Outsourced CFO & Virtual Finance Director for UK Businesses
Senior CA-qualified financial leadership, delivered remotely from India — at a fraction of what a UK Finance Director costs. IFRS-aware, English-first, built around your business day.
CFO-quality leadership — without the CFO-sized salary bill
A UK Finance Director or CFO typically commands £80,000–£180,000 in base salary. But that is only the start. Add Employer National Insurance (13.8% on earnings above £9,100), pension contributions (minimum 3%, typically 5–8%), health and life benefits, annual bonus (15–30%), and recruitment fees (15–25% of salary) — and the true all-in cost of a senior finance hire reaches £110,000–£230,000+ per year, from day one.
For most UK SMEs and founder-led businesses turning over £2M–£50M, that is an enormous fixed overhead — particularly when what you actually need is strategic financial judgment, not a full-time headcount.
BizFractional delivers the same calibre of CFO thinking — board reporting, cash flow strategy, fundraising advisory, budgeting and financial controls — as a flexible monthly retainer. You get senior finance leadership when you need it, without the payroll, the notice period, or the IR35 complexity.
Start the ConversationThe full remit of a Finance Director — delivered flexibly
Every engagement is scoped to your stage and priorities. Here is what UK clients typically draw on.
Cash Flow & Working Capital
13-week rolling cash flow models, debtor and creditor management, working capital cycle analysis and covenant management for UK banking facilities.
Board & Investor Reporting
Monthly management accounts, investor MIS packs, KPI dashboards and board-ready narrative commentary — delivered on schedule, every month.
Fundraising & Debt Advisory
Investor-grade financial models, pitch-deck financial story, data room preparation, due diligence support and lender negotiations for growth-stage UK businesses.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Annual planning cycles, rolling 3-year forecasts, scenario analysis and variance reporting that actually gets used in decision-making — not just filed away.
Finance Transformation
From spreadsheet chaos to structured finance function — process design, ERP selection support, month-end close acceleration and reporting automation.
Month-end Close & Controls
Closing calendar management, reconciliation oversight, financial controls design and audit preparation — so your numbers are always ready when you need them.
Why an India-based CA for a UK business?
It is a fair question — and one worth answering directly.
The ICAI CA qualification is among the most demanding professional accounting qualifications in the world. Pass rates consistently sit below 10% at the final level — lower than ACA, ACCA or CIMA. An Indian CA who has worked across multi-entity groups, foreign exchange, complex tax structures and regulatory compliance has typically been tested more rigorously than many UK counterparts.
BizFractional's founder, CA Harish Iyer, brings 25+ years of senior finance experience at global companies including Schlumberger, Weatherford, Shell and Equifax — managing portfolios exceeding $500M across 30+ countries. This is not generalist bookkeeping. It is CFO-level thinking, delivered in plain English.
- Same qualification rigour ICAI CA = one of the world's hardest accounting exams. IFRS reporting is core curriculum — not an add-on.
- IFRS-familiar All reporting delivered in IFRS-compliant framework. Comfortable with UK FRS 102 context for smaller entities.
- English is the working language All deliverables, calls, reports and communication are in clear, professional English — always.
- Built around your afternoon 1:30pm–5pm BST = prime UK afternoon hours, available live every weekday. Async available outside those windows.
- No IR35, no employment obligations Straightforward B2B engagement. No PAYE, no NI, no pension, no redundancy risk — clean and flexible.
- Battle-tested on complexity Indian SMEs routinely deal with multi-entity structures, trade finance, GST and forex — often more complex than comparable UK businesses.
You might be the ideal fit if…
This engagement works best for a specific type of UK business. If 3 or more of these describe you, we should talk.
- Your UK business turns over between £2M and £50M — established, but not yet at Group CFO scale
- You are a founder or managing director making financial decisions without a qualified finance partner
- You are growing fast — revenue is rising but margins, cash flow and controls have not kept pace
- You cannot justify (or do not want) a full-time Finance Director on the payroll right now
- You need more than a bookkeeper or accountant — you need someone who can challenge the business, not just record it
- Board or investor reporting is late, inconsistent or absent — and it is starting to cost you credibility
- You are planning a fundraise, acquisition or exit in the next 12–24 months and need your numbers in order
- You want a finance leader who speaks commercially, not just technically
Frequently asked questions
What does an outsourced CFO for a UK business actually do?
An outsourced CFO provides strategic financial leadership — board reporting, cash flow management, budgeting and forecasting, fundraising support and finance transformation — without the commitment of a full-time hire. For UK SMEs, this typically means a monthly retainer engagement with fixed weekly or fortnightly touchpoints via Zoom or Google Meet. The work product includes management accounts, cash flow models, investor reports, board packs and strategic financial analysis — all delivered to a professional standard, on time.
How much does an outsourced CFO cost compared to hiring a UK Finance Director?
A UK Finance Director or CFO typically costs £80,000–£180,000 in base salary. Add Employer National Insurance (13.8%), pension contributions (3–8%), benefits, bonus and recruitment fees, and the all-in annual cost reaches £110,000–£230,000+. BizFractional's outsourced CFO engagement is a fraction of that figure, with no employment obligations, no notice period risk, no pension contributions and no IR35 implications. You pay for the strategic finance leadership — nothing else.
Is a CA qualification from India equivalent to ACA, ACCA or CIMA in the UK?
Yes — in terms of rigour, an ICAI Chartered Accountant qualification is broadly equivalent to ACA (ICAEW), ACCA and CIMA. The ICAI final exam pass rate consistently sits below 10%, making it one of the most demanding professional qualifications in the world. The curriculum covers financial reporting (IFRS), audit and assurance, taxation, financial management and strategic decision-making. Many global organisations — including the Big Four in India — hire ICAI CAs for CFO and FD roles.
How does the timezone overlap work for UK clients?
BizFractional's working hours are structured around UK business hours. 6pm–9:30pm IST aligns with 1:30pm–5pm BST in summer (and 1:30pm–5pm GMT in winter). This gives UK clients live availability during their prime afternoon slot — Monday to Friday. Outside those hours, communication continues via email, WhatsApp and shared cloud dashboards. Most UK clients find the async-plus-afternoon-live model works better than they expected.
Reserve your 30-minute strategy call
Pick a time that works for you. All calls are conducted on Zoom or Google Meet. Times shown in your local timezone.
Prefer email or WhatsApp? advisor@bizfractional.com · WhatsApp
Trusted by CFOs, CEOs and Area Directors.
Senior leaders at Shell, Schlumberger, Weatherford and Equifax — people who worked with Harish in demanding international environments.
"Iraq delivered for the first time in 7 years a positive top line. Harish played an important part in that achievement — and was very resourceful in protecting and cleaning our balance sheet. I like to think you will not take a big risk in hiring Harish."
"I would work for, with or recruit him. He took the team from ok performers to top regional performers in 2016. Improved AR efficiency results was a material metric."
"Harish is not scared of asking the big WHY and always tries to find a LEAN approach. His experience working outside his home region shows how strong he is in international environments."
"He was a key player in the road to recovery. Harish’s key skill is his ability to work under pressure and decision making. He is diligent, hardworking and a great team player."
"He managed direct and indirect reports of over 40 covering Iraq and Turkmenistan. PIT tax reform in Iraq resulted in long-term savings in excess of $1M."
"Harish helped Iraq achieve their ambitious cost control targets by providing financial guidance to support our business decisions. A fantastic team player, result-oriented and a quick thinker."
Ready to bring on an outsourced CFO?
No long-term commitments. No employment overheads. Just senior financial leadership that shows up when you need it — and delivers.