Fractional CFO

An experienced finance leader working part-time across several companies, rather than a full-time hire.

Example

Two days a month to own the model, the board pack and fundraising preparation.

Important

The usual sequence is bookkeeper → accountant → fractional CFO → full-time CFO, and most startups reach for the last one years before they need it.

Related terms

  • Accounting — Turning bookkeeping records into financial statements and meeting filing obligations.
  • Bookkeeping — Recording every transaction accurately and on time.
  • Reporting pack — The standard monthly set you produce and circulate: P&L, cash position and runway, key metrics, and a short commentary.
  • Financial model — A spreadsheet that projects revenue, costs and cash forward from a small set of stated assumptions.

Lessons that explain it

  • Bookkeeper, accountant, CFO — when to hand off — What each one actually does, the order to hire them in, and the parts you should never hand over however big you get. (11 min)

All 176 terms in the Founder glossary