For many mid-sized, privately held, or family-owned businesses, the finance department is a significant blind spot. While the team may be capable of handling day-to-day accounting, they often lack the strategic capabilities needed for a high-value transaction or a major growth initiative. This creates a critical talent gap that can hold a company back from reaching its full potential.
As a fractional CFO, my role extends beyond just the numbers; I act as a talent scout and a team developer. I believe that by investing in the people you already have, you can transform your finance department from a reactive back-office function into a powerful strategic asset.
The Problem with Traditional Finance Roles
In many family-owned businesses, the person leading the finance department may have started as an accounts payable clerk and worked their way up to a controller. While they have a deep understanding of the company’s historical financial data, they may lack the strategic insight to handle complex financial challenges like M&A, optimizing cash flow, or implementing a new ERP system. My background as an “operational CFO” means I intrinsically understand how financial decisions directly impact day-to-day operations and vice versa. This integrated perspective allows me to work with your team to bridge the gap between operations and finance, creating a more cohesive and impactful approach.
My Approach to Talent Development
My approach to building a stronger finance team is based on three key principles:
- Mentorship and Training: I will work directly with your team to provide hands-on training and mentorship. I will help them develop new skills in areas like cash flow forecasting, financial modeling, and strategic cost reduction. The goal is to empower them to see the “story behind the numbers” and understand how their work contributes to the company’s overall strategy.
- Process Improvement: I will help your team implement more efficient financial processes and introduce new technologies that can automate redundant tasks. This not only frees up their time for more strategic work but also gives them a sense of ownership over the new system and processes.
- Cultural Transformation: I will work to instill a culture of continuous learning and accountability within the finance department. This is part of a larger, company-wide cultural initiative based on trust and transparency, ensuring that your finance team feels valued, engaged, and directly connected to the company’s mission.
Don’t let a talent gap hold you back from achieving your strategic goals. By partnering with a fractional CFO who can both manage your finances and develop your people, you can build a more resilient and high-performing organization. Your financial house, in order. Your success, realized.
Let’s talk about how to develop your finance team from within.
