External CFO
Looking to secure funding, accelerate growth, or plan an acquisition? A CFO offers expert financial guidance at a significantly lower cost.
External CFO Guide
What does an External CFO do?
See how a CFO can future-proof your business.
How can an External CFO help my business grow?
The role of the modern External CFO has changed. See how.
Our experienced External Chief Financial Officers will deliver transformative leadership.
Any other questions? We’ll answer them here.
Unlock Your Growth Potential with an Experienced External CFO
We take on the responsibility of providing transformative leadership and accountability for the key decisions that drive your business growth, all with complete flexibility and no fixed-term contracts.
1.
Transformative Leadership
A external Chief Financial Officer with a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experience can lead your team to success while helping your business reach new heights.
2.
Immediate Impact
You don’t have to worry about a lengthy learning curve with us. A CFO demonstrates value from day one, leveraging extensive experience to identify your business’s growth potential quickly.
3.
No Risk To You
We don’t believe in long-term contracts or extended notice periods, so we can quickly make changes to our personnel when and if needed.
What Does an External CFO Do?
Engaging an external CFO ensures your company not only stays on top of financials, but also benefits from strategic planning and forward-thinking to build a robust future. Their responsibilities include:
- Financing – With an extensive network of partners and investors, our external Chief Financial Officers can help you access various funding options and guide you through the process.
- Scaling – Interested in scaling, but missing the proper funding, processes, or technology? A CFO has successfully assisted numerous businesses in these endeavours.
- Business Valuation – Uncertain about your growth strategy or how to maximize your business’s value? An external CFO has the answers to ensure your company reaches the value it rightfully deserves.
- Transform/Restructure – As your business matures, its goals inevitably change. A CFO has the expertise and experience to turn this challenging phase into a successful and smooth transition.
- Exit Planning – Contemplating a sale? Prepared businesses sell at higher prices. With the help of an external Chief Financial Officers, you can unlock the genuine value of the company you’ve dedicated yourself to building.
How Can an External CFO Help My Business Grow?
- External CFOs in the modern world are no longer solely responsible for managing numbers and delivering financial support. Their roles have expanded to include acting as commercial business leaders and strategic advisors to CEOs.
- They actively guide team members, offer financial counsel, and help shape comprehensive business strategies that bolster an organization’s long-term ambitions.
- As a growing business, you may lack someone with this degree of expertise, and hiring a full-time CFO can be precarious and costly.
- Leadership Services provides a flexible financial service, granting access to accomplished external Chief Financial Officers who contribute transformative leadership from day one – without the constraints of long-term commitments or high costs.
Knowledge & Experience
Your external CFO possesses over ten years of senior finance experience, coupled with an established record of accomplishments.
No Tie-Ins
Free from recruitment charges and extended contracts, we’re flexible and on-demand to your business needs.
Affordable Model
By opting for an external CFO, small-to-medium-sized businesses can enjoy high-level financial expertise without the hefty expense of a full-time hire.
Complete Flexibility
Your external CFO can start work immediately, and our adjustable contracts enable you to tailor commitments to align with your business demands.
Full-Time Benefits
Proficient in addressing financial needs part-time, we can deliver the same deliverables as a full-time CFO more quickly.
We Join Your Team
Embracing their role as a team member, your CFO contributes more than just consultancy, delivering strategic foresight and driving transformative leadership internally.
Meet Your External CFO
A external Chief Financial Officers experience and expertise enable them to facilitate transformative leadership that furthers your business aspirations.
Trusted By Leading Brands
External CFO FAQs
An external CFO can be worth it for many small and mid-sized companies that need financial expertise but may not have the budget or need for a full-time Chief Financial Officers. They can help a company manage financial risk, improve cash flow, and make more informed financial decisions. External Chief Financial Officers are typically less expensive than full-time CFOs and can be a cost-effective solution for companies that need financial expertise but don’t have the resources to hire a full-time CFO.
The main difference between a CFO and a fractional CFO is that a CFO is a full-time executive responsible for overseeing all financial activities within a company, while a fractional CFO is a part-time CFO who provides strategic financial guidance and support on an as-needed basis.
A CFO is typically a member of the executive team and reports directly to the CEO or board of directors, while a fractional CFO may work with a company’s existing finance team or outside consultants to provide financial advice and support. Fractional CFOs are often less expensive than full-time CFOs and can be a cost-effective solution for small and mid-sized companies that need financial expertise but don’t have the resources to hire a full-time CFO.
An external CFO provides strategic financial guidance and support to a company on an as-needed basis. They can help a company manage financial risk, improve cash flow, and make more informed financial decisions. External Chief Financial Officers can provide a wide range of services, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting, financial reporting, tax planning, and risk management. They may also work with a company’s existing finance team to provide training and support or help the company hire and onboard new finance personnel.
There are several reasons why a business might choose to hire an external CFO, including:
Cost savings: An external CFO can provide expertise in financial strategy and planning without the cost of a full-time CFO. This can be an attractive option for startups and small businesses that may not have the budget for a full-time CFO.
Flexibility: An external Chief Financial Officers can be brought in for specific projects or to provide ongoing support on an as-needed basis. This allows businesses to have access to financial expertise without committing to a full-time employee.
Expertise: A CFO can provide specialised financial expertise and experience that may not be available in-house. This can help businesses make better financial decisions and improve their financial health.
Focus: By outsourcing financial strategy and planning to a fractional CFO, businesses can free up their internal resources to focus on core business activities.
Scalability: A CFO can help businesses scale their financial operations as they grow, providing guidance on financial strategy and planning to support expansion and development.
Interim CFOs and external CFOs are both temporary, part-time solutions for businesses in need of financial expertise, but they differ in a few key ways.
Interim CFOs are typically hired to fill a temporary leadership gap in a company. This could be due to a sudden departure of a CFO or during a transition period when a new CFO is being recruited. Interim CFOs are usually brought in for a fixed period of time, often six to twelve months, and are responsible for leading the finance department, managing day-to-day operations, and developing financial strategies. They are usually full-time employees and work on-site at the company’s location.
External CFOs, on the other hand, are outsourced financial experts who work part-time for multiple clients. They provide strategic financial advice and guidance but do not typically manage the day-to-day financial operations of a company. Fractional Chief Financial Officers are usually engaged on an ongoing basis and work remotely, providing guidance and support as needed. They are often hired by small businesses and startups who cannot afford to hire a full-time CFO.
To summarise, interim CFOs are temporary full-time employees who fill a specific leadership gap, while fractional Chief Financial Officers are part-time outsourced experts who provide strategic financial guidance and support on an ongoing basis.
An external CFO for a startup is a part-time or contract CFO who provides strategic financial guidance and support to a startup on an as-needed basis. Startups often have limited financial resources and may not have the need or budget for a full-time CFO, making an external CFO a cost-effective solution.