Part-Time Finance Director Recruitment

Do you need a Finance Director for a strategic, commercial and financial management role? If so then reach out to us today.

We have lots of acquisition, disposal, profit improvement, systems and cash flow management experience, both in private/family owned limited companies and groups.

“Adrian acted as our Finance Director for two years and provided an outstanding service. His expertise, attention to detail and strategic financial guidance made a real difference to our business operations. Adrian is professional, reliable and highly knowledgeable – I would confidently recommend him to any business needing experienced financial leadership.”
— Stuart Laight, Asprey Transport, Wolverhampton

A part-time Finance Director is an experienced FD who works with your business on a reduced, flexible schedule rather than as a full-time employee. You define the days per week or month that fit your needs and budget, and the FD commits that time to your business on those days.  Also referred to as a fractional Finance Director.

The terms ‘part-time FD’ and ‘fractional FD’ are used interchangeably and describe the same model. Both refer to a senior finance executive providing ongoing FD-level leadership on a part-time basis, with no fixed end date. This is distinct from an interim FD, who is engaged full-time for a defined period to address a specific situation.

The clearest signal is when the business has grown beyond what a bookkeeper, accountant, or Finance Manager can handle strategically — but hasn’t yet reached the size or budget to justify a full-time FD. The specific triggers:

• Revenue is growing but profit visibility is unclear or inconsistent
• The founders or MD are spending too much time on financial questions
• Management accounts are late, unreliable, or don’t tell the right story
• You’re preparing for a fundraising round and need investor-ready financial modelling
• A bank, investor, or acquirer is asking for financial information you can’t easily produce
• Cash flow forecasting is informal or done on a spreadsheet
• The finance team needs senior leadership but you can’t justify a full-time hire above them
• You’re approaching a transaction — sale, acquisition, or MBO — and need FD-level support through it
• PE or VC investors have asked for improved governance or reporting standards

A part-time FD bridges the gap between where the business is now and the point at which a full-time appointment makes commercial sense. Many of our clients start at one or two days per week and scale the commitment upward as the business grows. We can support a permanent Finance Director search when the time is right.

Our part-time Finance Directors are embedded executives, not consultants at arm’s length. They work within your business on their committed days, take ownership of the finance function, and work alongside the leadership team. The scope depends on the business but typically includes:

Financial Strategy & Reporting

• Owning the financial strategy and communicating it to the board
• Management accounts, board packs, and investor reporting
• Financial modelling, scenario planning, and long-range forecasting
• KPI design and management information improvement

Cash Flow & Operational Finance

• Cash flow management, working capital control, and short-term forecasting
• Budgeting, cost management, and profitability analysis
• Annual statutory accounts and audit management meeting Companies House filing deadlines.
• Banking and lender relationship management

Fundraising & Transactions

• Investor-ready financial packs for debt and equity fundraising
• Financial due diligence for acquisitions and disposals
• MBO and exit preparation — financial modelling and data room
• PE and VC investor reporting and covenant compliance reporting to PE investors in line with BVCA guidance.

Finance Team & Systems

• Finance team leadership, development, and recruitment support
• ERP and finance systems implementation or upgrade
• Financial controls, governance, and compliance
• Handover planning if transitioning to a permanent FD

Here are just some of the benefits

Finance is the only discipline we recruit. We place Finance Directors and CFOs — part-time, fractional, interim, and permanent — exclusively. That means our understanding of what a part-time FD engagement actually requires, and our network of candidates who are experienced in working this way, is deeper than any generalist recruiter could match.

Our part-time Finance Directors have operated at senior level across a broad range of UK sectors. We match candidates on sector familiarity as well as technical capability — a business in a PE-backed environment needs an FD who has worked in that context before.

Part-Time Finance Director for FCA-Regulated Firms

FCA-regulated businesses — including wealth managers, asset managers, payment firms, and consumer credit businesses — require Finance Directors who understand regulatory capital requirements, CASS rules, and the financial governance standards the FCA expects. Our part-time FDs with FCA-regulated sector experience are familiar with the regulatory landscape and can interact with compliance teams and the regulator directly. For businesses requiring broader senior finance and risk leadership in regulated environments, see our recruitment for FCA regulated firms and SMCR compliance recruitment.

About Our Founder

FD Capital was founded by Adrian Lawrence FCA, a Chartered Accountant with over two decades of experience in finance leadership and executive search. Adrian holds a BSc from Queen Mary College, University of London and is a Fellow of the ICAEW. Before founding FD Capital he worked across private, listed, owner-managed and PE-backed organisations, giving him direct experience of the finance challenges and hiring decisions that CFOs are appointed to solve. He personally leads our most senior CFO searches and conducts candidate interviews himself — which is why our assessment process goes substantially deeper than a standard recruiter screen. Every brief Adrian takes is informed by having sat on both sides of the table.

FD Capital operates in accordance with recognised executive search standards and professional recruitment best practices. We support the principles outlined in the UK government’s executive search code of conduct.

A short call with our team is all that’s needed to get started. We don’t require lengthy written briefs before we begin searching.

1. Brief — We take time to understand your business, your stage of growth, the specific challenges you need an FD to address, and the time commitment and budget that works for you.
2. Shortlist — We present a curated shortlist of candidates, typically within 3–7 working days. Each candidate is matched to your specific requirement, not pulled from a generic pool.
3. Interviews — We arrange candidate meetings at your convenience, provide detailed briefing notes on each candidate, and support the interview process throughout.
4. Placement — Once you’ve chosen your part-time FD, we support the contracting process and stay in contact throughout the engagement to make sure it’s working for both parties.

Is a part-time FD the same as a fractional FD?

Yes — the terms describe the same arrangement. A Finance Director working with your business on a part-time, flexible basis rather than as a full-time employee. At FD Capital we use both terms depending on how clients describe their needs.

How many days per week does a part-time FD typically work?

The most common arrangements are one to three days per week. One day per week suits businesses that need strategic financial oversight and board-level input but have a capable Finance Manager handling day-to-day operations. Two to three days is more appropriate when the FD needs to own the finance function more directly — particularly during periods of growth, fundraising, or transaction activity.

How quickly can a part-time FD start?

Most of our candidates are available within one to two weeks of appointment, and a number are available immediately. This compares favourably with a permanent FD search, which typically takes three to four months from instruction to start date.

Can a part-time FD transition to a permanent role?

Yes, and it is relatively common. Many businesses bring in a part-time FD as the business grows toward the point where full-time financial leadership is justified. We support that transition and can help structure the move from part-time to permanent as part of our ongoing relationship.

Do you place part-time Finance Directors outside London?

Yes. We place part-time Finance Directors across the UK. Many candidates work a combination of on-site and remote days, which makes geography less of a constraint than it would be for a full-time hire. We advise on candidate availability and location as part of the briefing conversation.

What is the difference between a part-time FD and a part-time CFO?

In practice the roles are very similar — both provide senior strategic and operational financial leadership on a part-time basis. The title depends on the business’s preference and the seniority of the hire. CFO is more commonly used in larger, investor-backed, or listed businesses; FD is more common in SMEs and owner-managed companies. FD Capital places both and can advise on which designation is more appropriate for your business

If you’re considering a part-time Finance Director and want to understand what is available, what it costs, and how quickly we can move, a short call with our team is the fastest way to get clarity.

020 3287 9501

Have one of our specialists call you back to discuss your hiring needs.