Fractional FP&A vs. Bookkeeper vs. Accountant: Who Does What?
If you’ve ever wondered who’s really supposed to help you figure out why your profits are up but your bank account isn’t… You’re not alone.
A lot of founders build their financial support team backward. They hire a bookkeeper early, loop in a CPA at tax time, and assume that’s all they need.
But then growth hits. Decisions get more complex. Cash gets tighter. And suddenly, you’re staring at a spreadsheet at 11PM thinking, “Why does this still feel so hard?”
Let’s clear it up once and for all: Here’s what your bookkeeper, accountant, and fractional FP&A partner actually do—and how they work together.
📘 Bookkeeper: The Transaction Wrangler
Primary Role: Recording and categorizing daily financial transactions (expenses, income, invoices, payroll, etc.)
Tools They Use: QuickBooks, Xero, spreadsheets
What They’re Great At:
Reconciling bank statements
Managing payables/receivables
Organizing your books for your CPA
Keeping everything clean and categorized
✅ Think of your bookkeeper as the one who keeps your financial history accurate and up to date.
🧾 Accountant (or CPA): The Compliance Expert
Primary Role: Filing taxes, ensuring compliance, and providing tax strategy.
Tools They Use: Tax software, GAAP frameworks, IRS publications
What They’re Great At:
Preparing tax returns
Offering tax planning advice
Filing sales tax and franchise tax reports
Ensuring compliance with federal/state laws
✅ Your accountant is focused on keeping you legal, tax-efficient, and audit-ready—not necessarily helping you plan or grow.
📊 Fractional FP&A: The Strategy Translator
Primary Role: Turning your financial data into decisions.
Tools They Use: Forecasting models, dashboards, scenario analysis, cash flow projections
What They’re Great At:
Forecasting revenue, expenses, and cash runway
Helping you budget, plan, and adapt
Analyzing trends and spotting issues early
Building financial dashboards for visibility
Supporting investor decks, funding decisions, and growth planning
✅ Your FP&A partner is the one asking, “What does this mean? And what should we do next?”
So… Do You Need All Three?
Probably—eventually. But most small businesses start with a bookkeeper and stop there, not realizing there’s a massive gap between keeping clean books and making smart, proactive decisions.
That’s where fractional FP&A comes in. It fills the space between your bookkeeper (looking backward) and your operations (charging forward)—with financial strategy that actually supports your growth.
At NorthSight Financial Consulting, we fill the role of Bookkeeper and Fractional FP&A. The reason we do this for our clients is because we want to ensure we own the financial picture. It makes more sense strategically if we understand and setup the books to better inform financial projections.
Want to Stop Guessing? Start Planning.
At NorthSight Financial Consulting, we help business owners like you:
Understand their cash flow
Plan smarter with rolling forecasts
Track KPIs that actually matter
Make confident, informed decisions
You don’t have to hire a full-time CFO. You just need a partner who understands what your business needs—before you outgrow your financial foundation.
📅 Book a free 15-minute call
🌐 Or visit our main page to learn more.
