INTHEBLACK May 2026 - Magazine - Page 31
ASSESS THE BENEFITS
Another potential drawback of fractional
work is that it may not come with the
entitlements of traditional work such as
annual and sick leave, and freelancers may
not have the same legislative protections
as traditional employees. For example,
Blackham notes that while the
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing
Loopholes) Act 2023 aims to protect the rights
of gig workers in Australia, it is confined to
work mediated by digital platforms.
“We have not seen case law or reforms
around professional contractors in the same
way,” she says. “However, for professionals
such as accountants in Australia, even if
they are freelancing outside the protections
of the Closing Loopholes reforms, there are
still some protections. Work health and safety
laws apply regardless of employment status,
as do discrimination laws.”
To be successful in fractional finance
roles, Iqbal suggests starting with a clear
understanding of your value proposition.
“Are you a turnaround CFO? A compliance
architect? A growth enabler? Define that
before jumping in,” he says.
Fernando recommends following a passion.
“I am not compliance-driven; I am
future-focused. I care about strategy, growth
and exit plans. If your passion is tax advisory,
lean into that instead.” ■
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