A Week in the Life of a Fractional Finance Director

If you’re considering a career as a Fractional Finance Director (FD), you’re probably wondering: what does a typical week actually look like? In this blog, we’ll demystify what it’s really like to work in this role – from client work to business development and everything in between.

Structuring Your Week as a Fractional FD

One of the biggest advantages of being a Fractional FD is flexibility. You can structure your work to fit your life, whether that means working a full five-day week or choosing a lighter schedule to accommodate personal priorities. Many Fractional FDs aim to work three to four days a week with clients, leaving space for business development, networking, and admin.

While your schedule will be unique to you, a typical week includes:

Client Days – Delivering strategic finance support to businesses.

Business Development – Networking, LinkedIn marketing, and new client meetings. 

Admin & Operations – Invoicing, bookkeeping, and managing your own business. 

Personal Time – Enjoying the balance and flexibility that comes with being your own boss.

What Does a Client Day Look Like?

Your client days are dedicated to supporting businesses with their financial strategy and commercial insight. Here’s what a typical day might involve:

Morning LinkedIn Engagement – You might start the day by posting and interacting on LinkedIn. Engaging with others helps increase visibility and stay top of mind for potential referrals.

Checking Priorities – Reviewing client notes, revisiting last week’s tasks, and setting clear objectives for the day.

Ways of Working – Some days you might be working remotely, others onsite so structure your day accordingly and plan important meetings when you’ll be there. Remote days might be for more strategic work (financial analysis, modelling, forecasting, etc.)Even if remote is the primary way of working we’d recommend always being more onsite at the start to build relationships.

Client Meetings & Strategy Work – Depending on the client’s needs, your work might involve: 

• Board meeting preparation – Analysing financials and key performance drivers.
• Forecasting & Modelling – Three-way forecasting, cash flow analysis, or investment planning.
• Profitability Analysis – Helping clients understand where they’re making money and how to optimise margins.

Ad Hoc Queries & Communications – Responding to client emails, delegating tasks, and ensuring smooth operations. 

By structuring client days clearly, you ensure deep focus and avoid the inefficiency of constant task-switching.

Non-Client Days: Working ON Your Business

Being a Fractional FD isn’t just about client work – you’re also running your own business. That means dedicating time to essential tasks like:

Admin & Invoicing – Keeping your own books up to date (or outsourcing it!).

Business Development – Networking with potential clients and referral partners. 

Marketing & LinkedIn Presence – Staying visible and positioning yourself as an expert. 

Professional Development – Keeping up with industry trends and best practices.

A common mistake new Fractional FDs make is neglecting business development when they get busy with client work. However, projects don’t last forever, so consistently building your pipeline is crucial.

Time Management Tips for Fractional FDs

Managing multiple clients and business responsibilities can be challenging. Here are some top time management tips:

Set Fixed Client Days – Assign dedicated days to each client to maintain deep focus and clarity.

Schedule Regular Check-ins – Have structured weekly or bi-weekly meetings to keep priorities on track.

Track Your Time – Use tools like Toggl or a simple spreadsheet to ensure accurate billing. 

Avoid Over-Servicing – Set clear boundaries from the start to prevent clients from expecting 24/7 availability.

The Impact of Fractional Work on Life & Happiness

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a Fractional FD is the appreciation you receive from SME business owners. Unlike corporate environments where finance teams are often undervalued, Fractional FDs work closely with business owners, delivering strategic insight that directly impacts their success.

More autonomy – Choose the clients and industries you work with. 

Better work-life balance – Make time for hobbies, family, and personal growth. 

Greater fulfilment – See the direct impact of your expertise on growing businesses.

Is This Career Right for You?

If this sounds like the career shift you’ve been looking for, take our free diagnostic quiz to see if you’re ready to make the transition.

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And if you’re serious about getting started, check out our PowerUP! course, which guides you through everything from client acquisition to pricing and positioning.

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Ready to take the leap? Watch our free webinar to explore the different ways you can kickstart your Fractional FD career!