Insights

Fast growth forces financial leadership decisions earlier than many SME owners plan for. As transaction volumes increase and decisions carry greater financial consequence, founders often reach a point where informal oversight no longer provides enough control.

The question is not if financial leadership is needed. The real decision is if a part time fd is the right model for the stage the business is entering. In practical terms, a part-time finance director provides senior financial leadership on a flexible basis, without the commitment of a full-time executive role. That decision depends on how the business is changing as it grows, not on size or revenue alone.

Why do fast-growing SMEs reach the part-time FD question sooner than expected?

Growth increases the volume of decisions that rely on financial judgement. Pricing, hiring, and funding choices begin to overlap, and founders can no longer manage every assumption without slowing decisions.

From the outside, the business often looks strong. Revenue grows and demand holds. Internally, decisions slow, forecasts arrive too late, and financial discussions lose their planning focus.

At this point, owners start to consider if a part time fd could provide the level of financial leadership the business now needs, before delays or decision fatigue become persistent.

Fast-growing SMEs also tend to encounter greater scrutiny from lenders, investors, and other stakeholders at this point. Funding discussions often require clear management accounts and cash flow forecasts, along with explanations of how growth plans affect financial risk. When this information arrives late or lacks structure, external conversations slow and confidence reduces.

A part time fd helps prepare the business for these discussions by taking ownership of the quality and timing of financial information. This includes structuring forecasts, testing assumptions, and helping leaders explain performance and plans clearly. As a result, funding conversations focus on affordability and opportunity rather than uncertainty.

What is a part-time FD designed to solve, and where does it fall short?

The model of having a part-time financial director works best when the business needs senior judgement and decision support, not additional day-to-day processing capacity. A part-time FD supports planning, challenges assumptions, and helps leaders understand the financial impact of their decisions before those decisions are locked in.

It does not replace operational finance teams or transactional processing. Basic financial hygiene still matters. When expectations do not align, the arrangement can feel ineffective even when the capability remains strong.

Explore if part-time financial leadership fits your situation

If you are weighing if a part-time FD aligns with where your business is right now, a short conversation can help clarify fit and timing. You can arrange a chat with one of our experienced Finance Directors to discuss your current challenges and assess whether part-time financial leadership supports your next stage.

When is a part-time FD not the right choice?

A part time fd is not the right solution in every situation.

If the business lacks basic financial data, systems, or discipline, senior leadership alone will not resolve the problem. In those cases, the priority is often strengthening operational finance capability before introducing higher-level oversight.

Similarly, where growth has slowed or uncertainty dominates future plans, businesses may need stability and execution rather than strategic financial leadership. In these scenarios, a part-time FD can add complexity and reduce decision clarity.

What changes once the right financial leadership is in place?

When a part time fd fits the stage of the business, leaders see changes over the following months.

Decision cycles shorten because leaders see the financial implications earlier. Planning discussions shift from short-term correction to forward-looking control. Leaders spend less time defending decisions.

These changes do not eliminate risk. They help the business manage risk with greater consistency as growth continues.

As growth accelerates, annual budgets alone rarely provide enough insight to guide decisions. Many fast-growing SMEs benefit from adopting a regular forecasting rhythm that supports short-term control while informing longer-term planning.

A common approach pairs a rolling short-term cash forecast with a forward-looking monthly view. The short-term forecast highlights near-term pressure points, while the longer view supports hiring and funding decisions. A part time fd aids leaders interpret these forecasts and act on them rather than treating them as reporting outputs.

Is a part-time FD or a full-time FD the right choice at this stage?

Choosing between a part time fd and a full-time appointment comes down to timing.

Many fast-growing SMEs require senior financial leadership before the workload justifies a permanent role. A part-time model allows the business to access experience proportionate to current needs while retaining flexibility as the organisation evolves.

Over time, some businesses move to a full-time FD as complexity and scale increase. Others continue with part-time support because it remains appropriate for their operating model.

As businesses grow, informal controls that worked earlier often become unreliable. Reporting consistency, approval processes, and risk oversight need to adapt without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.

A part time fd supports proportionate financial controls that protect decision quality as complexity increases. This includes clearer reporting standards, defined approval thresholds, and regular review of financial risk. These controls support growth by ensuring decisions rely on consistent information and agreed processes.

How should fast-growing SMEs decide on financial leadership?

Financial leadership decisions shape how a business plans and controls its next phase of growth.

A part time fd can be the right choice when the business needs better financial judgement and earlier visibility but does not yet require a full-time executive appointment.

The aim is to choose a leadership model that supports sustainable growth and allows the business to make confident decisions as complexity increases.

Talk through your next stage with an experienced Finance Director

Choosing the right financial leadership model is a strategic decision. If you want to explore how part-time financial leadership could support clearer decision-making, better forecasting, and stronger operational control, you can arrange a chat with an experienced Finance Director. It is a practical, no-pressure discussion focused on your business, your priorities, and what comes next.