Find vetted fractional Chief Financial Officers across Europe. Engage senior finance leaders part-time for 1 to 3 days per week, typically 6 to 18 months.
THE ROLE
A fractional Chief Financial Officer takes on the strategic finance responsibilities of a full-time CFO, but works with your company part-time. The typical engagement is 1 to 3 days per week over a defined period, usually 6 to 18 months.
The core scope covers financial planning and analysis, cash flow management, fundraising support, investor reporting, board materials, finance team structure, and the build-out of systems and controls. A fractional CFO owns the numbers in front of the board and is accountable for forecast accuracy, runway management, and the integrity of financial reporting.
Most fractional CFOs work with 2 to 4 companies in parallel. They have typically held CFO or VP Finance roles at venture-backed companies and have led at least one funding round or M&A transaction. Many bring sector specialisation (SaaS metrics, marketplace economics, hardware unit economics, regulated industries) that justifies their day rate.
A fractional CFO is not a bookkeeper or accountant. They do not do day-to-day transactional work, payroll processing, tax filings, or statutory reporting. They direct and oversee these functions, but expect them to be staffed by an in-house accountant or an external accounting firm.
They also do not replace your tax advisor or audit firm. A fractional CFO works alongside them, translates between operational reality and statutory requirements, and owns the strategic and investor-facing finance work that those parties do not cover.
THE DECISION
Two clear profiles and a pragmatic middle path if you are between them.
Hire Fractional When
Hire Fulltime When
LIVE
Day rates for vetted fractional CFOs in Europe typically range from EUR 1,000 to 2,200 per day, depending on seniority, sector, and engagement length. A typical 2-days-per-week engagement therefore costs EUR 8,000 to 17,600 per month. Specialist CFOs with fundraising or M&A track records sit at the upper end. Longer engagements (12+ months) often come with a discounted rate.
Most engagements run between 6 and 18 months. Shorter engagements (under 6 months) are usually framed as interim or project-based, such as covering a specific fundraise or audit. Longer engagements (over 18 months) often transition into a hybrid role or hand over to a full-time hire that the fractional CFO helps recruit.
Yes, that is the standard model. Most fractional CFOs work with 2 to 4 companies in parallel and explicitly avoid direct competitors or companies with conflicts of interest (for example, a CFO will not work with two startups raising in the same vertical at the same time). Fractionista requires CFOs to disclose all active engagements to their clients.
A fractional CFO owns strategic finance: forecasting, fundraising, investor reporting, board materials, and team build-out. A tax advisor handles statutory tax filings, year-end accounts, and compliance with national tax law. A bookkeeper or accountant handles day-to-day transactional work: invoicing, payments, reconciliations, and payroll. Most growth-stage companies need all three, with the fractional CFO directing the work of the other two.
A fractional CFO works part-time on an ongoing basis (typically 1 to 3 days per week, 6 to 18 months). An interim CFO works full-time but for a defined period, usually 3 to 9 months, to cover a vacant CFO seat, lead a transformation, or steer the company through a transaction.
Yes. Fractionista also covers CPO, CMO, CTO, COO, CRO, as well as advisory roles across Europe.
Post a CFO brief and match vetted candidates in our online portal. No retainer, no upfront fee.