What's the difference between an accountant and a Virtual Finance Director?
An accountant typically makes sure the business meets its statutory accounting and tax obligations and may also provide advice around those areas. The focus is often on accurate reporting of what has already happened.
What the accountant is there to do
An accountant typically makes sure the business meets its statutory accounting and tax obligations and may also provide advice around those areas. The focus is often on accurate reporting of what has already happened.
What the Virtual FD adds
A Virtual FD works more directly with management decisions: budgets, forecasts, cash, margins, recruitment, investment and growth. The emphasis is forward-looking and commercial.
The two should work together
These roles are complementary, not competing. Reliable accounts and tax work provide a foundation; strategic finance uses current information to help decide what happens next.
They can sit within the same finance team
Some outsourced finance teams combine bookkeeping, accounting and Virtual FD support. The advantage is that the strategic conversation is based on the same records being maintained throughout the year.
Strategic Finance & Virtual FD
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