There’s been a quiet shift in how startups approach finance. Gone are the days when hiring a full-time CFO was the only way to get strategic finance support.

Today, many early-stage founders are turning to Fractional CFOs and for good reason.

If you’re not sure what that means, or you’ve wondered what a day in the life of a Fractional CFO actually looks like, this blog post is for you.

Whether you’re a startup founder wondering if you need one, or an experienced finance professional considering the leap, here’s what you need to know.

What is a Fractional CFO?

A Fractional CFO is a senior finance professional who works with multiple clients on a part-time, project-based, or retainer basis.

They bring high-level strategic finance skills to early-stage or scaling businesses, without the full-time salary or headcount overhead.

In practice, they help founders get their numbers investor-ready, make better financial decisions, and put the systems in place to support growth.

It’s like having a finance director and strategic sounding board rolled into one but only for the days or months founders need them.

I personally started working as a Fractional CFO back in September 2019.  Aside from the fact that it wasn't the best time to start a business (just before COVID!), but I wanted to switch for 2 main reasons.

1. I wanted flexibility.  Being a parent, I liked the idea of being in charge of my own time.
2. I enjoy the early stage of the startup journey.  With the experience I had accumulated, I could have taken a full-time role at a scaleup post Series C+ but I really enjoy the chaos of early stage.  These sized businesses don't need a full-time CFO, so Fractional fit perfectly here.

Why Startups Are Hiring Fractional CFOs

Startups move fast and can be really disorganised. They don’t always need a full-time CFO, but they do need someone who can help them:

• Get a handle on cashflow and runway

• Build a budget (and make sure the numbers actually mean something)

• Help with fundraising (debt or equity)

• Set up clean, scalable finance processes

• Translate messy numbers into something the board and investors can trust

A founder might still have a bookkeeper or a junior finance manager in place but without strategic oversight, things get messy. A Fractional CFO steps in to fill that gap.

And because they work across multiple businesses, they bring a fresh perspective, commercial insight, and experience solving the same problems in other startups. That external view can be invaluable.

A Day in the Life of a Fractional CFO

Every day is different but here’s what a typical day might look like:

9:00 – Review the numbers

First thing is usually checking in on live client dashboards, cashflow updates, burn rate, revenue targets vs actuals. Is anything urgent? Going through the inbox and messages.

10:00 – Calls with founders

This could be a weekly check-in, a quick call to walk through the latest financial model, or helping prep for a board meeting. Founders don’t want fluff, they want straight answers and actionable next steps.

And most don’t have time to translate accounting speak, so you have to be commercial.

It's worth saying that all founders are very different.  Some want you to take full ownership, others want all the details.  The trick is to work out how to work with each individual.

11:30 – Problem-solving and planning

Maybe one client is preparing for Series A and you need to review their deck, tighten up KPIs, rework the model, and making sure due diligence won’t throw up red flags. Another client might be rolling out a new P2P process to control spend and you're making sure their tech stack and workflows can handle it.

13:00 – Lunch (sometimes at my desk, sometimes a walk in the park)

Let’s be honest, some days you’re back-to-back. Lunch is often whatever I can grab between meetings.  However, I do have time blocked for my lunch and try to get outside mose days.

13:30 – Team support

I might hop on with a client’s junior finance manager, someone in my team or bookkeeper to help them troubleshoot month end or teach them how to do something better. Building internal capability is part of the job and I enjoy mentoring rising finance leaders.

15:00 – Strategic thinking time or Sales & Marketing

This is when I put my head down and map out longer-term plans: 12-month cashflow forecasts, team planning, financial process reviews, or pricing model tweaks. It’s about staying one step ahead.

Part of the role is also Sales and Marketing.  As I run my own company, the Fractional team that works with me doesn't do any Sales & Marketing.  That's my responsibility.  So I can easily spend up to 2 hours a day working on new clients for my Fractional team.  I have a bigger team, so if you're solo - less time would be required.

17:00 – Emails, wrap-up, prep for tomorrow

The final hour is usually clearing my inbox, sending summaries, or prepping slides for client meetings the next day.

Is Being a Fractional CFO Right for You?

If you’re a senior finance professional thinking about stepping out of corporate, this role can be incredibly rewarding but it’s not for everyone.

You need to be:

• Comfortable switching between industries and business models

• Confident managing time across multiple clients

• Commercial and strategic (not just technical)

• Proactive and calm under pressure as startups can be chaotic

• Spend time selling and marketing yourself

The good news? You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know how to find the answer quickly, communicate it clearly, and move the needle for your clients.

Tips for Getting Started

If you’re thinking about becoming a Fractional CFO:

• Make sure you have enough experience: Founders don't want to upskill you.  They want someone who has done it before and can implement their skills and experience quickly.

• Start with one client: Don’t quit your job until you’ve secured your first project.

• Lean on your network: Let people know you’re available. Coffee chats still work.

• Decide your model: Retainers? Project work? A mix?

• Know your value: You’re not billing for your time, you’re charging for your impact.

Fractional CFOs are no longer a backup plan.  They’re a smart, flexible way to bring strategic finance into the business early, without over-investing too soon. And for finance professionals who want variety, autonomy, and the chance to make a real difference, it’s one of the most rewarding career moves you can make.

Want to become a confident, strategic finance leader in a startup within the next 12 months? 

Here’s your plan:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly practical tips and real talk about startup finance leadership.
2. Read my book Financial Leadership Fundamentals to get clear on what’s expected of you and how to show up as a leader.
3. Join the Financial Leadership Fundamentals course to fast-track your growth with structure, support, and strategy that works in the real world.