Fractional CFO London
Strategic CFO services for London startups, scale-ups and ambitious SMEs.
Hire a fractional CFO for your SME
Are you in need of a fractional CFO in London or surrounding areas? At The Finance People, we offer access to experienced finance professionals on an affordable, flexible basis. Get in touch to arrange your initial consultation and find the right finance expert for your business.
Running a business in London brings opportunity, but it also brings complexity. From venture-backed startups navigating funding rounds to established SMEs scaling teams and operations, many companies reach a stage where financial decision making becomes more demanding.
At this point, traditional accounting support often isn’t enough. Businesses need strategic financial leadership, but hiring a full-time Chief Financial Officer may not yet make financial sense.
That is where a fractional CFO in London can make a significant impact.
At The Finance People, we provide fractional CFO services in London to startups, scale-ups and growing SMEs that need experienced financial leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Our team acts as a strategic partner to founders and leadership teams, providing the insight, structure and financial planning required to support sustainable growth.
Whether you are preparing for investment, managing rapid expansion or simply looking for clearer financial visibility, our CFO services in London help businesses make better financial decisions with confidence.
Experienced fractional CFOs for scaling London businesses
Strategic financial leadership from The Finance People
The Finance People is a team of experienced CFOs and finance directors providing fractional CFO and outsourced CFO services in London and across the UK.
Our CFOs typically bring more than twenty years of experience working with high-growth companies, private equity backed businesses and complex SME environments. This depth of experience allows us to step into organisations quickly and begin delivering value from day one.
For London businesses, that often means providing the strategic financial guidance that sits somewhere between traditional accounting and a full-time executive hire. Through our fractional finance director and CFO services in London, we support leadership teams with financial planning, forecasting, performance tracking and strategic decision making.
Companies often engage us when they require the expertise of a part time CFO in London to help guide their next stage of growth. By working alongside founders and management teams, we bring the clarity and financial structure required to scale a business with confidence.
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It’s not just about getting the job done - it’s about finding the right personality to integrate into your team. That’s why we strive to always align you with the perfect match. Would you invite them to a BBQ at your home? If not, they’re the wrong person for you.
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It can be a challenge to find a verified expert who fulfils your expectations - on your requirements & budget. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve built a solid team of experts that are experienced and reliable, to ensure you’re getting an expert every time. Meet our team of fractional CFOs here.
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We understand that many SME businesses don’t often need full-time Finance employees, and many also do not have the budget for the expert-level they require. We offer cost-effective solutions that ensure you find the right person for the right price. Discover our pricing guide here.
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As a business owner or entrepreneur, it can be hard to know your next step when you hit a wall in business. Investing in a flexible finance expert, particularly a fractional CFO, will provide you with the strategic know-how and confidence to find gaps, invest in weaker areas and take that next step.
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All our solutions are bespoke to your requirements - we have no ready-made packages available. Our process includes an in-depth business audit and a deep-dive consultation to ensure we are matching you up with the plan and person that is right for you. Contact us for a consultation.
“I’m worried I’ll be passed between different finance professionals.”
Here at The Finance People, you'll work with one dedicated finance expert to help your business reach its goals. From your initial consultation, we'll be looking to introduce you to the perfect fit finance professional who has the right experience and is the ideal fit for your business. You'll never be passed between our team and you'll establish a relationship with your fractional expert over the months working together.
When it comes to finances, your relationship matters. That’s why at The Finance People, you’ll never have to compromise a fractional CFO with the right candidate. Our mission is to match you with the ‘perfect fit’, guaranteeing a seamless extension of your board or your finance team. Our finance expert will integrate into your business, not the other way round.
“I need my fractional CFO to be the perfect fit for my business.”
Alongside its thriving startup ecosystem, London is home to thousands of established SMEs operating across professional services, consulting, technology, marketing and e-commerce.
Many of these businesses reach a stage where financial complexity increases significantly. Hiring decisions carry greater risk, operating costs rise and leadership teams need clearer financial insight to guide strategic planning.
At this point, outsourced CFO services in London provide a powerful solution.
A fractional CFO in London works closely with founders and leadership teams to improve financial forecasting, strengthen cash flow management and introduce clearer performance reporting across the organisation. Businesses gain the benefit of senior financial expertise without the cost of a permanent executive hire.
Through our CFO services in London, companies gain the financial clarity required to invest confidently in growth while maintaining control over profitability and risk.
Financial leadership for London’s growing SMEs
Why go fractional?
A CFO when you need one — not when you don’t.
Why hire full-time when part-time delivers just as much impact? Get senior financial leadership on a flexible basis, tailored to your growth stage and goals.
Support that scales and fits around your business.
Need input weekly, monthly or just for key moments? A fractional CFO scales with you and your business, providing exactly the level of support you need — no more, no less.
Make faster, smarter financial decisions.
From forecasting and funding to board-ready reports, your CFO brings clarity to the numbers - so you can move forward with confidence.
Case studies
What our clients say
HLP → Achieved record-breaking turnover & reduce client dependency
Marantec → Introduced systems and levelled up internal teams for long-term success
TMT First → Transformed financial leadership, having secured £1m in invoice financing
How our fractional CFO services support London businesses
Many London businesses reach a stage where financial complexity increases quickly. Whether navigating investor expectations, managing the costs of rapid growth or preparing the business for investment, strong financial leadership becomes essential. Through our fractional CFO services in London, we support founders and leadership teams with the strategic finance capabilities required to scale sustainably. This includes building robust financial models for fundraising and exit planning, strengthening risk management frameworks, and implementing disciplined cash flow and profit management to support long-term growth. Our CFOs work closely with London startups, scale-ups and SMEs to improve financial visibility, support hiring and expansion decisions, and ensure the business is positioned for its next stage of growth.
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A Fractional Finance Director, also known as a part-time Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer, offers the expertise of a seasoned financial professional on a flexible, as-needed basis.
Unlike a full-time position, where you hire someone for a fixed number of hours per week, a fractional FD or CFO allows you to access top-tier financial leadership tailored to your specific needs and budget.
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If your business requires strategic financial guidance but can't justify the expense of a full-time CFO or FD, a fractional FD/CFO could be the perfect solution.
Whether you're facing complex financial challenges, seeking to optimise financial processes, or planning for growth, our FDs/CFOs can provide the expertise and support you need, efficiently and effectively.
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All our fractional CFOs are vetted and qualified for the role. A simple check of our reviews and testimonials will help you see how successful we are at matching the right professional with your business.
Further, all our fractional CFOs at The Finance People have previous experience with The Big Four and use their first-class experience working in large corporate companies to provide expert financial guidance to SMEs.
Our goal is to provide you with Finance People who feel like a safe pair of hands to guide your business in the world of finance. We use the BBQ test to find the perfect culture fit, in other words, if you wouldn’t invite the FD to your family BBQ then they are not a good fit!
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All of our Fractional Finance Directors come with experience from leading accounting firms, 'The Big Four,' and the fundamental principles and techniques they employ are universally applicable across industries, so we don’t feel it’s necessary for them to have experience in your specific industry.
At The Finance People, we excel in matching the ideal candidate to your budget, skill prerequisites, and alignment with your business culture.
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Our fractional cfo services run monthly, so you are never contracted for more than a month at a time, making The Finance People a flexible solution for your business needs.
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To get started, simply reach out to us to arrange your initial consultation. During this consultation, we'll discuss your business needs, budget and specific requirements for a Fractional Finance Director. Based on this information, we'll recommend suitable candidates for you to consider.
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The cost of hiring a fractional cfo depends on factors such as the level of experience, the scope of responsibilities and the number of hours required each month.
We'll work closely with you to tailor a solution that fits your budget while ensuring you receive the expertise you need for success.
Download our pricing guide here for example prices.
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With the part-time flexible resource model, you will not have to pay any holiday, sickness, or pension costs. In instances such as sickness, accident, or maternity, The Finance People will provide cover for your appointed expert. This is because your finance professional is not officially employed by your business.
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Absolutely, our service is designed to be flexible. If your business needs change over time, we can adjust the terms of your fractional FD arrangement to ensure it continues to meet your requirements effectively.
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We understand the importance of having support in place swiftly. Therefore, once we have a clear understanding of your needs and preferences, we'll work efficiently to match you with a suitable fractional CFO as soon as possible, typically within a short timeframe. If you require support before a designated date, please stipulate this in your initial consultation so we can take this into account when identifying your perfect match.