The New Era of Fractional Finance Talent

Professional services group Cooper Parry, which acquired Hutcheon Mearns last year, says that start-ups and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are often seeking a fractional CFO to work with them on a part-time, flexible basis to provide strategic financial leadership, without the cost or commitment of a full-time employee.

Cooper Parry says it is ideally positioned to help firms fill these roles through its Fractional Finance Support service which combines the strength of employed high-calibre finance leaders with the flexibility of a trusted external contractor network. This gives clients access to the right expertise at the right time.

That support often comes into its own during periods of change. Cooper Parry recently worked with a growing SME going through a change in ownership, where it became clear the business would benefit from stronger finance leadership. A Fractional CFO came in to take a step back and review how everything was set up - from the finance operating model through to reporting and management information - before helping put in place a simple, practical plan to improve visibility, support better decision-making and strengthen the overall finance function.

Cooper Parry also offers a blended delivery model through a combination of in-house specialists and an external contractor network to ensure both quality and scalability; integrated advisory support; a recruitment and delivery ecosystem and proven expertise in complex environments.

Andrew explains that the market for fractional CFO services is expanding at

over 10 per cent annually. He comments: “Over the last 12 to 18 months we’ve seen frequent requests for senior finance talent, from controller level up to CFO, where businesses want expertise at a price that works for them. It’s been a real growth area across the UK.

He adds “Our in-house CFOs and strategic finance specialists - trained in Big Four and mid-tier environments - provide continuity and commercially focused delivery, embedded within the client’s business. Alongside that, our curated contractor network gives us the flexibility to bring in niche skills or additional capacity at pace.”

That ability to move quickly can be critical in transaction scenarios. In one recent case, Cooper Parry was brought in during the final stages of a deal, where a Big Four M&A team needed experienced CFO support at short notice.

A Fractional CFO stepped in to support diligence, work closely with buyers and help guide the business through to a successful private equity transaction. Following completion, they stayed on as the permanent CFO to support the next phase of growth.

According to Andrew, in the context of Cooper Parry, a fractional CFO goes beyond traditional advisory, delivering hands-on, commercially focused support across areas such as growth strategy, cashflow and performance management, funding, and transaction readiness.

“These individuals embed into the business as part of the leadership team, bringing clarity, control and strategic direction, while also leveraging the wider Cooper Parry platform across Deals, Tax, Digital, and Wealth.”

As well as start-ups and growing SMEs, businesses that benefit most from fractional finance support include:

· PE-backed and investor-led companies where there is a need for professionalisation, reporting and value creation

· Founder-led firms where commercial decision-making needs to be supported by experienced financial leadership

· Businesses in transition, including mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, systems change or restructuring

· Established organisations needing interim leadership, additional bandwidth, or specialist expertise

Andrew explains: “It’s less about the size of a business alone and more about complexity, ambition and change where access to high-quality, flexible finance leadership can unlock growth and improve performance.

Ultimately, he says, the appeal is clear: “A fractional CFO gives businesses access to senior, strategic finance expertise on demand, with immediate impact, broader experience and without the long-term commitment of a permanent hire.”

Cooper Parry is now rolling out its CFO Advisory service nationally, with plans to expand beyond Scotland into hubs across England and Northern Ireland. Looking ahead, Andrew believes the model will only become more central: “We see fractional CFO support evolving from flexible resourcing into a core operating model for finance leadership - with AI increasingly playing a role as an enabler, although that’s probably a conversation for another day.”

Discover more – visit the Cooper Parry website here