FRACTIONAL CFO EXPERTISE
The CFO for growing SMEs, owner-managed businesses and boards.
BOB EVANS, FOUNDER OF INSIGHT-FD
Driving stronger cash flow, sharper profitability and clear financial visibility for £1m to £10m UK businesses, backed by 40 years of board-level experience and scaled to what your business needs.
WHY PARTNER WITH A FRACTIONAL CFO?
Senior finance leadership, sized to your business.
Fractional means you get a senior CFO for the days, decisions and moments that matter most: sharper forecasting, better management information, tighter cash discipline, and someone at the table prepared to ask “So what?” when the numbers land.
The right finance structure isn’t about spending the most or the least, but finding the mix of control, insight, challenge and leadership that fits where your business is today and flexes as you grow.
Why work with Insight-FD?
My North East SME clients appreciate partnering with a highly experienced, approachable Fractional CFO who want better numbers, stronger commercial challenge, and someone experienced enough to sit beside them when the decisions get difficult.
40 Years' in Finance
C.I.M.A. Qualified
Board-Level Leadership
£1m–£10m SMEs
North East Network
FRACTIONAL CFO SERVICES
Where your numbers start working for you.
Clear forecasts and sharper decisions, with a finance partner who tells you exactly where you stand and what to do next.
Cash Flow Forecasting
Cash is where good businesses can come unstuck. I project your position and prepare you for what may be ahead.
Profit & Performance
I analyse your revenue streams, costs and margins to show exactly where profit is being made, and where it’s leaking away.
CEO & Founder Support
Running a business can be isolating. I act as a sounding board, and someone who holds you to your own targets.
Management Reporting
Bespoke reports that mean something. I turn raw numbers into management information you can actually act on, and explain why every figure matters.
Strategic Planning
Growth, exit, succession or scale. Whatever the goal, I build the forecasts and business plans that show what it takes to get there, and how long it’ll take.
KPI Setting & Tracking
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. I set the right KPIs for your business, track consistently, and flag early when something drifts.
FREE REVIEW
Find out what finance support your business really needs with a free CFO Structure Review.
In a confidential conversation, I’ll look at your finance team, reporting, cash visibility, leadership needs and growth plans, so you come away knowing whether a fractional CFO is right for you and what good support would look like.
MEET YOUR CFO
The finance partner who’ll tell you how it really is.
I’m Bob Evans, a CIMA-qualified finance leader with 40 years of board-level experience across construction, retail, manufacturing and the service sector, so I know what it’s like when the pressure’s on, the bank wants answers, cash is tight and a big decision can’t wait.
I set up Insight-FD in 2021 because I saw too many good businesses making big calls without the financial insight to back them up, run by owners who were brilliant at what they do but flying blind on cash, margins and what came next.
My first job is always to listen, because I can’t get under the skin of your business until I understand you, your values and where you want to take it. Although I’m an accountant by background and training, my advice covers every commercial side of running a business, from realistic forecasts and meaningful KPIs to systems reviews and profit improvement programmes that make a real difference to the bottom line.
I try to lead by example, so while I genuinely love what I do, I’m just as committed to a healthy work/life balance, which for me means time with family and friends, the theatre, a good film, running, and a spot of wood turning (the perfect antidote to a spreadsheet).
CLIENT FEEDBACK
What businesses say about working with Insight-FD.
Bob brings a combination of strategic thinking and practical financial expertise that makes a real difference to the business. I would not hesitate to recommend him to other organisations.
Bob and Insight-FD were a great help with forecasting and testing our financials to support our successful round of fundraising. They made a point of really understanding our business.
Bob combines strong insight with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset. His support has been instrumental in establishing Braden UK Ltd and continues to add real value to the business.
As a business advisor, Bob has been an excellent and insightful source of knowledge on areas ranging from the strategic to the nitty-gritty, all delivered in a very personable manner.
FAQ
Your questions answered.
If yours isn’t here, bring it along to a chat. There’s no such thing as a daft question when it comes to talking about finance.
What’s the difference between a fractional CFO and my accountant?
Your accountant makes sure the books are right and your year-end and tax filings go in on time, so their focus is on what has already happened. I take those numbers and point them forwards: where your cash will be in three months, which parts of the business are really making money, and what the figures are telling you about your next big decision. Most growing businesses need both, and I work alongside your accountant rather than replacing them.
Is a fractional CFO the same as a part-time FD or an outsourced Financial Director?
Pretty much, yes. Fractional CFO, part-time FD, outsourced FD and virtual FD all describe the same thing: an experienced, board-level finance leader working with you for part of the month rather than as a full-time hire. FD is the traditional UK title and CFO is the term you’ll hear more often now, but whichever one you searched for, it’s what I do.
Is my business big enough to need a CFO?
If you’re turning over somewhere between £1m and £10m, you’re right in the sweet spot. That’s usually the point where the business has outgrown gut feel and a spreadsheet, but a full-time Finance Director’s salary doesn’t stack up yet. A fractional CFO gives you that senior experience for the time you need, at a fraction of the cost.
When’s the right time to bring one in?
Usually when the numbers start holding you back. Cash feels tighter than the profit says it should be, the bank or the board want better reporting, you’re planning a big move like a new site, an acquisition or a sale, or you’re making decisions with your fingers crossed. Not sure? The free CFO Structure Review is a good place to start, and I’ll tell you honestly if it’s too soon.
What does working together look like?
It depends on what your business needs, but a typical month includes management reports you can read and act on, a cash flow forecast looking months ahead, a sit-down to go through what moved and why, and me on the end of the phone in between. Some clients want me in the boardroom, others want a sounding board for the big calls. We agree the shape of it up front. [CONFIRM]
Can you attend our board meetings?
Yes. After 40 years of board-level experience, the boardroom is home turf, whether that’s preparing the board pack, presenting the numbers or giving your directors and investors confidence that someone has a firm grip on the finances.
Will you work with my existing accountant and finance team?
Absolutely. I’m not here to replace anyone. Your bookkeeper and accountant keep doing what they do well, and I build on their work so the reporting tells you what you need to run the business. Often I’ll tighten up processes along the way so everyone is working from the same reliable numbers.
Can you support us with a sale, exit or succession plan?
Yes, and it’s worth starting earlier than most owners think. Whether you’re looking at a trade sale, a management buyout or an Employee Ownership Trust, I’ll get your finances in shape, work alongside your advisers and make sure buyers or successors see a business worth what you think it is.
How much does it cost?
Every business is different, so I don’t do one-size-fits-all packages. Fees are based on the time and support you need, agreed up front as a fixed monthly fee, so there are no surprises. [CONFIRM: ask Bob if he’ll show a “from £X a month” figure. It’s one of the most searched questions and a starting price builds trust.]
Is there a minimum contract?
[CONFIRM with Bob. Suggested wording if true:] No long tie-ins. We usually start with an initial three months so I can get properly under the bonnet of your numbers, then it runs month to month. I’d rather you stay because it’s working than because a contract says you have to.
Do you only work with businesses in the North East?
I’m based at the Centre for Advanced Industry in North Shields and love working with North East businesses face to face, but I work with clients right across the UK too. Most of the work runs perfectly well over video calls, and I’m happy to travel for the meetings that matter. [CONFIRM]
What happens in the free CFO Structure Review?
It’s a confidential conversation where we look at your current finance setup, reporting, leadership needs and growth plans. You’ll come away knowing whether a fractional CFO is right for your business and what good support would look like, with no obligation and no hard sell.
ON THE BLOG
Insights.
Practical ideas on cash flow, profitability, forecasting and the decisions that shape a growing business, written for owners rather than accountants.
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INTERESTED?
Let’s talk about your numbers.
Whether cash flow is keeping you up at night, you’re planning your next stage of growth, or you’d like to know if a fractional CFO is the right fit, Bob is always happy to have a confidential, no-obligation chat. Book a time that suits you, or send a message and he’ll come back to you.
CONTACT
0331 630 0993
hello@insight-fd.co.uk
CONNECT
LOCATION
The Centre for Advanced Industry, Coble Dene, North Shields, NE29 6DE
