A useful finance-support budget starts with the work your business needs. Bookkeeping, management accounting, Financial Controller, Finance Director and CFO support can serve different purposes. The examples below show how the role mix and time allocation change the monthly fee, so you can compare proposals on a clear basis.
Your insourced finance function
Axcelera provides finance professionals who work as part of your business, from day-to-day bookkeeping and management accounting to Financial Controller, Finance Director and CFO support. We agree the roles, time and responsibilities you need, whether that is one specialist or a connected team.
Insourced describes our integrated way of working. You can draw on fractional support without committing to every role or a full-time team, working at your premises, remotely or through a combination of both.
Day rates for planning your budget
The following Axcelera day rates underpin the examples on this page. All rates and fees exclude VAT. The scope, complexity, availability and amount of support required are agreed in the proposal.
| Role | Day rate, excluding VAT | Typical focus, depending on scope |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping support | £350 | Day-to-day transaction records and reconciliations, with responsibilities agreed around your processes |
| Management Accountant | £500–£550 | Management accounts, budgets, variance analysis and practical performance insight |
| Financial Controller | £750–£850 | Reliable reporting, cash forecasting and hands-on financial control |
| Finance Director | £1,000 | Leading the finance function, business planning and commercial performance |
| CFO | £1,500 | Financial strategy, funding preparation and major board-level decisions |
Role titles can overlap. We agree the responsibilities and deliverables rather than assume a title alone defines the work. Management Accountant and Financial Controller rates within the ranges are confirmed in your proposal against the agreed scope.
Illustrative monthly budgets
These are illustrations for budgeting, not fixed packages or a quote for your business. The monthly fee depends on the roles and days required. All figures exclude VAT.
Each example includes only the roles and days stated, not a complete finance function. Bookkeeping time depends on transaction volumes, the state of the records and agreed responsibilities. The management-accounting-only example assumes up-to-date bookkeeping and completed reconciliations. Financial Controller, Finance Director and CFO examples assume an existing delivery team maintains the underlying records.
The mixed bookkeeping and management-accounting example includes only four bookkeeping days and two Management Accountant days. It does not include Financial Controller, Finance Director or CFO oversight unless separately agreed. None of the examples automatically includes bill processing or payment runs, payroll, tax returns or advice, software licences, major historical corrections, legal, audit or statutory-accounting work. We agree the tasks, deliverables and any additional costs in the proposal.
| Example | Monthly allocation | Calculation | Monthly fee, excluding VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day-to-day bookkeeping support | 4 bookkeeping days | 4 × £350 | £1,400 |
| Management accounting with current bookkeeping and reconciliations | 2 Management Accountant days | 2 × (£500–£550) | £1,000–£1,100 |
| Bookkeeping and management accounts | 4 bookkeeping days + 2 Management Accountant days | (4 × £350) + (2 × (£500–£550)) | £2,400–£2,500 |
| Ongoing financial control | 2 Financial Controller days | 2 × £750 | £1,500 |
| Financial control with more delivery time | 4 Financial Controller days | 4 × £850 | £3,400 |
| Finance Director support with an existing delivery team | 2 Finance Director days | 2 × £1,000 | £2,000 |
| CFO oversight with an existing delivery team | 2 CFO days | 2 × £1,500 | £3,000 |
| Combined Finance Director and Financial Controller support | 1 Finance Director day + 4 Financial Controller days | £1,000 + (4 × £850) | £4,400 |
| Combined CFO and Financial Controller support | 1 CFO day + 4 Financial Controller days | £1,500 + (4 × £850) | £4,900 |
What could those arrangements cover?
Bookkeeping support focuses on keeping day-to-day transaction records and reconciliations current. Four days is an illustrative time allocation, not a promise that every business's processing can be completed within that time. We agree which tasks are included and which remain with your team.
Management accounting turns accurate records into useful management accounts, budgets, variance analysis and performance insight. It can be the right standalone support when bookkeeping and reconciliations are already dependable. Additional reporting complexity or catch-up work may need more time. A senior finance role is not automatically required.
Financial Controller support can focus on the month-end process, reconciliations, management reporting, cash forecasts and practical financial control. A smaller allocation is most realistic when the records and recurring processes already work well. More time may be needed to establish those foundations or handle a more complex business.
Finance Director support can connect financial control with the wider business plan: leading the finance function, setting budgets, reviewing performance with management and turning the numbers into practical commercial actions. It can be appropriate when the business needs ongoing finance leadership alongside an existing delivery team.
CFO support can focus on financial strategy, funding preparation, major commercial decisions and board discussions. It works best when dependable financial information is already being produced. Paying for senior oversight does not remove the need for the underlying delivery work.
A combined arrangement connects leadership with delivery: the controller provides reliable information and practical follow-through, while a Finance Director or CFO supports the agreed leadership and decision-making responsibilities. The right balance depends on your business; some companies need a controller first and occasional Finance Director or CFO input later.
For a complete finance function, we also scope management accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and VAT support where required. Transaction volumes, payroll size and the work retained by your existing team determine the additional time and fee.
Initial implementation can cost more than ongoing support
Introducing reporting and forecasting usually takes more work than maintaining an established routine. A proposal should make that difference visible.
For example, four Financial Controller days per month at £750 for the first two months would cost £3,000 per month. If the work can then move to two days per month, the ongoing cost would be £1,500 per month. That is ten days and £7,500 over the first three months, excluding VAT.
The reduction should follow a progress review. It depends on the quality of the records, agreed deliverables and who supplies the recurring inputs. Substantial historical corrections or new requirements may need a separate allocation, agreed before the work proceeds.
Five things that change the fee
- The work and outcomes: cash forecasting, reliable month end, board reporting, a funding model or daily processing require different capabilities.
- Volume and frequency: transactions, payroll, entities, currencies and reporting deadlines determine how much delivery time is needed.
- Starting condition: overdue reconciliations, missing information and inconsistent processes can create additional implementation work.
- Business complexity: stock, projects, overseas operations, group reporting and multiple revenue streams affect the scope.
- The existing team: we can work with your bookkeeper, internal finance staff and external accountant rather than replace work that already functions well.
How to compare proposals fairly
Ask each provider to show the role mix, days or hours included, preparation and meeting time, recurring deliverables, implementation work, exclusions and the process for agreeing extra work. Check who owns each recurring task and how the arrangement can change.
Compare the total cost of delivering the required work. A lower day rate does not necessarily mean a lower overall fee, and a CFO title does not make someone the right choice for hands-on financial control.
How Axcelera scopes support
We start by understanding what is getting in the way: unreliable reporting, cash uncertainty, margin pressure, a funding decision or a finance function that cannot keep up with growth. We then recommend the appropriate roles and time allocation, with a clear distinction between initial work and recurring support.
You can begin with one role or a connected team. The purpose is to give the business the capability it needs and a plan for adapting that support as priorities change.
Finance support that fits how you work
We can work at your premises, remotely or through a combination of both, depending on your preferences and what your business needs. We agree the working arrangements, responsibilities and any travel costs upfront.
Frequently asked questions
Is VAT included in these examples?
No. All illustrative fees on this page exclude VAT.
Can we use a Financial Controller instead of a CFO?
Often, yes. If the main need is reliable reporting, cash forecasting and hands-on control, a Financial Controller may be the appropriate starting point. Finance Director or CFO input can be added when the leadership or strategic work justifies it.
When might a Finance Director be the right fit?
A Finance Director can be suitable when you need someone to lead the finance function, connect budgets and forecasts to the business plan and support commercial performance. The right choice depends on the work and existing team, not the job title alone.
Is there a fixed monthly package?
The examples are budgeting illustrations. We agree a scope and time allocation based on the work required, with the fee and any exclusions confirmed in the proposal.
Does this replace our accountant?
We can work alongside your existing accountant and internal team. Statutory accounts, audit and specialist tax advice are separately scoped with the appropriate adviser.
Related support
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