Definition:
A Fractional CFO (Chief Financial Officer) is a highly experienced finance professional who works with businesses on a part-time, contract, or project basis. Instead of hiring a full-time CFO, smaller businesses can “share” one—getting expert strategic guidance without the full-time salary.
They help business owners understand their financials, plan for growth, improve cash flow, and make confident decisions.
What Does a Fractional CFO Do?
Fractional CFOs go beyond bookkeeping or compliance—they take a big-picture view of the business and offer strategic financial leadership. Typical responsibilities include:
- Forecasting and budgeting
- Cash flow analysis
- Financial reporting and insights
- Fundraising or investor support
- Profitability and cost analysis
- Advising on business growth, pricing, or restructuring
They’re often brought in when a business is scaling, facing financial challenges, or preparing for investment or acquisition.
Why Businesses Choose a Fractional CFO
Hiring a CFO full-time isn’t always realistic for smaller businesses. A fractional CFO gives them access to the same level of expertise—but only when they need it.
The benefits include:
- Strategic financial guidance without the overhead
- Flexible engagement—weekly check-ins, monthly reviews, or project-based work
- A fresh, outside perspective on the numbers
- Help building better internal systems and reports
- More time for founders to focus on operations or sales
How Tidyflow Supports Fractional CFOs
Whether you're a firm offering CFO services or a business working with one, Tidyflow helps keep everything streamlined:
- Centralise tasks and documents: Keep financial reports, forecasts, and KPIs organised and accessible
- Collaborate easily: Assign tasks, share comments, and manage approvals between the CFO, internal team, and stakeholders
- Build repeatable workflows: Set up regular monthly reporting, board packs, or cash flow reviews
- Track client deliverables: Know what’s done, what’s due, and what’s waiting on input
- Add engagement letters and e-signatures to formalise the arrangement quickly and professionally
Conclusion
A fractional CFO can be a game-changer for growing businesses. With Tidyflow supporting the background processes, document flows, and team collaboration, they can focus less on chasing admin and more on driving results.