Five Signs Your Business Needs Finance Director Support

There's a point in every growing business where financial complexity outpaces the owner's capacity to manage it. The bookkeeping is under control, the tax returns get filed on time, but something's missing. You need strategic financial guidance, not just number crunching.

A Finance Director (FD) provides that strategic layer. But hiring a full-time FD is expensive—typically £80,000 to £150,000 per year plus benefits. For many SMEs, a fractional or part-time FD makes more sense, giving you access to senior financial expertise without the full-time commitment.

Here are five signs it might be time:

1. You're Making Big Decisions Without Financial Modelling

Should you lease or buy that equipment? What happens to cash flow if you hire three more staff? Can you afford to offer 60-day payment terms to win that major contract? If you're making these decisions based on gut feel rather than financial models, you're taking unnecessary risks.

An FD builds models that show the financial implications of different scenarios, helping you make informed decisions with confidence.

2. You're Struggling to Secure Funding

Whether it's a bank loan, investor equity, or grant funding, applications require compelling financial presentations. This means forecasts, business plans, sensitivity analysis, and the ability to answer tough questions.

FDs speak the language of banks and investors. They know what funders want to see and can present your business in the best possible light while maintaining credibility.

3. Your Accountant Only Talks to You Once a Year

Traditional accountants focus on compliance—year-end accounts, tax returns, Companies House filings. They're essential, but they're backward-looking. An FD complements your accountant by providing forward-looking strategic advice and ongoing financial leadership.

4. You've Lost Sight of Your Numbers

When your business was smaller, you probably knew instinctively whether you were profitable. As you've grown, that intuition becomes less reliable. You're busy running the business, and financial detail falls through the cracks.

An FD ensures you always have visibility of what matters: profitability by product or service, customer lifetime value, working capital trends, and cash runway.

5. You're Planning for Exit or Succession

If you're thinking about selling your business, bringing in partners, or passing it to the next generation, you need your finances in impeccable shape. Acquirers and investors will scrutinise everything. Weak financial controls, incomplete records, or lack of clear reporting will reduce your valuation or kill deals entirely.

An FD can prepare your business for exit, implementing the systems and controls that maximise value and minimise due diligence headaches.