO usually supports £10m+ businesses or those pursuing complex transactions like mergers, acquisitions, or institutional investment rounds. Many of our clients start with FD-level support and escalate to CFO services during funding events.
Can you work with our existing bookkeeper or accountant?
Absolutely. We’re not replacing your compliance accountant (who handles year-end, tax returns, and statutory accounts). We sit above that function, managing your bookkeeper or financial controller to ensure the data is accurate, then using that data to drive strategic decisions. We often work alongside your existing accountancy firm, providing the forward-looking advisory layer they don’t have capacity to deliver.
How quickly can you start?
We can typically begin within 2–4 weeks, starting with a comprehensive financial health check and systems review. For urgent situations (imminent funding round, cash flow crisis, or sudden departure of a finance person), we offer rapid-start interim FD services.
Ready for Strategic Financial Leadership?
If your business is turning over £1m–£15m and you’re managing cash flow month-to-month, preparing for growth capital, or simply tired of making decisions without solid financial data, let’s discuss how an outsourced finance director fits your business.
Book a confidential consultation to assess your current financial infrastructure and identify the immediate opportunities for cash flow improvement, margin enhancement, or funding readiness.
Call us on 01628 965760 or email info@strivex.co.uk.