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Hiring a Finance Director? Here's an Alternative

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Léopold Forest
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I have been using A&L for my business since launch for more than 2 years and it has been working very efficient. They are very proficient in using the latest technologies, from helping me with my accounts, managing better my costs, helping with my payroll, but also on the legal side, helping me understand better legal documents and registering my trademark. A big praise to Sam Millward, who has been overseeing my account very well there. Cannot recommend more !
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Santana Kaiki
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Accounts and Legal are always so reliable and their communication is fantastic. As we are an international business they always have time for our queries and provide suitable solution when needed. Special mention to the payroll team for always being attentive.
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chloe profile picture
chloe
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Stephanie at A&L has been extremely helpful in supporting me with any finance queries I may have. She have offered to complete training for certain aspects that I needed help with, and is always more than happy to assist. Carys has also been great in supporting and facilitating training.
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Gary Booth profile picture
Gary Booth
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A great team to have on-side.............. Providing a professional but very personal approach, A&L have been a breath of fresh air throughout our business expansion into the UK. Since being introduced to the company, A&L have readily provided sound, practical advice and have managed our accounts meticulously well. Amy and Shagun, which aptly means 'blessing' in India, have been absolute stand-outs in the support they have provided. I would highly recommend A&L to any business/institution looking for solid, long-term financial support. A quick update to this review, a year on and we are still receiving amazing support from A&L. A particular shout-out to our more recent A&L team - Carys and Stephanie in the accounting area and Millie in payroll. Thanks for your ongoing support, patience and good humour. Date of experience: 09 November 2023
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Lucy Mullins
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Excellent service from Jack.
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Lotte Manson
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We have been with Accounts and Legal a couple of months now and couldn't be happier with their service. From initial onboarding all the staff have been great. Our accountant is Sam Millward and from our first meeting both myself and my business partner felt at ease and confident we had made the right choice. Sam is patient with us, explaining all things finance so we both understand. Thanks Sam, this part of the business is no longer scary for us and actually enjoyable!
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Wick Guru
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I've had the pleasure of working with Sam for my accounting needs, and I couldn't be more impressed. Sam is incredibly knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and always goes the extra mile to ensure everything is in order. He’s quick to respond to any questions and takes the time to explain things in an easy-to-understand way. His enthusiasm is infectious, and he consistently goes above and beyond. I’m incredibly grateful to have him as my accountant. Thank you, Sam, for everything you do!
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Adam Farrugia
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After some pretty disappointing experiences with accountancy firms I have been fortunate to finally find a service that meets my needs. The onboarding has been smooth and Hannah has been brilliant (as have all the team) in helping me with what can be seen as a daunting process. The price is competitive and I am already more positive in the results that can be achieved for my business
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Temi Olugbenga
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We hired A&L for our accounting needs & the process has been absolute bliss. After having a rough time with our previous accountant, Hannah McBride made sure the process of onboarding was smooth & fun. A genuine pleasure to work with!
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What Does a Finance Director Do?

If you’re looking to hire a Finance Director, chances are, you need someone who can:

  • Lead financial planning and strategy

  • Oversee budgeting, forecasting and cashflow management

  • Produce board-level reporting and insight

  • Ensure compliance and financial controls are in place

  • Support investment decisions and growth planning

  • Own performance reporting and KPI analysis

In the UK, roles of this seniority often command salaries between £80,000–£150,000 per year — before pensions, NI and other employment costs are factored in.

Finance Director having a conversation

Before You Hire a Finance Director ...

If you’re hiring, it’s because you need a properly structured finance function.

That means:

Whether that comes from a permanent hire or a structured outsourced team depends on your stage of growth, but the end goal is the same: financial clarity and control.

Hiring a Finance Director? Here’s an Alternative.

Finance Director Job role

What Outsourcing your Finance Director Means...

Outsourcing doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means structuring the finance function differently.

Our outsourced finance service gives you access to:

  • Strategic financial oversight
  • Financial management and reporting
  • Forward-looking cashflow forecasting
  • Budgeting and performance tracking
  • Financial input into growth decisions
  • Oversight of compliance and controls
  • Bookkeeping, credit control and payroll support

For some businesses, this replaces the need for a full-time FD. For others, it complements an existing team.

Outsourced finance Team

What You Actually Get

If your goal is to strengthen financial leadership, what you actually need is clarity, structure and accountability.

Instead of relying on one person, you get a dedicated A+L team built around your business, with the right mix of experience across the whole finance function.

Financial leadership

  • Proper financial planning aligned to your growth
  • Board-level reporting with clear, straight answers
  • Cashflow forecasting and scenario planning
  • Oversight of controls, compliance and funding conversations

Management & insight

  • Monthly management accounts you can actually use
  • Budgeting and analysis vs budget
  • KPI reporting built around what matters to you
  • Clear performance insight, not just numbers on a page

Oversight of the day-to-day

  • Supervision of invoicing, payments and credit control
  • VAT and payroll oversight
  • Structure, accountability and consistent reporting deadlines

All delivered with the feel of an in-house team available by phone, email, Teams or WhatsApp, whatever suits your needs.

Hiring a Finance Controller? Here’s an Alternative.

Find out more
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Inhouse vs Outsourced: Cost Comparison

If your goal is to strengthen financial leadership, what you actually need is clarity, structure and accountability.

Instead of relying on one person, you get a dedicated A+L team built around your business, with the right mix of experience across the whole finance function.

Fully Outsourced Finance Department for SME Owners

Find out more
Support from an outsourced finance team

How Are We Cheaper?

It might sound too good to be true, but the main difference comes down to structure and efficiency, not cutting corners:

  • You’re not committing to a full-time salary where the workload may fluctuate

  • There are no recruitment fees or long onboarding periods

  • Continuity is built in, so there’s no disruption around holidays or absence

  • You have access to a team of qualified accountants, so you’re not relying on one or two people

  • Best-in-practice software and automation are implemented as standard

  • Processes such as payment runs, credit control and reporting is streamlined

  • Reporting is designed around the KPIs that matter to you.

It’s not about cutting corners, it’s about building your finance function in a way that removes any blockers.

Hiring a Finance Manager? Here’s an Alternative.

efficient team

Speak to an expert

Jack Dawber-Axon

Jack Dawber-Axon

Head of Accounting
Get in Touch

Know what you need? Get a quote.

Get an instant quote

No, Outsourced Finance is designed for growing businesses of all sizes.

The clients who outsource their finance function to us are generally ambitious, growing businesses that need a full finance function but don’t want the overhead of hiring internally. The service also favours tech-savvy firms that want to stay on top of the latest industry developments, while maintaining full oversight of their numbers with customised reports and dashboards.

Yes, we'll be on hand to answer any queries whenever you need it.

We’re flexible with each client depending on how they prefer to communicate, whether that’s email, phone, Teams or WhatsApp. The idea is we become a part of your team, just like an inhouse hire would. You won’t just have one point of contact either, you’ll have a team at your disposal which makes communication as starightforward as can be.

That's common, and still works very well.

For some businesses, we’ll work alongside a Finance Manager, Finance Director, bookkeepers or credit controllers.

We’re not here to just replace roles, we’re here to make your finance function easier and more effective. We can plug into your existing setup and support wherever needed, building something that actually works for your business. That also means we can stay flexible around how you already run things.

This depend on you, and what you need.

For some clients, our team of qualified accountants will do the job of one person or an entire team. However, for clients who may not need that level of support, our team may only need to support as a replacement for one role. It all depends on your requirements, and the beauty of the fully managed finance option is its flexibility.

Pricing is always built on a bespoke basis depending on the clients' requirements.

Our clients pay us on a monthly retainer basis, and your quote will be tailored to your needs. In addition to this, we also work on a one-off basis for any project work you may need, such as legal assistance or tax advice/planning.

Growth is different for every business, but we've worked with enough businesses to tailor our approach.

It might be boosting profitability by looking at pricing and costs. It could be expanding your team or opening a new office. Maybe it’s attracting investment or buyers to your business? The point is, we use your financial data to identify how we make your goals a reality. If you’re unsure whether you can afford that next hire, with better insights, you’ll be able to answer that question easily. In every case, we combine financial insight with practical business advice so you grow in a way that’s sustainable and strategic.

Usually, our onboarding can start the same week you decide to sign up with us.

That way, you’ll have:

  • No more onerous notice periods
  • Less risk for onboarding than taking on a staff member
  • No awkward limbo period
  • No reliance on a single employee

The great thing about letting us take care of your finance function is you get continuity, even during holidays or sickness, not to mention the cost saving.

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