What is a 'consultant'?

Answer 1

Here is a definition that I recently created for a Search Engine Optimized financial glossary: A consultant is an individual or firm that offers expert advice or provides a professional service in exchange for a fee or commission. Normally, a consultant is not an employee of a contracting company, rather a consultant works as an independent party. A consultant is usually very skilled, having vast training in and knowledge of a particular field. Often a consultant will provide services for a specified period of time or on a project basis. A consultant may be one of the following types: a computer consultant, an accounting consultant, a communications consultant, a marketing consultant, a finance consultant, among others. A consultant that works with an organization to develop a new strategy or methodology, or a consultant engaged solely to help a company solve a problem is often referred to as a facilitator.