Outsourced Finance Director
An outsourced finance director is the next step for agencies that understand their financial position, but need an experienced steer as they scale.
Outsourced finance director for marketing, creative and communication agencies
Most agencies reach a point where financial management gets more complex than the directors, owners or internal finance team can manage. As they grow, it becomes harder to predict cash flow, and without regular reporting, decision-making gets risky.
Barnridge Accountancy offers senior Finance Director services to agencies that have a decent grip on their numbers, but could benefit from more strategic advice for the next stage.
Along with stronger everyday financial management, an outsourced finance director can help you set clear financial goals and KPIs. That includes providing regular financial reporting to help you make decisions that move the agency forward.
Outsourced FDs are an impartial, senior voice in the room and a valuable sounding board. They are there to provide insight, support and guidance on every key driver of your agency’s success, including profitability, margins, pricing strategy and client value.
Barnridge offers FD services as a standalone service, or in addition to our other outsourced accounting services. Keeping it all under one roof is the ideal setup, as it means fewer knowledge gaps, better availability of information, and faster responses.
Our experienced finance directors know your industry, so you won’t have to explain your operations or challenges. They can simply slot in and start adding value from day one.
Get in touch today.
What does an outsourced FD do?
Whereas the role of an accountant is to protect the everyday financial health of a business, a finance director takes a more forward-looking advisory role. Their focus is on commercial strategy to maximise profits, protect cash reserves, and ensure sustainable growth. It’s the difference between knowing your financial position and understanding how it informs your next move.
Your outsourced FD can:
- Add commentary to management accounts that you can act upon
- Help you set KPIs and keep teams accountable
- Predict cash flow shortages before they become an issue
- Provide credibility with banks, investors and lenders
- Build and implement financial strategy to work towards your personal and business goals
- Advise on key decisions around pricing, hiring and investment
Employing a full-time finance director in-house doesn’t make sense for most agencies. But plenty are at the stage when they need answers and guidance that fall beyond the role of their everyday accounting team.
An outsourced FD bridges the gap, allowing you to benefit from senior financial expertise without the full-time salary. It’s a more affordable yet valuable investment in your agency.
Is an outsourced FD right for your agency?
If you’re asking these kinds of questions, then it might be time for an outsourced finance director:
- Revenue is up, but where is all the profit going?
- We're busy, so why aren't we making money?
- Which clients and projects are actually making us money?
- Can we afford to hire this year?
- Are our services priced correctly to achieve the margins we need?
- What do the next three years look like?
- How soon could the agency be a sellable asset?
Our outsourced finance director services
These are just some of the things your outsourced FD can help with. We start by establishing what your agency needs now, then we can adjust it as you grow.
Building a strong foundation
Financial reporting
Regular management accounts designed around your agency, with practical insights you can use straight away.
Financial systems improvements
Tighter financial processes, controls and risk management for a more robust finance function.
Cash flow management
Budgeting and forecasting to maintain cash flow visibility, helping you plan for recruitment, investments and tax payments.
Understanding agency profitability
KPI development
Relevant measures for your agency that are easy to track and keep everyone accountable.
Profitability analysis
Insights into profitability by client, project and department to show you when to renegotiate and when to walk away.
Pricing strategy review
A check that your rates, scopes and retainers reflect what the work actually costs to deliver.
Planning your next move
Financial strategy
A clear plan to manage financial risks, protect margins, maintain liquidity and create value.
Commercial modelling
The effect on cash and margin predicted before you make the next hire, take on office space or sign a large retainer.
Board reporting
Clear reporting on financial performance for your key stakeholders. In-person presence in meetings for added support.
Planning for investment or acquisition? You may need an outsourced CFO
If the question is “how do we make the agency more profitable”, that’s FD territory. But if you are looking at capital and ownership, that’s when a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is more appropriate. They work at board level to manage capital structure, secure funding, handle investor relations or oversee mergers and acquisitions.
Outsourced FD in action
We became the outsourced finance partner for a fast-growing
agency, supporting them smoothly through due diligence and bringing
their finance services together under one specialist team.
“Michael and Barnridge started with us in 2024. They have since streamlined our entire finance function with seemingly effortless efficiency. Michael was key to managing the due diligence process from our side, handling the considerable extra workload with accuracy and understanding. We especially appreciate his calm and professional way of working, and his endless patience.”
Lucinda Buxton
Founder & Managing Director, The M Collective / The Sauce Collective
Speak to Barnridge about outsourced finance director services
It starts with an informal conversation about where your agency is right now and where it’s heading. You can rely on our honest recommendations about the level of FD support you need, whether that’s now, in the next six months or a few years down the line. It could be that an outsourced finance function is what’s really needed, or an FD that can slot into your existing external or in-house finance team.
Contact us to request a call and let’s take it from there.
Give us a call
020 3997 6165
Drop us an email
Frequently asked questions about our outsourced FD services
What is an outsourced finance director?
An outsourced finance director provides senior financial leadership on a flexible basis, covering strategy, forecasting, reporting and commercial decision-making without the cost of employing a full-time finance director.
What's the difference between an outsourced FD and an accountant?
An accountant focuses on compliance, tax and statutory reporting. An outsourced FD provides strategic financial guidance, helping agency owners make informed decisions and plan for growth.
Can you work with our existing finance team?
Yes. We regularly work alongside an existing finance team, providing strategic oversight and mentoring while your in-house staff continue to handle day-to-day financial management.
How does cash flow management help agencies?
It gives you visibility over future income and expenditure, which makes recruitment, investment and tax planning far less stressful. Most agencies find it removes the month-end guesswork entirely.
How often will we meet with our outsourced FD?
That depends on what you need. Some agencies prefer monthly meetings, while others benefit from closer involvement during periods of rapid growth, restructuring or due diligence.
Is your finance director service suitable for small agencies?
Yes. The outsourced FD service is designed for ambitious agencies of all sizes that are scaling and need senior financial expertise.
Not sure where to start? Get in touch with the team today and one of our accounting experts will be able to help.