Accountant vs finance director
An accountant makes sure your compliance is right and your tax is minimised. A finance director uses the numbers to shape where the business goes next. Many small businesses need both, but can't justify a full-time FD salary.
Typical responsibilities
Depending on your needs, a part-time FD might:
- Produce monthly management accounts with commentary
- Build forecasts and scenario models for big decisions
- Review pricing, margins and overheads
- Prepare for and lead funding or bank conversations
- Act as a commercial sounding board for the owners
Signs you're ready
You're growing but not sure where the profit is going, you're planning investment or funding, or you're making big decisions on gut feel. These are all signs that a finance director would pay for themselves.