The Smart Alternative to FD Hire
Exploring Your Options for Senior Finance Capability
Most businesses with a turnover of £2M-£10M consider hiring a Finance Director. It’s a natural step. Before committing to £160K+ employment (salary plus on-costs), consider whether fractional Financial Managers and Controllers embedded 2-3 days per week might serve you better at this stage
What outcomes are you seeking?
When businesses consider hiring a Finance Director, they’re usually looking for specific outcomes:
- Monthly visibility of performance
- Cash flow forecasts that work
- Operational controls that scale
- Time back from financial admin
- Confidence in the numbers
These are operational capabilities. And operational excellence often delivers these outcomes more efficiently than senior strategic hiring at this stage.
The Natural Instinct vs The Actual Need
The Hiring Reflex Says:
“We’ve grown, we need an FD”
“Proper businesses have Finance Directors”
“It’s the logical next step”
Have you considered:
- Do you need strategy or do you need monthly clarity first?
- Would operational excellence reveal the strategic path?
- Could £40-60k deliver more than £160k+ employment?
- Might clarity and control come before leadership?
Many businesses discover that operational excellence provides the platform for everything else. Once you have monthly visibility, cash flow control, and efficient processes, strategic decisions often become obvious.
The Foundations That Change Everything:
Monthly visibility of performance
Management accounts within 5-10 days of month-end, showing profitability by product, service and customer
Cash flow forecasts that work
13-week rolling forecasts updated weekly, plus credit control that improves cash position by £50k-£120k
Operational controls that scale
Systems and processes that grow with you, from £1.5M to £10M+ without breaking
Time back from financial admin
Automated workflows and efficient processes that return 10+ hours weekly to leadership
Confidence in the numbers
Accurate, timely information you can trust, with 100+ specialists backing every number
Building the Foundation First
Monthly clarity, cash control, and efficient processes create the platform for everything else. With these operational capabilities in place, you’ll understand your strategic finance needs clearly—and be ready to act on them.
Whether you continue with fractional Financial Managers and Controllers or move toward senior hiring, you’ll make that choice from a position of operational strength rather than operational pressure.
And we deliver all of this at typically 40% of FD employment cost.
The Full Picture: Employment vs Flexible Expertise
Traditional FD Employment:
- £120-165k salary plus 30% costs
- 3-6 month recruitment time
- Single person dependency
- Fixed cost regardless of needs
- Risk if wrong fit
Flexible Financial Expertise (YRH):
- 100+ specialists available
- Start within 2-3 weeks
- Scale to match needs
- Pay for what you use
- Minimal risk, maximum flexibility
Client Experiences
Supporting an Existing FD:
A technology company’s FD partnered with YRH to handle operational finance, freeing them to lead a successful acquisition.
Alternative to Hiring:
Manufacturing business chose YRH over FD hire. Achieved 10-fold growth with operational excellence at fraction of FD cost.
Interim That Became Permanent:
Retail group used YRH during FD recruitment. Results were so strong they maintained the flexible model.
How Different Decision-Makers Benefit
For FDs/CFOs Reading This:
We understand you might be exploring options for your own team. Many FDs work with us to:
- Handle operational overload
- Add specialist expertise
- Cover during busy periods
- Implement specific projects
For CEOs/MDs:
Whether you have an FD or are considering hiring, we help youunderstand all options and make the best choice for your situation.
Making the right choice
Consider these factors:
- What capabilities do you actually need?
- Is flexibility or permanence more valuable?
- What’s the real total cost comparison?
- How quickly do you need results?
- What risks can you accept?
Common Outcomes
Businesses exploring alternatives typically find:
Operational needs can be met flexibly
12-18% profit improvements fund the service
£50k-£120k cash flow enhancements
More expertise than one person provides
Flexibility to scale with needs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this work alongside our existing FD?
Absolutely. Many FDs partner with us for operational support, specialist projects, or additional bandwidth. We complement rather than compete.
Is this just a temporary solution?
Not at all. While we handle interim needs brilliantly, most clients continue long-term because the model delivers ongoing value. Average relationships exceed 4 years.
How does cost really compare?
Full FD employment typically costs £160-215k annually. Our services range from £2-6k monthly depending on needs – often 40% of employment cost with broader expertise.
What if we need strategic input?
Our senior team members provide commercial thinking and planning support. Many businesses find operational excellence reveals strategic clarity.
Your Next Step
Before making any commitment to traditional employment, explore whether flexible expertise might better serve your needs.