Tap into the expertise of a seasoned finance executive immediately.
An interim CFO is a seasoned finance executive who is deployed into a company during a period of transition. Companies may undergo transition for a variety of reasons including the sudden departure of a previous CFO, a merger or acquisition, a major systems migration, or other significant changes in the finance environment.
An interim CFO may stay at a company for a few weeks up to a few years, but the average engagement typically lasts 3-6 months.
If your business is undergoing transition that affects the finance function, an interim CFO may be a great resource to support your company.
An interim CFO can manage an entire finance department or they can handle special projects you assign.
In the event of an unexpected departure of your current CFO, an interim CFO can manage the responsibilities of the chief financial officer. An interim CFO is ready to take over immediately, providing companies with an option of little to no down time in the role. An interim CFO provides a comfortable transition while the company identifies the next permanent CFO. The interim CFO can also help onboard the next CFO, smoothly transferring the duties of the role.
Interim CFOs are trusted resources for many private equity firms who need reliable and fast acting finance executives to serve their portfolio companies. The interim CFO can lead the company through a turn-around and through to sale, or operate as a temporary solution while the permanent CFO is identified.
A major system transition, such as an ERP implementation, is a challenging and resource-intensive undertaking that many companies find difficult to prepare for. An interim CFO can assist in enhancing your organization's change management abilities by offering guidance on resource allocation, training, communication, and other aspects. Since a major systems project requires both financial and personnel resources, we can assist you in adequately planning and coordinating the effort to ensure that your business operations remain healthy even as the organization undergoes significant change.
Our CFOs approach the deal lifecycle in three phases, planning, evaluation, and execution. Included in these phases are valuation, due diligence, negotiation, guiding from strategy setting through to signed sale and purchase agreement.
%201-min.jpg)
An interim CFO is a rapid and reliable solution to your financial executive needs. Bringing on an interim CFO is a low-risk way to cover the responsibilities of the office of the CFO. This is in contrast to hiring a full-time CFO, which can be an expensive undertaking between search fees, benefits, and other payroll related expenses.
McCracken supports companies throughout the United States with interim CFOs, supporting companies as they tackle their toughest challenges.
An interim CFO help your company review and improve accounting policies and procedures. The interim CFO is experienced in working with teams, making sure all personnel are in alignment throughout the finance function. They will check that your organization adheres to all applicable accounting standards and regulations, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
An interim CFO can offer a broad spectrum of advisory services to a company, covering financial planning and analysis, risk management, strategic planning, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, among other areas. The CFO can work in conjunction with the company's management to provide counsel and assistance on any of these matters. Additionally, the CFO can take charge of leading any of these initiatives, overseeing the project from inception to completion.
An interim CFO has the capability to examine all of your tax obligations and ensure that your company complies with all applicable laws and regulations. This involves assisting you in keeping abreast of changes to tax laws and preparing for any potential impact on tax liability. The CFO can pinpoint tax planning opportunities, such as utilizing credits and deductions to reduce tax liability, and can also aid in designing operations in a tax-efficient way. In addition, the interim CFO can provide support for the preparation and submission of tax returns, verifying the accuracy and timeliness of the filing. If the company is selected for audit by the IRS, the interim CFO can assist your company in responding effectively and efficiently to any requests.
Assistance with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be divided into four key areas: identification, target setting, reporting, and decision-making. Initially, an interim CFO collaborates with management to identify the KPIs that are most relevant to your company's operations and objectives. Subsequently, the CFO will assist in establishing targets for each indicator, enabling you to track progress towards your goals. The interim CFO can also aid in monitoring and analyzing the KPIs, providing insights and recommendations for improvement. Additionally, they can assist in generating reports or creating dashboards that enable you to view the KPIs in real-time. These reports and dashboards can be used internally or shared with external stakeholders such as investors or board members. Ultimately, the interim CFO can utilize the KPIs to support informed decision-making throughout the organization. Understanding performance in key areas empowers management to make well-informed decisions on allocating resources and prioritizing initiatives.
An interim CFO is a seasoned finance professional who is prepared for rapid deployment into a new company environment. Depending on the industry, it may be important to find a CFO with industry experience. Though not required, a CPA is an indication of a strong accounting background, which is a primary toolset for a CFO, especially one who needs to quickly assimilate to new financials. In summary, there are many factors to consider and there is no one template for a good CFO. It is important to consider factors such as your company size and industry when identifying a suitable CFO.
Although a startup could gain valuable insights from an experienced industry CFO from its inception, the reality is that the startup's financial and accounting requirements may not justify involving a CFO until it has secured seed funding. At the right time, a startup will best benefit from a fractional CFO first.
An interim CFO will take on all of the responsibilities as if they were the permanent CFO at the company. That means their work is subject to change based on the normal variance in the CFO's duties dependent on the organization's size, industry, and other factors. In rare cases, an interim CFO may be called upon to lead a special project, reporting to the company's permanent CFO who is occupied on other objectives.
We're looking forward to getting to know you and your company. Please fill out this short form so we have more information on how we can support you.
.svg)
.svg)
