What is a part-time / temporary / contract Finance Executive?

A part-time/temporary / contract Finance Executive (”Contract Finance Executive”) offers the expertise of a senior-level Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director or Controller, but on a part-time or contract basis. For startups, or small to medium sized businesses, I can give you committed, day-to-day financial management at the scale you need.

Additionally, I provide crucial financial leadership and manpower during times of staff transition and growth. The elevated need for a, or the departure of an existing, CFO, Controller, or other key finance staff can strain a business during the recruiting process. I have years of experience adapting to the unique needs and cultures of different businesses experiencing such rapid change and can contribute to your company’s seamless staffing transition.

What are the benefits of a Contract Finance Executive

“Scale” is the overriding key benefit of a Contract Finance Executive. I offer the expertise of a senior-level Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director or Controller, but on a part-time or contract basis. I provide financial leadership and experience at a fraction of the cost of a full-time position while providing instant flexibility by being there on short notice, for limited or long term engagements

And since you are by-passing the “Middle Man” and dealing directly with me, you further reduce your cost by avoiding any agency placement fees or rate markups.

What kind of services does a Contract Finance Executive provide?

Forecasting, Cashflow and Budgeting Analysis - Forecasts and budgets are necessities for effectively leading a business to profitability. You must know what activities and assumptions have had the greatest impact on your business’s success, and project them into a model for future growth. Forecasts and budgets may also be necessary for preparing grant proposals, seeking additional financing, and evaluating alternative business strategies. I will prepare an annual and monthly budget that will serve as your financial operating plan and will forecast your company’s present financial condition, estimate financing requirements, and monitor cash flow sources and uses. Depending on the scale and needs of your business, I will provide simple projections or complex financial models. You will then be able to monitor your business’s progress by comparing actual performance against this plan.

Implementation and Management of Financial Reporting - System Well-organized financial processes ensure that your day-to-day business operations run smoothly. I evaluate your current processes from a technological and organizational perspective and recommend effective ways to manage your routine financial tasks. If necessary, I help you choose and implement the specific accounting system that suits your needs. I also collaborate with legal, insurance, banking, and human resource professionals to establish appropriate administrative systems. I also educate and mentor your staff to ensure that bookkeeping, payroll management, benefits administration, and other “back-office” administrative tasks are carried out in the most efficient manner possible.

Data-warehousing Development and Management - Bringing the world of finance and technology together seamlessly is truly the “Next Big Thing” in the world of finance. I have gained an intermediate knowledge of various programming languages and systems relating to the migration of large amounts FROM the data captured by “transaction” databases and general ledgers TO executive “dashboard” solutions. My experience in MS Access development, VBA, mySQL, PHP and an in depth knowledge of MS Excel gives me an understanding of the challenges faced by IT Departments when developing solutions for Finance Departments. The emergence of XML and XBRL also puts additional pressure on finance professionals to be well versed in all things ‘Data”. My interest and aptitude in these areas result in a unique perspective and skill set contributing to more accurate and reliable reporting solutions for you.

Sarbanes-Oxley (”SOX”) - The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) puts additional pressure on corporate finance teams. Already strained and over-worked finance departments must come up with more resources to meet the requirements of the Act. I have been involved with implementing the Act since its inception and have years of experience in documenting, evaluating and testing the internal controls of various companies, processes, and business cycles.

Private, Internal and SEC Financial Reporting - In-depth financial reporting of past business activity is extremely useful for making management decisions, and can help you find constructive ways to maximize your company’s profitability and efficiency. Management, investors, lenders, and taxing authorities also all need accurate, timely statements of your business’s profitability. I take a leadership role in the reporting process and will help prepare your company for an audit or review and coordinate the process in an efficient and reliable manner. I prepare and compile internal-use financial reports in accordance with applicable accounting standards for your company. Please note that in the preparation and compilation of your reports, I express no independent opinion or any other form of assurance on the underlying information included in those reports.

Debt and Financing Services - Let me help you secure financing for your business or consolidate your current business debt to a more manageable level. Throughout my career I have formed relationships with reputable venture capitalists and banking executives eager to partner with progressive entrepreneurs who possess a knack for managing ventures that generate long term profitability.

The goal is simple: to help your company become more profitable.