A part-time (or fractional) Finance Director for SME manufacturers who need senior finance input but not a full-time hire: monthly reporting, cash, forecasting, pricing and cost control, led by a manufacturing finance specialist.
Many manufacturers with 20–150 staff have a good bookkeeper and an external accountant, but no one who owns the numbers looking forward. A part-time FD fills that gap, and brings a specialist eye on the costs and margins that decide your profit.
From early 2027 we will work with manufacturers across North Wales, Cheshire and the North West, on site and remotely, and with businesses elsewhere in the UK remotely.
The question we answer: Are the numbers telling us what we need to know, in time to act?
Is it right for you?
A part-time FD is usually a good fit when:
- You've outgrown bookkeeping and year-end accounts, but can't justify a full-time FD
- Management accounts arrive late or don't show which products and customers make money
- Cash is tighter than the profit figure suggests
- Margins are under pressure from material, energy or labour costs
- The bank, investors or the board want better forecasts
What's included in our fractional FD options
| Option | What's included | Planned fee |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials around 2 days a month | Monthly management accounts review and commentary, cash flow forecast, KPI pack, monthly review meeting | From £2,000 / month |
| Core around 4 days a month | Essentials, plus a 12-month rolling forecast, product and customer margin reporting, pricing support, budget preparation and leadership or board meetings | Around £3,500 / month |
| Extended around 6 days a month | Core, plus bank and funder relationships, investment and capex appraisal, and support with finance systems or team hires | Up to £5,000 / month |
Fees are planned fees for engagements starting early 2027. Every option includes phone and email support between visits, with a mix of on-site and remote days to suit you.
Who you'll work with
You work directly with CostVantage's founder, a qualified management accountant with 10+ years' finance experience, much of it in manufacturing. That experience covers both ends of the role:
- SME cash discipline. Running finance in an SME manufacturer through real cash-flow pressure, where every payment run and customer payment mattered.
- Senior-level reporting and challenge. Producing and presenting the financial position of a major programme to the leadership of a large engineering manufacturer, with recommendations on where to act.
A part-time FD from CostVantage brings both: the practical cash focus a growing manufacturer needs, and the reporting, forecasting and challenge you'd expect at board level.
Where cost work comes in
Because CostVantage specialises in manufacturing costs, the part-time FD role often shows where a focused project would pay back. When it does, we'll recommend a fixed-fee Cost Base Diagnostic, Cost Rebaseline or Cost Improvement Programme, with the expected saving set against the fee. The ongoing role then keeps the savings in place: the Control stage of the CostVantage approach.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a part-time FD cost?
Planned fees for engagements from early 2027 are typically £2k–£5k a month, depending on the number of days agreed. Essentials is around 2 days a month, Core around 4 days and Extended around 6 days.
How many days a month will we need?
Most SME manufacturers start with 2–4 days a month. We agree the level after a first conversation about your reporting, cash and plans, and it can change as your needs change.
Does this replace our accountant or bookkeeper?
No. Your bookkeeper and external accountant keep looking after transactions, year-end and tax. A part-time FD adds the forward-looking work: reporting, forecasting, pricing, cash and cost control.
What is the difference between a part-time FD and a fractional FD?
Nothing in practice. Both mean an experienced Finance Director working for your business for a set number of days a month, rather than as a full-time employee.
How is this different from a full-time Finance Director?
You get senior finance leadership for the days you need, at a fraction of the cost of a permanent senior hire, with a specialist focus on manufacturing costs and margins.
What if we find cost savings worth pursuing?
Where the numbers show a clear opportunity, we can recommend a fixed-fee Cost Base Diagnostic, Cost Rebaseline or Cost Improvement Programme. You decide whether to go ahead.
Is there a minimum term?
An initial three months, so there is time to put reporting and forecasting on a firm footing. After that it rolls monthly with one month's notice.
Talk it through first.
A short, confidential, no-obligation conversation is the best way to see whether a part-time FD is right for your business, and how many days you'd need.
Register Interest →