Fractional CFO Services
FP&A, financial modelling, and investor-ready reporting from a part-time CFO. The financial discipline of a high-growth company — without the overhead.
Retained monthly engagements, scoped to your stage · typically 60-80% less than a full-time CFO
Who you would be working with
Chartered accountant and strategic finance leader. As Head of Strategic Finance at Dishoom she owned the five-year model, rolling forecasts and CapEx governance through a 6-to-27-site expansion, and held the company's cash together through COVID-19. She has supported founders through fundraising and investor due diligence.
- Led strategic finance at Dishoom through £35m to £165m revenue and a four-point EBITDA margin improvement
- Built and led a 20+ person finance function, owning Board and investor reporting
- Rolling forecasts accurate to ±3%, month-end close cut from 14 days to 8, and £6m in procurement and contract improvements
Led strategic finance at Dishoom through £35m → £165m
Why Hire a Fractional CFO?
Strategic finance and business strategy tailored to your startup's stage
Investor-Ready Financials
Financial models and reporting built to be tested, not admired.
Michelle owned Board and investor reporting at Dishoom
Extend Your Runway
Cash flow and burn under a forecast you can act on, months before the decision lands.
Rolling forecasts accurate to ±3% at Dishoom
Close Rounds Faster
A data room and a model that answer the questions before an investor has to ask them.
Series A closed on our models and data room (client, name withheld)
Board-Level Reporting
A close that lands on time, so the board pack is not assembled the night before.
Month-end close cut from 14 days to 8 at Dishoom
What We Do
What the seat covers: the plan, the systems that produce the numbers, and the discipline that keeps them true.
Ideal For
- 1
Startups preparing to raise
Need investor-ready financials and data room preparation
- 2
Founders needing financial discipline
Want to optimise runway and understand unit economics
- 3
Teams with board reporting needs
Need professional financial reporting for investors
Common Questions
What's the difference between FP&A and accounting?
Accountants handle historical compliance and bookkeeping. FP&A is forward-looking: financial modelling, forecasting, unit economics, pricing strategy, and investor communications. We provide strategic finance leadership, not bookkeeping.
How many hours per week do you typically work?
Engagements typically range from 8-16 hours per week, with flexibility to scale up during fundraising rounds or board meetings. We adapt to your specific needs and stage.
When should a startup invest in FP&A?
Ideal timing is when you're preparing to raise funding, need to optimise runway, or want to professionalise your financial operations. Typically pre-seed through Series A — and we stay on as you scale.
Can you help us prepare for due diligence?
Yes. We build the model, the data room and the supporting schedules, then work the questions an investor will actually ask against them. Michelle has been through investor due diligence from the inside, which is the fastest way to learn what it tests.
Can you help with fundraising?
Yes. Financial models, data rooms and due diligence materials, plus the investor conversations that run off them. What we will not do is put a number on your raise before we have seen your numbers.
Do we still need a bookkeeper or an accountant?
Yes, and we are not a replacement for either. A bookkeeper records what happened and an accountant files it. A Fractional CFO decides what to do next: pricing, hiring, runway, the shape of the raise. We work alongside whoever already does your compliance.
Can you work with the finance team we already have?
Yes. Michelle built and led a 20+ person finance function, so working through a team is the normal case rather than the exception. We set the reporting, the controls and the forecast rhythm, and your team runs them.
We are not raising. Is a Fractional CFO still worth it?
Often, yes. Fundraising is one use of the seat, not the point of it. Pricing, margin, month-end close, cash management, budgeting and Board reporting are the operational half, and they are what makes the next raise straightforward when it comes.
What does the first month look like?
We start with what exists: the numbers, how they are produced, and where they are argued about. From that comes a working model, an agreed reporting pack, and a short list of the decisions that need a number attached to them. No 90-day discovery phase.
Can you help us hire a permanent finance lead?
Yes. Part of the job is making the seat unnecessary: defining the role, sitting in on interviews, and handing over a function that runs without us. The same applies on the technical side with the Fractional CTO.
New to strategic finance? Read The Complete Guide to Fractional CFO Services. Weighing this against a permanent hire or an outsourced provider? Compare fractional vs full-time CFO and fractional CFO vs outsourced finance. Not sure when you'll need to raise? Try our free Startup Runway Calculator — or read our financial modelling guide.
Financial Leadership
Ready for a Fractional CFO?
Request a free 30-minute call. No sales pitch, and we'll say so if a fractional CFO isn't what you need.
Request a Strategy Call