A partner inside your operation. The Fractional CFO
Ongoing financial leadership shaped to how your business actually runs.
Westport Financial provides recurring financial support across three levels: business advisory, outsourced controller services, and fractional CFO services. The right level depends less on company size than on the complexity of the decisions you are making and the quality of the financial information available to make them.
Some businesses need dependable monthly reporting and financial guidance. Others need stronger controllership, short-term cash management, and better internal financial processes. Companies facing rapid growth, financing, acquisitions, margin pressure, or ownership transition may need CFO-level leadership.
The purpose of the recurring partnership is to give you the level of financial support your business needs now, with the ability to deepen that support as the company changes.
Support that can grow with you
Choose the level that fits the decisions in front of you today, then deepen the partnership as your business changes.
What Is a Fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO is an experienced financial executive who provides CFO-level leadership on a part-time or outsourced basis.
Instead of hiring a full-time Chief Financial Officer, a business gets access to strategic financial planning, forecasting, cash flow management, scenario modeling, lender or investor support, and executive decision-making at a level appropriate to its needs.
Fractional CFO services are especially useful when the financial questions facing the business have moved beyond bookkeeping and historical reporting.
A fractional CFO can help answer questions such as:
- How much cash will we need over the next 90 days?
- Can we afford to hire or expand?
- Which products, customers, or divisions are actually generating margin?
- What happens if revenue falls 10 percent or grows 30 percent?
- How much debt can the business comfortably support?
- Are we financially prepared for an acquisition, financing round, or sale?
- Which KPIs should leadership be watching each week or month?
The CFO role is to use financial information to help management make better decisions.
Fractional CFO vs. Part-Time CFO vs. Virtual CFO
The terms fractional CFO, part-time CFO, virtual CFO, and outsourced CFO are often used to describe similar arrangements.
The biggest difference is usually how the service is delivered rather than the underlying objective.
A part-time CFO may work with the company for a set number of hours or days each month. A virtual CFO typically works remotely. An outsourced CFO may be provided by an outside firm rather than employed directly by the company.
Westport’s model is built around the work the business needs rather than a job title or arbitrary block of hours.
For some companies, that means weekly cash flow meetings and strategic forecasting. For others, it means participation in leadership discussions, financing decisions, pricing strategy, or acquisition planning.
When Do You Need an Outsourced Controller Instead?
Not every company that has outgrown bookkeeping needs a CFO.
Sometimes the more immediate need is stronger financial management.
An outsourced controller sits between bookkeeping and CFO-level strategy. The controller is responsible for the integrity of the financial information management relies on, including accrual accounting, month-end close, financial controls, reporting, cash management, and coordination with outside CPAs and tax advisors.
Fractional controller services can make sense when:
- Financial statements are late or inconsistent.
- Cash flow surprises are becoming common.
- The company has outgrown cash-basis or basic bookkeeping.
- Accounts receivable needs stronger oversight.
- Management wants accurate profitability reporting.
- The business is preparing for an audit or lender review.
- The owner lacks confidence in the numbers being presented.
Tier 1 – Business Advisory
Starting at $1,500/month
Reliable, Business Advisory and monthly reporting. The foundation every business needs.
Includes:
- Monthly business advisor meeting
- Monthly Financial and operational reporting
- Monthly P&L and Balance Sheet
- QuickBooks Online, Xero, Odoo, or NetSuite management
Tier 2 – Controllership & Finance Management
Starting at $3,000/month
The financial oversight a scaling business requires. For owners who need accurate accrual books, real cash management, and a finance function that thinks ahead.
Everything in Tier 1, plus:
- GAAP-compliant accrual accounting
- Short-term cash management and forecasting
- Monthly benchmark reporting and profitability analysis
- Internal controls and audit preparation
- Direct coordination with your CPA and tax advisor
- Banking and lender relationship support
- A/R acceleration and collections process design
Tier 3 – Fractional CFO
Starting at $6,000/month
Strategic financial leadership for businesses preparing for growth, funding, or transition. The full partnership – inside leadership meetings, on the cap table conversations, in the room when real decisions get made.
Everything in Tiers 1 and 2, plus:
- Strategic financial planning and forecasting
- Investor and lender relations
- M&A support and exit readiness
- Weekly finance and cash flow meetings
- Advanced scenario analysis and decision support
- Executive advisory and leadership team participation
- Pricing and margin optimization
- Incentive plan design and KPI scorecards
When Interim CFO Services Make Sense
Some businesses need CFO leadership for a particular period rather than indefinitely. Interim CFO services can be useful when a company is:
Between CFO hires
Integrating an acquisition
Integrating an acquisition
Raising capital
Restructuring debt
Navigating rapid growth
Preparing for a sale
Rebuilding its finance function
In these situations, the objective is usually to provide experienced financial leadership immediately while helping the company move through a defined transition.
A PARTNERSHIP THAT ADAPTS
Financial Leadership That Grows with the Business
The finance function should become more sophisticated as the decisions facing the business become more sophisticated.
That does not mean every growing company needs a full-time CFO, controller, and internal accounting department.
It means the owner needs financial information that can be trusted, cash visibility that extends beyond the current bank balance, and experienced guidance when the consequences of a decision become significant.
Westport Financial’s recurring partnership model is designed to provide that support at the appropriate level, from business advisory and outsourced controller services through fractional CFO consulting and executive financial leadership.
Not sure where you fit?
Start with a free Cash Flow Evaluation. Thirty minutes. No cost. You’ll leave with a clear picture of where cash is leaking and what the next 90 days look like.
Not sure where you fit?
Start with a free Cash Flow Evaluation. Thirty minutes. No cost. You’ll leave with a clear picture of where cash is leaking and what the next 90 days look like.