A high‑caliber Fractional CFO is forward‑looking: they build 13‑week cash‑flow views, five‑year value maps, and KPI guard‑rails to keep founders on course for an exit or sustainable dividends—not just tidy up last quarter’s books.
We’ve curated this list of the top 10 Fractional CFOs in London.
Our selection process? Rigorous. We’ve considered years of experience, industry expertise, client testimonials, and more.
The aim? To help busy CEOs and founders like you gain financial clarity and focus on scaling your business. Let’s get to it.
1. Alexej Pikovsky’s Fractional CFO Collective
After years of investing and operating across multiple sectors, Alexej Pikovsky saw founders and executives struggling to locate finance partners who could balance ambition with today’s market reality.
In an era where “growth at all costs” has been replaced by a premium on profit and cash‑flow discipline, it’s critical to hire a finance leader who understands business strategy and holds the right values.
Alexej’s answer is a rigorously vetted Fractional CFO Collective, purpose‑built for profit‑oriented leaders in London.
Why founders choose Alexej’s bench over generic talent platforms:
- Founder‑First Vetting – Hand‑screened CFOs who’ve already scaled seven‑ to nine‑figure businesses.
- Local Insight – Operators with deep London networks—think lender relationships, investor warm intros, and regional tax nuance.
- Industry Specialization: Our fractional CFOs arrive with 5+ years of C-suite experience in your exact niche—whether that’s SaaS (SQLs, MQLs, NRR), eCommerce (contribution margins, SKUs, cohort retention), or construction & real estate (project cash flow, WIP schedules). They hit the ground running on day one, so you spend zero time coaching and 100% of your time scaling.
- Speed to Value – Average match time: 7 days. First margin‑impact initiative: 2–6 weeks.
- Transparent Pricing – Flat retainers; no recruiter mark‑ups
Next step: Hire an expert—Alexej will present a selection of perfectly‑matched CFOs ready to start within seven days.
2. eClarity
Core Focus
This boutique fractional‑CFO agency is dedicated to online retail brands, positioning finance as a lever for growth rather than a back‑office chore. eClarity has a tight-knit team that exclusively supports DTC and marketplace sellers.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Provides fully outsourced CFO coverage—bookkeeping to board packs—so founders avoid the £ 150,000+ cost of an in‑house hire.
- Leverages cloud tools and proprietary dashboards to surface SKU‑level contribution margins, ad‑spend efficiency, and tax/VAT exposure in real time.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Advises on inventory‑financing lines and revenue‑based lending, drawing on relationships with U.K. eCommerce lenders.
- Supports pitch‑deck modelling and lender diligence, helping brands secure growth capital without diluting equity.
Other Experience
- Co‑founded by eCom CFOs Stuart Worgan and Seamus O’Connor, whose collective portfolio exceeds £500 million in managed revenue.
- Finalist for Medium Agency of the Year at the UK eCommerce Awards 2024.
3. Jim Jordan, The CFO Centre UK
Core Focus
An FCA‑qualified CFO, Jim Jordan has transformed loss‑making SMEs into profitable, exit‑ready ventures across healthcare, life sciences, and financial services.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Built integrated three‑ to five‑year operating models and rolling weekly cash‑flow bridges, providing executives with a live runway view and data‑driven levers for strategic pivots.
- Directed geographically dispersed finance teams and synchronised reporting across clinics, labs, and head office while managing board, lender, and supplier communications.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Structured and negotiated two private‑equity‑backed exits, leading diligence, data‑room preparation, and SPA negotiations to maximise founder proceeds.
- Stabilised liquidity by redesigning working‑capital cycles—unlocking six‑figure cash swings and setting covenant packages that support growth debt.
Other Experience
- Active Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
- 20+ years in strategy and leadership roles.
4. Adrian Lawrence, FD Capital Recruitment
Core Focus
A chartered accountant for 25 years, Adrian Lawrence has helped SMEs raise capital, avert insolvency, and unlock digital growth.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Re‑engineered finance departments—from chart of accounts to month‑end close—cutting cycle time from fifteen to five days and freeing staff for forward‑looking analysis.
- Deployed end‑to‑end eCommerce accounting stacks (Shopify, A2X, Xero) that surface SKU‑level profitability and advertising ROI in real‑time.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Secured a £500,000 bridge round in under thirty days, combining debt and equity to avert insolvency for a travel operator during lockdowns.
- Leads buy‑ and sell‑side due diligence, stress‑testing assumptions and negotiating valuation adjustments that protect founders.
Other Experience
- BSc, Queen Mary University; FCA.
- Supports FD Capital’s online growth through an advanced SEO strategy.
5. Scaleup Finance
This Danish‑born, London‑serving platform blends automated finance dashboards with on‑demand CFO advisors, giving Series A–C tech companies real‑time runway visibility and strategic finance guidance.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, Stripe, and bank feeds to sync accounting, payments, and cash balances into a single forecasting hub refreshed daily.
- Generates 13‑week cash‑flow, scenario, and KPI reports—MRR, burn, LTV/CAC—without manual spreadsheets, freeing finance teams for analysis.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Provides investor‑grade financial models, data‑room exports, and benchmarking against 1,000+ SaaS peers, helping founders substantiate valuations.
- Offers virtual CFO sessions to prep founders for diligence Q&A and covenant negotiations with venture lenders and growth‑equity funds.
Other Experience
- Founded in Copenhagen (2017) by serial CFO Kasper Hulthin; raised $8 million Series A in 2022 led by Anthemis and Crowberry to expand U.K. presence.
- Serves 400+ European scale‑ups, including firms backed by Seed Capital, Northzone, and Balderton.
6. Simon Moore, Harmonic
Core Focus
Simon Moore is a chartered accountant with 15+ years leading finance at creative agencies and communications groups.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Oversees commercial finance, risk governance, and legal compliance, translating creative‑agency KPIs into actionable margin dashboards for leadership.
- Implemented Sarbanes‑Oxley controls and cloud ERP integrations that cut reporting errors and ensured compliance for FTSE‑listed parent WPP.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Designs funding roadmaps for renewable‑energy initiatives, blending government grants with private capital to de‑risk innovation spend.
- Leads post‑acquisition integrations, aligning systems and culture across design, agency, and tech subsidiaries.
Other Experience
- ACA in Accounting and Business Management (ICAEW); BA Hons, University of Greenwich.
- Nearly decade‑long CFO tenure at BDG Architecture + Design.
7. Vicky Hayford, FD and CFO Centre UK
Core Focus
With over two decades of CFO/COO experience, Vicky Hayford has guided retail, wholesale, and hospitality SMEs through scale‑ups and exits.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Doubled the cash position for a luxury skincare brand by tightening inventory turns, negotiating extended supplier credit, and rolling out zero‑based budgeting across departments.
- Spearheaded ERP and supply‑chain integrations across UK, EU, and US subsidiaries, giving management a real‑time view of unit economics and working capital.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Improved EBITDA margin by nine percentage points at This Works ahead of a strategic sale, pairing pricing optimisation with SG&A rationalisation.
- Managed complex investor and lender syndicates, ensuring covenant compliance while preserving growth optionality across borders.
Other Experience
- CIMA qualified; extensive global subsidiary management experience.
- Led senior‑management hiring in multiple countries.
8. EmergeOne
Founded by Aarish Shah, this fractional CFO consultancy delivers finance leadership to tech startups and scale‑ups from Seed to Series B.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Implements cloud‑native finance stacks—bookkeeping through cohort FP&A—providing founders a live dashboard of runway, burn, and KPI trends.
- Publishes the “Nothing Ventured” newsletter and podcast, sharing best practices on modeling, cash discipline, and finance‑stack scaling.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Builds data rooms, three‑statement models, and narrative decks that have supported venture rounds and exits exceeding $500 million across the portfolio.
- Guides founders through investor Q&A, term‑sheet negotiation, and post‑raise capital deployment.
Other Experience
- Portfolio clients include companies backed by Hoxton, Stride, Octopus, Founders Factory, Outlier, and a16z.
- Founder Aarish Shah bootstrapped EmergeOne past £1 million ARR and brings two decades of CEO/CFO operating experience.
9. Michael Harley, Breakthrough CFO
Core Focus
Michael Harley boasts over 20,000 hours dedicated to helping businesses optimize their financial operations, specializing in SaaS and venture‑backed scale‑ups.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Installs SaaS‑specific KPI dashboards (MRR, churn, LTV/CAC) and OKR frameworks, converting raw data into weekly action plans for product and marketing teams.
- Provides “anytime‑access” advisory through Slack and Loom, resolving CFO‑level queries in hours rather than days.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Builds investor‑ready models and narrative decks that have secured Series A and B rounds ranging from £1 million to £15 million.
- Advises founders on post‑raise capital deployment, pacing burn against milestone‑based fund‑release schedules.
Other Experience
- Former Amazon and Trainline strategy roles.
- Offers outsourced automation and process‑optimisation services.
10. Sophie Wright, WrightCFO Ltd
Core Focus
Sophie Wright is the founder of an award‑winning consultancy delivering part‑time CFOs to U.K. SMEs since 2014.
Operational Finance Highlights
- Crafts rolling 13‑week and annual cash‑flow forecasts, aligning spend with strategic objectives and alerting owners to capital gaps months in advance.
- Oversees year‑end compliance and board‑pack production for a portfolio of SMEs, freeing founders to focus on product development and sales growth.
Fundraising / M&A Highlights
- Advises on IPO readiness and exit strategies, coordinating auditors, bankers, and legal teams while maintaining day‑to‑day finance rhythm.
- Executes deep‑dive profitability analyses, surfacing margin leaks and implementing cost initiatives that have lifted operating profit by up to 15%.
Other Experience
- Leads a team of CIMA, ACA, and ACCA‑certified professionals.
- “Best New Startup” highly commended (Richmond Chamber, 2015).
How Alexej Matches You With London’s Best CFO Talent
The steps below show how Alexej’s London‑based Fractional CFO Collective hand‑picks and onboards the ideal finance partner for your brand, usually in under two weeks.
For a deeper dive into whether the investment pays off, read our guide Is a Fractional CFO Worth It?
Who It’s For
Six‑ to nine‑figure brands that have outgrown basic bookkeeping but need sharper insight than a controller can offer. Every engagement starts with your personal objectives—whether a seven‑figure exit, passive dividends, or global expansion—and then reverse‑engineers the finance roadmap.
Strategic Finance Pillars and Typical Impact
| Pillar | Focus Area | Typical Impact |
| Financial Road‑Mapping | 13‑week cash‑flow & five‑year models tied to founder goals | Clear runway & data‑driven milestones |
| Margin Expansion | SKU contribution, ad spend efficiency, 3PL benchmarking | +2–8 percentage‑points gross margin |
| Capital Strategy | Debt vs. equity mix, inventory financing, investor decks | Lower cost of capital, faster closes |
| Tax Optimisation | Inventory timing, R&D credits, cross‑border structuring | Reduced effective tax rate |
| Exit Readiness | Data‑room build, QoE‑ready numbers, valuation‑optimised KPIs | Multiple uplift at sale |
Engagement Models and Price Guide
| Model | Typical Scope | Price Guide |
| Monthly Retainer | Ongoing strategic finance leadership—cash‑flow forecasting, board reporting, KPI dashboards, lender / investor calls | $2 000–$6 000 / month |
| Hourly / Project | Deep dives such as SKU‑margin audit, 3PL tender, or fundraising deck | From $140 / hour |
| Equity / Success Fee | Optional kicker for capital raise or M&A | 1–3 % of capital raised or 0.5–1.5 × monthly retainer at close |
A part‑time CFO costs <10 % of a full‑time hire yet can add 5–10× that outlay in profit, cash‑flow resilience, or exit value.
Avoid the Hidden Cost of a Mis‑Hire – Choosing the wrong finance leader can wipe out six‑figures in lost EBITDA and deal‑value erosion. Read the breakdown in our Ultimate Guide before you decide.
Operational Finance
- Rolling 13‑week cash‑flow and SKU‑level margin dashboards
- Inventory, ad‑spend, and supplier‑terms optimisation to tighten cash‑conversion cycles
- ERP and Shopify Plus integrations for real‑time P&L views
Fundraising / M&A
- Investor‑grade multi‑scenario forecasts and sensitivity tables
- Capital‑stack design to balance dilution, debt service, and tax
- Full exit prep: data room, QoE coordination, buyer outreach, and bid comparison
Alexej’s Five‑Layer Vetting Gauntlet
- Background and fraud checks
- Case‑study modelling exam
- Reference calls with past CEOs and investors
- Soft‑skill and culture‑fit interview
- Paid trial sprint on a live client brief
Only candidates who clear every layer join the bench. Alexej re‑scores each operator quarterly to keep standards razor‑sharp.
Within seven days, Alexej will present a selection of perfectly matched CFOs ready to start.
FAQ
A Fractional CFO is a financial expert who offers services to businesses on a part-time or contractual basis. They provide the same level of financial oversight as a full-time CFO, but work for a fraction of the time, making it a cost-effective solution for SMEs or startups that may not have the budget for a full-time executive.
Choosing a good Fractional CFO involves several key considerations. First, look for qualifications and certifications such as CIMA, ACA, or ACCA to ensure they have the necessary financial expertise. Second, examine their track record in your industry to gauge their experience and effectiveness. Third, consider their range of services, from financial planning to cash flow management, to ensure they can meet your specific needs. Lastly, assess their communication skills and cultural fit with your organisation, as a good Fractional CFO should be able to seamlessly integrate with your team. For a full hiring checklist, see How to Hire a Fractional CFO.
Fractional CFOs offer a wide range of services, including budgeting, financial planning, cash flow management, and fundraising assistance. They may also provide strategic advice, manage financial risks, and help in mergers and acquisitions.
The cost of hiring a Fractional CFO can vary, but with Alexej, you can expect a monthly retainer ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. Hourly rates can start from $140, depending on the CFO’s experience and industry expertise.
