Welcome to Butt Miller, your outsourced finance director
If your business is planning the next stage of growth or facing challenges, we can offer valuable, executive-level support.
Our experienced outsourced finance directors provide strategic leadership, risk management, and forecasting on a part-time or contract basis, based on your business’s growth stage.
For ambitious SMEs, this is a practical, cost-effective way to get the strategic guidance you need, without the cost of an in-house FD.
Get in touch to discuss how we can help reach your business goals
What does an outsourced FD do?
Butt Miller’s outsourced FDs help SMEs move from reactive financial management to a more controlled, commercially focused position. We can provide an unbiased perspective on your business’s financial health, helping to identify operational gaps and risks that may not be evident to your in-house team.
Work often starts with improving accounting systems and establishing regular reporting, so the board has reliable financial data to work from. From there, focus shifts depending on the specific challenges and goals of the businesses, e.g., cash flow forecasting, capital allocation, improving profitability, or growth modelling.
Day-to-day, your outsourced FD can act as a valuable strategic adviser to the board, helping to guide decisions throughout the life of the business, including a potential sale or exit.
What type of business can benefit from an outsourced finance director?
Many businesses can benefit from outsourced finance director support, but it is particularly valuable where the company has outgrown its current financial controls.
1. Growing companies
Growth can often put pressure on cash flow before it improves profit. A company may be winning more work, taking on staff or investing in stock, systems and premises, while payment is still weeks or months away.
An outsourced FD can help forecast the cash impact of growth, review working capital, assess margins, and ensure the business is scaling on sound financial foundations.
2. Businesses with limited financial visibility
Some businesses are working hard but do not have a clear view of what is driving performance. In our experience, this is often because reports are too historic, too basic or too focused on compliance.
Your outsourced FD can review your numbers objectively, identify operational gaps and risks, improve reporting and recommend practical changes to accounting systems, controls and processes.
3. Businesses preparing for change
Businesses preparing for acquisition, investment, restructuring, succession or exit need reliable forecasts, clear financial evidence and robust risk management.
An outsourced FD can support due diligence, model the financial impact of key decisions and help the leadership team understand whether the opportunity is commercially sound.
Looking for a Part-time Financial Director?
For thousands of ambitious business owners, an outsourced part-time Finance Director is a cost-effective way to drive long-term business success. Butt Miller’s outsourced FD services give you access to a high level of financial expertise without the expense of a full-time executive.
The benefits of an outsourced finance director
| Clearer financial reporting | Stronger strategic direction | Better cash flow control |
|---|---|---|
| Timely, relevant information on performance, cash flow, margins and emerging issues. | Financial management to support growth plans, investment decisions, pricing, risk and long-term business objectives. | Forecasting, debtor management and payment planning to ensure cash is available when needed. |
| Improved financial processes | Practical performance improvement | Flexible senior expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Streamlined systems, reporting routines and internal controls to improve accuracy. | Regular review meetings to turn financial insight into clear action plans with distinct KPIs. | Experienced, board-level financial leadership without the cost of a full-time appointment. |
Our outsourced FD services for SMEs
Butt Miller’s strong financial leadership can give your business the clarity to move through change, seize new opportunities and make decisions with confidence.
Here are some of the ways we can make a lasting impact:
Financial management and compliance
As your outsourced finance director, we review how your financial operations are working in practice, from bookkeeping and management accounts to payroll and internal controls. Our in-depth knowledge of financial and tax regulations can enhance regulatory compliance, helping reduce the risk of errors, penalties, reputational damage, and missed deadlines.
Financial reporting to support decision-making
Financial reporting should help the board understand what is driving performance, where profit is being made, where cash is being absorbed and what needs attention. We review and develop management accounts so they become useful board-level documents, with the right analysis, commentary and key performance indicators.
Financial strategy and forecasting
A finance director should help shape the strategy behind the numbers. Our outsourced FD services connect financial planning with commercial objectives, helping you assess what is realistic, affordable and commercially sound. This may include modelling cash flow, revenue targets and multi-year growth scenarios.
Cash flow management
Cash flow is often where financial management is tested. Profit may look healthy, but late invoicing, weak credit control, supplier terms, overhead creep or rapid growth can quickly create pressure. We prepare and review cash flow forecasts, monitor debtor performance and assess working capital needs so the board can see what the figures mean in practical terms.
Board-level support
Our outsourced finance director support gives your leadership team senior financial expertise without the cost of a full-time appointment. We can attend board meetings, prepare financial packs, present performance updates, explain risks and opportunities and support the managing director with difficult decisions. We can also work alongside solicitors, lenders, tax advisers, investors and auditors where needed.
Outsourced FD support in action
When EIS, an IT consultancy business, needed stronger financial direction, Butt Miller stepped in. We provided part-time FD support focused on forecasting, management reporting and commercial planning. The result? Sharper financial oversight, a practical action plan and improved performance.
Read the full EIS case study to see how outsourced FD support can help a growing business make better-informed decisions.
Why choose Butt Miller as your outsourced finance director?
At Butt Miller, we have decades of experience providing outsourced FD services to satisfied clients, with a demonstrable track record of success. We proudly work with businesses of all sizes, including established businesses, SMEs and limited companies across various industries.
We combine strategic financial advice with hands-on commercial experience to help business owners understand what the figures mean, what risks need attention and where opportunities exist.
Our outsourced FD services are practical, proactive and tailored to your business, giving you access to senior financial expertise without the cost and commitment of a full-time finance director.
If you’re looking to alleviate your financial stress and focus on growing your business, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions about our outsourced finance director services
When is the best time to employ outsourced FD services?
A finance director can add value to your business at any time. However, our services are particularly valuable if your business:
- Is experiencing rapid growth
- Is facing financial risk, such as increased operating costs and cash flow problems
- Seeks to improve financial performance
- Requires help with financial decision-making
- Looking to raise additional finance
Will an outsourced finance director act the same as a full-time finance director?
An outsourced finance director can provide the same services and expertise as a full-time finance director, but typically on a remote, part-time basis. At Butt Miller, we can be flexible and are geared up to work around your needs at times that suit you.
Can an outsourced finance director work alongside my existing finance team?
They don’t replace your existing (internal or outsourced) finance function. They can continue to handle all the core services, while the FD provides oversight, structure, and board-level interpretation. This is particularly useful where the finance team is capable but stretched, or where the managing director needs more strategic support than the current team can provide.
How often can an outsourced FD work with us?
An outsourced FD typically works for your business for a set period of time. How long depends on the size, complexity and stage of your business.
Some businesses need monthly support, including management accounts, cash flow forecasting, board reporting and action planning. Others might need more frequent input if they are entering a period of change, such as expansion, refinancing, acquisition or restructuring.
We will agree the right rhythm with you at the outset. The aim is not to create unnecessary meetings, but to provide the support you need, when you need it and where it will have the most impact.
Is it more cost-effective to outsource a finance director than to employ in-house?
Outsourced finance directors can provide the same level of expertise and strategic guidance as in-house finance directors but at a fraction of the cost, making them an attractive option for SMEs. It is an extremely cost-effective way to access a senior finance professional without the cost of a permanent hire.
