Interim FDs, CFOs, risk managers, compliance specialists — your day rate is your income. Specialist mortgage advice for financial services contractors.
Finance contractors often have some of the highest day rates in the market — interim CFOs and FDs regularly command £700–£1,200/day, with compliance and risk specialists earning £500–£900/day. But the structure of a finance contracting career creates the same problem that affects all contractors: the salary drawn from the limited company bears no relation to contract income.
There’s an additional complexity in financial services: some finance contractors hold FCA individual authorisations (CF29, SMF designations) that create perceived compliance risk in mortgage applications — lenders unfamiliar with financial services can misread these. An experienced broker knows how to present this correctly.
Day rate mortgage lenders assess on contract rate, not salary, and have no issue with FCA-regulated individuals. The application needs to be routed correctly.
Day rate × 230 working days (5 days × 46 weeks) = annualised income.
Annualised income × 4–5× income multiple depending on lender and application strength.
Current contract + bank statements. No accounts required with the right lender.
Yes. Finance contractors — including interim CFOs, FDs, risk managers, and compliance contractors — are assessed by specialist lenders on their day rate rather than salary or accounts.
No — being FCA-authorised doesn’t affect mortgage eligibility. Lenders assess your income and creditworthiness, not your regulatory status. An experienced broker will present this correctly.
Day rate lenders ignore salary and dividends entirely and use only the contract rate. The lower your salary, the more advantageous the day rate approach is relative to standard assessment.
We understand financial services contracting structures — and which lenders will maximise your borrowing.
Book a free call →Chris
CII CF1 · CF6 · ER1 — Contractor mortgage specialist
30 years inside UK mortgage lending. Chris works with finance and financial services contractors across all seniority levels and regulatory contexts.
Page reviewed July 2026.