Cash flow
- Deliverables
- A forecast with documented assumptions and variance monitoring.
- Decisions it supports
- See upcoming obligations and decide on spending.
Part-time CFO
A part-time CFO, also known as a fractional CFO, is a finance director who supports an SME on a recurring basis without a full-time position.
At Iter, 1–8 days per month is an indicative observed volume, not a guaranteed attendance schedule or package of days. Scope and availability are agreed in the quote. Part-time support is recurring; an interim assignment is temporary.
An initial conversation to understand your situation and next steps.
When should you choose a part-time CFO?
Part-time work is the recurring arrangement for a Fractional CFO. It combines a senior finance contact, agreed work and decision-making reviews. The level of support depends on the issues to address, data quality and skills already in the team.
- The business leader assembles the figures before every decision.
- Accounting records are available, but forecasts and reporting remain irregular.
- Growth, investors or multiple entities make financial management more complex.
What a part-time CFO does
The scope is chosen from these responsibilities during scoping, then adjusted as your priorities change.
- Financial management and dashboards
- Monthly reporting on results, margins, cash and the indicators that matter to your business, with variance analysis against budget.
- Cash
- A 13-week cash forecast, monitoring of receipts and payment deadlines, and preparation of spending decisions.
- Budget and forecasts
- The budgeting process, revenue, cost and hiring scenarios, and a 3-to-5-year business plan when the situation calls for it.
- Organising the finance function
- Closing calendar with the accounting firm, tools, controls and approval workflows. The CFO structures this work; they do not keep the books.
- Funding and banking relationships
- Bank files, non-dilutive debt, fundraising preparation and investor reporting.
- Governance and transactions
- Preparing committees and board meetings; for more advanced companies, M&A and due diligence.
Part-time CFO or fractional CFO: the same role?
Yes. "Part-time CFO" and "fractional CFO" describe the same role; French SMEs usually say "DAF to temps partagé". All three refer to a senior finance director who supports several companies, each on a recurring basis.
The engagement is the same: structure the finance function, manage cash and prepare decisions. An interim CFO, by contrast, covers a temporary replacement or transformation mandate.
Part-time CFO deliverables for financial management
Deliverables are agreed during scoping, according to your priorities and available data.
Management reporting
- Deliverables
- A dashboard of results, margins and indicators relevant to your business.
- Decisions it supports
- Understand what is changing and why.
Budget and decisions
- Deliverables
- Revenue, expense and recruitment scenarios documented with the teams.
- Decisions it supports
- Compare options before committing.
A documented engagement: Opti Digital
Structured finance function and non-dilutive financing
ERP migration and structuring of the finance function. Support on complex tax and legal matters in conjunction with external advisers. Non-dilutive financing obtained. Participation in strategic decisions, including constructively challenging management's assumptions.
Build a reliable finance function and closing process while migrating the ERP, without diluting the founders to fund growth.
Read the case and its scopeA calendar to prepare decisions
| Review | Prepared work | Decision to support |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly, where needed | Collections, payments and overdue invoices | Prioritize payments and collection follow-ups |
| After the monthly close | Results, reconciliations and budget variances | Understand variances and update assumptions |
| Review with management | Cash flow, expense and recruitment scenarios | Decide on a hire or investment |
| An exceptional deadline | Scenarios and bank or investor documentation | Assess financing terms |
This calendar is illustrative. Reviews, work and availability are agreed during scoping. Each review ends with a decision, an owner and a deadline, followed up at the next review.
How does a part-time CFO work?
1. Agree priorities
Identify upcoming decisions, contacts and sources: trial balances, general ledgers, bank statements, outstanding invoices, financing agreements and the budget. Agree access, approval steps and the calendar with the accounting firm.
2. Set up financial management
Reconcile data and document missing information. Where needed, prepare a 13-week cash flow forecast, results analysis and exception monitoring. Setup timing cannot be guaranteed before reviewing the data.
3. Monitor and adjust
Analyse variances, prepare decisions and review the scope as your situation changes.
A leadership role coordinated with your team
The CFO works with the business leader, operational managers and the accounting firm. The CFO organises financial management; daily tasks and decisions have explicitly assigned owners. A need for permanent presence calls for a different arrangement.
The business leader sets priorities and approves commitments. The CFO builds scenarios and analyses variances. The accounting firm prepares accounts under its engagement terms; operational managers explain orders, inventory and deadlines. Signing authority or bank access does not automatically follow from the engagement.
Fundraising, an acquisition or a major transformation may require additional work. Included deliverables, cover for absences and handling urgent requests are specified in the contract.
How this fits within a Fractional CFO engagementWhat a part-time CFO does not do
- They do not replace your accounting firm.
- The firm prepares the accounts and filings under its engagement letter. The CFO organises financial management, uses this information and coordinates the calendar; they do not post entries.
- They are not on site continuously.
- Work is scheduled and availability is agreed during scoping. A need for daily presence calls for a hire or an interim engagement.
- They do not run day-to-day operations.
- Customer follow-ups, invoice entry and payroll stay with your teams or providers. The CFO structures and controls them.
How much does a part-time CFO cost in 2026?
At Iter, recurring engagements range from €3,000 to €8,000 excluding VAT per month, depending on scope and the profile assigned. Day volumes are observed averages, not packages: the proposal covers a scope of work.
| Plan | Monthly budget excl. VAT | Average observed volume | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | €3,000 to €5,000 | 1 to 2 days per month | Monthly P&L, cash and KPI reporting, 13-week cash forecast, monthly finance review with the business leader, ad hoc support. |
| Growth | €5,000 to €6,500 | 3 to 5 days per month | Essential scope, plus a 3-to-5-year business plan, fundraising, non-dilutive debt, post-raise structuring and investor reporting. |
| Premium | €6,500 to €8,000 | 5 to 8 days per month | Growth scope, plus M&A and due diligence, board and governance, international expansion, finance data and BI. |
Start times and commitment
Your request is qualified within 2 working days, a profile is presented within 5 working days and the engagement starts 8 to 15 days after the first conversation. The first deliverables arrive in the first month of work.
Duration and handover terms are agreed in the contract.
Scope and quotation for a part-time CFO
Recurring Iter engagements range from €3,000 to €8,000 excluding VAT per month. The observed 1 to 8 days per month are indicative, not a contractual package: the proposal defines the scope and assigned profile. Detailed pricing helps you assess your needs.
View CFO pricingFrequently asked questions: Part-time CFO
What is a part-time CFO?
A part-time CFO supports an SME on a recurring basis without being employed by that client. Iter’s indicative volume is 1–8 days per month. The contract defines scope and availability, rather than a credit of days.
How many days per month?
At Iter, the observed volume ranges from 1 to 8 days per month. This is indicative, not a package or credit of days; scope and availability are agreed in the quote.
Part-time CFO or interim CFO?
Part-time support meets recurring needs with agreed availability. Interim support addresses a temporary replacement or transformation assignment, with an agreed exit and handover.
How does this relate to a Fractional CFO?
Fractional CFO describes finance leadership provided outside a salaried role. Part-time work is its recurring arrangement, with planned interventions. An interim CFO addresses a temporary need for continuity or transformation.
Do we need to change accountants?
Not necessarily. Scoping identifies the accounting firm’s work, expected data and the CFO’s role. Clear coordination avoids duplication.
Can we hire a CFO afterwards?
Yes. The engagement can prepare the handover of tools, assumptions and calendars to an internal hire. Handover needs to be included in the scope.
What commitment is required?
Services and changes to scope are recorded in the contract.
Useful resources
Which decision or deadline are you preparing for?
Describe your needs, current organisation and calendar. We will identify useful work together.
Describe my needs