Virtual Finance Director
Find out how we can help you
At haleys, we understand services provided by accountancy firms offer several benefits to businesses.
Strategic Virtual Finance Director Services in Preston
Access board-level financial expertise, strategic clarity, and cash flow control—without the full-time executive cost.
As a growing business owner in Preston or Lancashire, making high-stakes financial decisions without executive guidance can hold your company back. A Virtual Finance Director (VFD) from Haleys Business Advisers gives you fractional access to experienced, commercially minded accountants who do far more than look backward at last year’s tax.
We partner with business owners across Preston to give you full visibility over your future numbers, optimize working capital, and build a roadmap for sustainable growth.
Why Growing Preston SMEs Choose Virtual FD Accountants
Traditional accounting keeps you compliant with HMRC. A Virtual Finance Director focuses forward—helping you improve profitability, secure growth capital, and manage cash flow effectively.
How a Haleys Virtual FD Transforms Your Business:
- Board-Level Financial Leadership: Gain proactive strategic advice from senior accountants who understand the Lancashire business landscape.
- Cost-Effective Scalability: Get top-tier executive experience at a fraction of the cost of a full-time FD (£90k–£150k+ salary). Pay only for the strategic time you need.
- Real-Time Data & Forward Visibility: Move beyond historic year-end accounts to forward-looking financial models, 13-week cash flow forecasts, and KPI dashboards.
- Fundraising & Expansion Support: Prepare bank-ready growth models and business plans for investors or regional lenders.
Comparing Your Financial Support Options
What Our Virtual FD Accountants Do For Your Business
Our Virtual Finance Director services are tailored around your specific commercial goals:
- Cash Flow Management & Forecasting: Prevent cash bottlenecks with rolling cash flow models so you can invest with confidence.
- Management Accounts & KPI Tracking: Monthly board packs highlighting gross profit margins, overhead control, customer profitability, and key working capital metrics.
- Profit Improvement Strategies: In-depth review of pricing models, operational bottlenecks, and cost structures to unlock hidden profit margins.
- Corporate Finance & Funding: Guidance on securing business loans, grant funding, or equity investments, backed by robust financial plans.
- Exit Strategy & Succession Planning: Strategic preparation 2–5 years ahead of a business sale to maximize value and minimize tax liabilities.
Local Expertise for Preston & Lancashire Business Owners
Based in Preston, Haleys Business Advisers combines local regional knowledge with deep corporate finance and tax advisory experience. We regularly work with owner-managed businesses, engineering firms, professional service providers, and regional growth companies across Preston and the wider North West.
Whether you need a Virtual FD to guide you through rapid expansion, restructure operations, or prepare for an exit, our team provides trusted, proactive support every step of the way.
Corporation tax
Corporation tax reliefs and rates change annually, so we ensure that we can provide all the right guidance and advice when looking at exemptions, allowances and deductions that may be available.
We will thoroughly review and prepare corporation tax returns in great detail in order to ensure you are complaint and that you don’t incur any penalties.
Self assessment
Our tax services make sure that your tax liability is calculated taking into account all allowed exemptions and deductions. We simplify the process by using accountancy software to accurately complete tax returns and calculate any tax liability that may occur, along with any payments that need to be made.
Capital gains tax
You may be looking at investments, a second property or another asset and our team can make sure you maximise your exemptions while simplifying the difficult area of capital gains tax.
Personal tax planning
[insert firm name] can help with the complex issue of personal tax, we know it can be difficult to understand, which is why we help every step of the way. We take away the time and stress by creating a tax planning strategy that suits your tax affairs, helping ensure you pay the least amount of tax. Our team will advise when payments are due along with what forms need to be filed and returned to keep you compliant.
Standard accounting is often retrospective—it focuses on compliance and reporting what has already happened. Our Business Advisory service is prospective. We act as a proactive partner, using data analytics and strategic planning to look forward, helping you drive profits, protect assets, and navigate the specific challenges of your industry.
Yes. Through our Corporate Finance services, we support businesses in navigating the complexities of fundraising, whether through traditional bank loans, grants, or equity investment. We assist with preparing professional business plans and financial forecasts that demonstrate your business’s potential to lenders and investors.
The best time to start planning an exit strategy is now. Successful transitions often require 2 to 5 years of preparation to maximize business value and minimize tax liabilities. We help you groom the business for sale, ensuring your accounts are robust, your processes are documented, and your personal financial future is secured.
We don’t just look at the numbers; we look at the processes behind them. Our team analyzes your payment cycles, identifies bottlenecks in your accounts receivable, and helps implement better credit control systems. By improving your cash flow management, we ensure you have the liquidity needed to seize new opportunities and cover day-to-day operations.
A Virtual Finance Director (VFD) provides your business with the high-level strategic oversight and financial expertise of a traditional FD, but on a flexible, part-time basis. This is ideal for SMEs that need help with growth strategies, budgeting, and financial health monitoring without the overhead cost of a full-time executive hire.
