BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
The Benefits of a Fractional CFO BY CHERYL L. MUCHA, CPA, CFO YOUR WAY
When a company is not yet ready to bring on a full-time chief financial officer (CFO), a fractional CFO can be a great solution. A fractional CFO is a longer-term, parttime member of the team. This financial professional (or firm) is generally contracted on an outsourced basis, made easier today through cloud-based bookkeeping and team collaboration software. The fractional CFO may work on premises, remotely or a combination of both, depending on the company’s needs. As a part timer with set hours and days appropriated to the organization, this individual may be working for several other clients at the same time. WHY A FRACTIONAL CFO? There are many small and midsize businesses that are ready to benefit from the expertise of a seasoned finance and accounting professional but do not want to take on the cost of a full-time CFO. Companies of this size, which are maturing, likely have a bookkeeper on staff and may even have a corporate accountant or an accounting department. However, the timing or need for a full-time CFO may not be right for a variety of reasons. As companies grow, corporate accounting becomes more complex and, with it, the need for more sophisticated financial interpretation increases. Additionally, a CFO takes a 360-degree view of the organization — financially and operationally — and uses the numbers to create meaningful projections to guide the business toward a sustainable future.
STRONG SUPPORT TO THE C-SUITE A CFO offers advisement and expertise in the financial and operational areas of a business and may have specific knowledge and experience in certain industries or types of companies. Beyond budgeting, forecasting, monthly or annual financial analyses, and tax filing assistance, a fractional CFO offers strong support to corporate accountants and the C-suite through vital, sophisticated services including the following: y Implementing or upgrading the accounting system y Interpreting the numbers to identify profit centers and opportunities for cost savings or revenue enhancement y Building cash flow models to help with planning y Gleaning key performance indicators from financial data to guide leadership decisions y Advising on capital market activities that may affect the company y Positioning the company for a merger or acquisition, attracting equity partners or raising outside capital, or restructuring or refinancing debt y Performing due diligence and valuations on business transactions or acquisitions y Preparing the company to enter a new market or expand its vertical integration y Providing leadership and direction to the organization and support to upper management that aligns with corporate goals to improve profitability, build market share and nurture growth y Developing strategies for corporate reinvestment y Ensuring that the company’s standard operating procedures adhere to best industry practices, support corporate goals and provide the necessary guidelines in all departments y Serving in an advisory role to the C-suite y Reviewing contracts, such as insurance, lease or service agreements
SELECTING THE BEST MATCH While many companies will do well with a generalist, certain industries do require a fractional CFO with experience and knowledge in their area due to financial complexities, such as real estate, logistics (e.g., distribution, warehousing, transportation) and manufacturing. Other companies may need a fractional CFO with expertise in specific functions: go-to-market strategies, M&A matters, debt negotiation, brand expansion, international business/subsidiaries, or succession planning and exit strategies. In addition, this person will be in the role of trusted advisor; therefore, the fractional CFO must mesh well personally and professionally with corporate culture, leadership and staff. Communication and leadership style are important soft-skill factors to consider when matching the right person to the company. Bringing on a full-time CFO is an important business decision. However, using a fractional CFO is an option that can be an excellent transition step — or may be the ideal long-term solution. Cheryl L. Mucha, CPA, is the owner of CFO Your Way LLC. She can be reached at cheryl@cfoyourway.com or 973-897-0650.
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NEW JERSEY CPA | FALL 2021
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