Fractional Chief Financial Officer (fCFO)

Role Purpose

The Fractional Chief Financial Officer (fCFO) serves as a high-impact strategic financial advisor and client-facing executive for our small-to-mid-sized business clients. Managing multiple client engagements simultaneously, you will be responsible for guiding client CEOs through critical growth decisions, optimizing cash flow and liquidity, establishing tight internal financial controls, and overseeing accounting infrastructure. You will lead strategic financial conversations while utilizing our firm's standardized workflows and cloud ecosystem to deliver exceptional client outcomes.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Serve as the primary strategic financial advisor to client CEOs and owners. Deliver expert guidance on liquidity strategies, margin optimization, cost structures, and growth forecasting across various business stages.

• Financial Oversight & Compliance: Ensure the absolute accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of client financial reporting. Oversee disciplined month-end close processes and review the work product of Controllers to ensure GAAP alignment and audit readiness. Proactively identify and remediate compliance and tax risks.

• Systems & Process Architecture: Review, optimize, and standardize financial workflows within client QuickBooks Online (QBO) environments and the firm's central platform, Canopy. Structure charts of accounts, build efficient bank feed rules, and implement automation to drive workflow efficiency.

• Performance Analytics & Cash Modeling: Build and deploy dynamic 13-week rolling cash flow models and forward-looking financial forecasting strategies. Design and monitor customized KPI frameworks and financial dashboards that uncover margin leakage and shape client strategy.

• Client Relationship Management: Build deep executive trust rapidly in a remote setting. Translate dense financial data into highly clear, actionable advice for non-financial founders and boards.

• Firm Workflow Compliance: Operate efficiently within Carter & Company’s standardized internal systems. Manage all client milestones, task assignments, and timeline statuses transparently within Canopy.

Key Deliverables

• Monthly: Complete Financial Statement Packages (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow), updated client KPI dashboards, and dedicated monthly client advisory review sessions.

• Quarterly: Comprehensive Strategic Financial Reviews, updated budgets/forecast models, and client compliance/risk assessments.

• Ad Hoc: Deep-dive margin analyses, scenario modeling for client hiring or expansion pacing, and QBO cleanup projects.

Role Requirements & Competencies

• Strategic Financial Leadership (20%): Proven capability advising business owners, managing cash runway through volatility, and directly influencing executive decisions.

• Technical & GAAP Expertise (20%): Mastery of QuickBooks Online, robust knowledge of internal controls, compliance risks, and full month-end close cycles.

• Systems & Technology Fluency (15%): Strong experience working within integrated accounting ecosystems (QBO, Canopy, Bill.com, Gusto) and designing automated reporting flows.

• Analytical & Problem-Solving Capability (15%): Exceptional ability to engineer forward-looking cash models, Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) analyses, and pricing models.

• Client Communication & Executive Presence (15%): High emotional intelligence with the ability to step confidently into a trusted partner role for diverse client CEOs.

• Agility, Independence & Fit (15%): Highly organized and self-disciplined; able to balance competing priorities across multiple clients in a high-accountability boutique environment.