Outsourced CFO
As your business grows, the questions get bigger — and so do the stakes. There comes a point when you need more than an accountant keeping everything in order. You need someone who knows your business, understands where you want to go and is there to help you work out how to get there.
An outsourced CFO gives you that support without the cost or commitment of employing a full-time finance director. We become part of your team, getting to know your business inside out and helping you plan, make decisions and keep things moving in the right direction.
What to Expect
Someone in your corner
You’ll have someone who knows your business, understands what you’re trying to achieve, and is there when you need to talk things through. We’ll give you an independent perspective, challenge your thinking when it’s appropriate, and tell you what we genuinely think.
Success on your terms
Not every business owner wants the biggest business they can possibly build. We’ll understand what success looks like for you and make sure your actions reflect your business goals, personal priorities and where you ultimately want to end up.
Keeping you on course
We won’t build a plan and then leave you to get on with it. We’ll regularly look at how things are going, what’s changed and whether you’re still heading where you want to go. When something needs adjusting, we’ll spot it, talk it through and help you decide what to do next.
Visible progress
Good advice is only useful if something happens as a result. Once we’ve agreed what success looks like, we’ll know how to measure it and keep track of your progress. You’ll be able to see what’s changing, what’s working, and whether you’re genuinely getting closer to where you want to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an outsourced CFO actually do?
An outsourced CFO works alongside you as you run your business, helping you stay focused on where you’re going and what needs to happen to get there. We’ll support you with planning and forecasting, bring things to your attention, help you work through decisions and keep an eye on whether things are moving in the right direction. The exact support will be tailored to your business and what you’re trying to achieve.
How is this different from having an accountant?
Your accountant will usually be focused on the day-to-day financial side of your business; keeping your records up to date, producing reports, managing compliance and making sure everything is working as it should. An outsourced CFO takes a wider view, looking at where the business is going and working with you to help shape what happens next.
There’s also no reason the two roles have to be separate. Your accountant can also be your outsourced CFO, which means you get that additional support from someone who already knows your business and understands the detail behind it.
What does the ongoing support actually look like?
This is a difficult one to answer, because every business needs something different. What is consistent is that we’ll be actively involved. We’ll be reviewing your information, keeping an eye on how things are developing and bringing things to your attention rather than waiting for you to ask.
Depending on what you need, that might include regular reports or check-ins, setting and tracking goals, forecasts, specific projects or simply having someone available when something comes up. We’ll agree what works for you as we get to know your business.
Do I need to have management accounts first?
We do need reliable, up-to-date information to work from, but you don’t need to have management accounts in place before we start. We can prepare these as part of the CFO role if needed. This actually gives us an even better understanding of your business and what’s happening.
When does a business need an outsourced CFO?
There’s no particular turnover or size at which a business suddenly needs a CFO. It’s more about reaching a point where you’d benefit from having someone experienced to help you work out what comes next.
You might feel stuck and need a fresh perspective, have a specific goal but aren’t sure how to reach it, or know where you want to be in a few years and need help working backwards to figure out how to get there. Whatever the goal, an outsourced CFO gives you someone who understands both finance and business to help you turn your vision into something achievable.
Will you work with the rest of my team?
Absolutely. The better we understand what’s happening across your business, the better we can support you. We’re happy to work with your bookkeeper, accountant, management team, other departments or external advisers where it makes sense. We’re really not precious about staying in the finance lane!
Got somewhere you want to be?
and stay alongside you as you work towards it.