The Finance Business Partner Role
Finance business partnering has become a core capability in modern organizations. According to ICAEW, finance professionals increasingly need to be business partners—not just number crunchers—providing insight and influence.
A fractional FBP brings this capability on a part-time basis, ideal for business units that need commercial finance support but not full-time capacity.
FBP vs CFO vs Accountant
| Role | Scope | Focus | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance Partner | Business unit/department | Commercial decisions | Business insight |
| CFO | Entire company | Financial strategy | Strategic direction |
| Financial Controller | Finance operations | Accuracy, compliance | Financial reports |
| Accountant | Transaction processing | Recording, reporting | Financial statements |
What Fractional FBPs Do
Commercial Analysis
Analyze performance, identify trends, and provide insights that drive better business decisions.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Work with business leaders on budgets, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis. Translate plans into numbers.
Business Cases
Build financial models for investment decisions. Assess ROI, payback periods, and risk. Support capital allocation.
Pricing & Profitability
Analyze product/service profitability. Support pricing decisions. Identify margin improvement opportunities.
Performance Tracking
Define KPIs, create dashboards, and track performance. Help business leaders understand their numbers.
When to Use Fractional FBP
Good Fit
- Growing departments needing commercial support
- Business units without dedicated finance
- Major projects requiring financial analysis
- Cost constraint on full-time hire
- Testing FBP model before commitment
May Need Full-Time
- Large, complex business units
- Daily financial decision needs
- High-volume transactional analysis
- Multiple sub-teams needing support
Costs
1-2 days/week engagement
Salary + benefits
Skills to Look For
- Commercial acumen: Understands business, not just numbers
- Communication: Can explain finance to non-finance people
- Analytical: Strong modeling and analysis capabilities
- Systems: Proficient in Excel, BI tools, ERP systems
- Business partnering: Experience working embedded in operations
- Industry knowledge: Understanding of your sector (ideal)
Summary: Fractional finance business partners provide commercial finance support to business units on a part-time basis. They bridge finance and operations, helping leaders make better decisions. Cost £1,500-£3,500/month for 1-2 days/week.