Fractional FP&A & Fractional CFO

People often ask about the difference between Fractional FP&A and a Fractional CFO.

And — because in large companies FP&A typically reports to the CFO — it’s easy to assume that in a smaller company, a Fractional CFO can handle all the FP&A’s responsibilities too.

But this is where it’s important to pause and look more closely at what each role requires.

Fractional CFOs Shoulder a Broad Set of Responsibilities

Fractional CFOs are invaluable for companies that need:

• Coordination across legal, tax, compliance, and accounting

• Implementation and oversight of financial operations

• Support for investor and banking relationships

Even part-time, a Fractional CFO is expected to “own it all” — from payroll and vendor payments to financial reporting, banking, audits, and taxes. They cover a wide operational remit and ensure the financial function runs smoothly and compliantly.

They bring stability, credibility, and broad financial leadership — often serving as the company's financial face to the outside world.

This breadth is essential. But that naturally comes at the expense of depth in any one area — including FP&A.

Fractional FP&A Specializes in Forward-looking Analysis

When you hire a Fractional FP&A lead, you're not asking them to:

• Sign off on accounting policies

• Coordinate tax filings

• Deal with HRIS or benefits platforms

• Manage external audits

Instead, you're getting:

• Detailed quantitive analyses of your business model

• Accurate, reliable forecasts

• Data-driven evidence and scenario modeling to support key decisions

• A clear financial narrative to share with the Board and Investors

Fractional FP&A focuses on forward-looking decision support. We help you understand your business model, prioritize the right opportunities, and make confident decisions—maximizing the strategic value of your financial data.

We bring a mix of analytical rigor, clarity and insight to support these goals.

Seahorse Specializes in FP&A

Seahorse was specifically developed to provide companies with high-value, strategic analytical support.

If you are looking for greater financial clarity and insight, I strongly encourage you to consider hiring Seahorse as a Fractional FP&A consultant. Our focus in this area provides you with C-level analytics at the fraction of the cost of a full time hire.

Book a free discovery call here.

Published: August 3, 2025