Best part-time CFO services UK 2026

Best part-time CFO services UK 2026

A part-time CFO works with a business for a defined number of days per week or month rather than on a full-time basis. The arrangement is common across three broad categories of UK business: growing SMEs that have reached a stage where a finance director or bookkeeper is no longer sufficient but cannot yet justify or afford a full-time CFO; PE-backed or investor-backed businesses where the CFO role is well-defined but the business model does not require full-time strategic finance leadership; and businesses in a transition period between permanent CFO appointments that need continuity without committing to a permanent hire.

The market for part-time CFO services in the UK is served by several distinct types of provider. This guide sets out the main options available to UK businesses in 2026 and what distinguishes them.

Leading part-time CFO services in the UK

FD Capital

FD Capital is an ICAEW-Registered Practice that places part-time and fractional CFOs from its professional network into UK businesses. The model is a recruitment and placement service rather than a managed CFO offering — meaning the business selects the individual CFO, works with them directly, and benefits from the professional quality assurance that FD Capital’s ICAEW registration provides. Founder Adrian Lawrence FCA holds an ICAEW practising certificate in his own name, which provides accountability unusual in this market. FD Capital places part-time CFOs across sectors including technology, financial services, professional services, e-commerce and PE-backed businesses. Part-time CFO placement via FD Capital.

CFO Centre

CFO Centre operates the UK’s largest network of part-time CFOs, with over 350 professionals operating on a portfolio basis. The firm assigns a CFO from its network to the client business and manages the relationship on an ongoing basis. CFO Centre is well suited to established SMEs that need a reliable, generalist part-time CFO and prefer a structured managed service over a direct-hire arrangement.

The FD Centre

The FD Centre provides part-time finance directors and CFOs through a network model similar to CFO Centre. It has particular strength in the owner-managed business and family business market, and operates across UK regions through a hub structure. Part-time FDs and CFOs are matched to clients based on sector and geography.

Countingup / Xero Advisor networks

A growing tier of part-time CFO providers has emerged from the cloud accounting ecosystem. These are typically senior accountants and finance professionals who use cloud platforms as the operational backbone for their clients’ finances and provide strategic CFO input alongside. Better suited to smaller, simpler businesses than to the kind of complex commercial or regulated environment where a senior CFO adds the most value.

Robert Half Finance

Robert Half is one of the UK’s largest specialist finance recruitment firms and provides both permanent and temporary CFO placements. At the part-time end of the market, Robert Half can source interim or part-time CFOs through its contractor and interim network. The firm operates across all sectors and has the scale to source candidates with specific industry backgrounds quickly.

Independent part-time CFOs

The majority of practising part-time CFOs in the UK operate independently, managing a portfolio of client relationships directly. The quality range across this group is wide — from genuinely senior industry CFOs who have moved to portfolio working to recently qualified accountants positioning themselves as CFOs for early-stage businesses. Engaging a specialist placement practice to source and vet independent part-time CFOs provides significant risk reduction compared to sourcing directly from professional networks or generalist platforms.

Part-time CFO vs fractional CFO vs interim CFO — the distinctions

Part-time CFO, fractional CFO and interim CFO are related but distinct arrangements. Part-time typically describes an ongoing arrangement measured in days per week — a part-time CFO might work two days per week indefinitely, providing continuity alongside a reduced time commitment. Fractional describes a similar arrangement but is more commonly used for very low commitment levels — one or two days per month rather than per week. Interim is usually used for temporary full-time or near-full-time cover during a transition period, such as a permanent CFO search or a specific project.

For practical purposes, the distinctions matter primarily in terms of cost and involvement. A part-time CFO at two days per week is significantly more embedded in the business than a fractional CFO at two days per month, and the fee structure reflects this. When evaluating providers it is worth being specific about the number of days required — both to get an accurate cost comparison and to ensure the individual’s other commitments allow them to provide that level of availability.

What part-time CFO services cost in 2026

Part-time CFOs typically charge on a day rate basis, with experienced senior CFOs commanding £700–£1,200 per day in London and the South East, and £550–£900 in other UK regions. At two days per week this represents an annual cost of approximately £72,800–£124,800 in London — still materially below the all-in cost of a full-time CFO at the same seniority level, which typically exceeds £200,000 including salary, NIC, benefits and bonus.

Provider networks typically structure costs as a monthly retainer covering a defined number of sessions rather than individual day rates. Recruitment practice placement fees are a one-off charge of 15–25% of the annualised arrangement value.

Choosing a part-time CFO service

The most important factor is matching the CFO’s experience to the specific challenge the business is facing. A part-time CFO who has experience in fundraising is the right choice for a business preparing for an investment round. A CFO who has operated in a regulated environment is essential for a business subject to FCA oversight. A generalist part-time CFO from a network is likely sufficient for a business whose primary need is sound financial management and board reporting.

Availability is a material consideration that is sometimes overlooked. A part-time CFO working across five clients simultaneously has a finite capacity for the kind of intensive engagement that crisis periods, month-end closes or board preparation sometimes demand. Before confirming an arrangement it is worth understanding the CFO’s full portfolio and whether they have the capacity to increase their time commitment if the business needs it in a critical period.

Related Services

• Part-Time CFO Recruitment
• Fractional CFO Recruitment
• Outsourced CFO Recruitment
• Part-Time Finance Director Recruitment
• Interim CFO Recruitment