In today’s evolving workplace, companies are looking for flexible ways to access expertise. Whether you’re a CFO navigating finance transformation, an HR leader addressing workforce challenges, or a CEO rethinking your business strategy, the talent you need may not fit neatly into a traditional full-time role.
That’s where fractional, interim, and project-based talent solutions come in. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they each provide different types of support—and knowing the difference can help you choose the right approach.
At Brillect, we partner with organizations to deliver advisory services and people-powered solutions across finance & accounting, mergers & acquisitions, digital & technology, and human resources. Here’s how we break down the differences between fractional, interim, and project-based roles—and when to use each.
What Is Fractional Support?
A fractional role means a seasoned professional provides ongoing expertise on a part-time basis. Think of it as “renting” a slice of executive leadership or specialized skill without hiring full-time.
For example, a small, high growth company may bring on a fractional CFO to guide long-term strategy, manage forecasting, and build investor confidence. Or a business scaling rapidly may use a fractional HR leader to implement employee engagement programs and compliance frameworks.
When it works best:
- Long-term guidance without the cost of a full-time executive
- Businesses that need leadership on a flexible, scalable basis
- Companies looking for strategic alignment across finance, HR, or operations
Key takeaway: Fractional talent blends into your leadership team, providing ongoing direction and strategy at a fraction of the cost.
What Is Interim Support?
An interim role fills a critical gap during a transition—whether that’s a CFO guiding a strategic pivot or an accounting manager keeping operations on track. Brillect consultants step in quickly at every level, providing experienced leadership and hands-on support that keeps the business moving forward with confidence. These professionals step in quickly—often in leadership positions—while a company searches for a permanent hire or manages through disruption.
For instance, a retail services client may need an interim controller while recruiting for a permanent role. Or an HR team may bring in an interim HR director after a sudden departure, ensuring compliance and continuity.
When it works best:
- Leadership vacancies due to turnover, leave, or growth
- Times of transition such as mergers & acquisitions or reorganizations
- Companies needing stability while hiring full-time talent
Key takeaway: Interim talent provides continuity and leadership during change, ensuring business momentum doesn’t slow.
What Is Project-Based Support?
Project-based roles are designed to solve a specific problem with a clear beginning and end. Instead of filling a seat, these consultants focus on outcomes—delivering measurable results against a defined scope.
For example, Brillect consultants might:
- Lead a digital transformation project in HR, rolling out a new HCM system
- Implement a new ERP or financial planning tool for the finance team
- Develop a post-merger integration plan during an acquisition
When it works best:
- Specialized expertise for a one-time initiative
- Clear goals, timelines, and deliverables
- Organizations that need extra hands or outside perspective for execution
Key takeaway: Project-based talent delivers solutions, not just capacity—helping companies achieve results quickly.
How They Work Together
While distinct, these models often overlap. A company might bring in a fractional HR leader to guide strategy, while also deploying project-based consultants to implement new systems. Or a fractional CFO may step in to build financial maturity while an interim controller keeps day-to-day operations steady.
This mix-and-match approach is what makes modern advisory services and consulting services so powerful: you get the right expertise, at the right time, in the right way.
Why Brillect?
As a business consulting firm in Minneapolis, Brillect was built to give organizations flexible access to top-tier expertise. We know every company’s needs are unique, which is why we tailor each of our offerings – digital & technology, HR, finance & accounting, and mergers & acquisitions – to fit the situation.
Whether you need:
—A fractional executive to guide long-term growth
—An interim leader to steady the ship during change
—Or a project-based team to deliver outcomes
…Brillect brings the right people together to reimagine how work gets done.
