Question 1

Who actually does the work? Is it you, or some junior?

Accepted Answer

Stuart Wilson, ACMA CGMA, personally handles every engagement. Every management pack, every reconciliation, every report. Principals only, no junior associates. AI handles volume work (categorization, matching, first-pass reports). The judgment is human.

Question 2

What if I'm not happy after the first month?

Accepted Answer

Full refund. 30 days, no questions, no hard feelings. If the management pack doesn't deliver at least one actionable insight you can act on this quarter, you shouldn't pay for it.

Question 3

You're not a CPA. Should that worry me?

Accepted Answer

No — a CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) and a CPA serve different functions. The CGMA is the joint AICPA/CIMA designation focused on management accounting, strategy, and financial planning. Your CPA handles tax filings and compliance. A fractional CFO handles everything before year end: books, management accounts, forecasts, analysis.

Question 4

How much does a fractional CFO cost?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CFO costs $3,995–$8,995 per month in the US, or £1,995–£5,995 per month in the UK. This is roughly 40–60% less than a full-time CFO hire ($250K–$500K+ salary plus benefits, bonus, and equity). Each month you receive: management accounts, KPI dashboard, 13-week cash flow forecast, budget vs actual variance, AP/AR aging, and strategy calls.

Question 5

What if you make a mistake on my books?

Accepted Answer

Professional liability insurance covers errors. But the system prevents them: AI flags anomalies, I review every number, your CPA provides a third layer at year end. In 24 years in professional finance, zero material audit findings from Big 4 reviews.

Question 6

How fast can you start? I need help now.

Accepted Answer

You can start within 48 hours. After connecting your accounting platform and bank feeds, you receive a diagnostic: open items, reconciliation gaps, and a prioritized cleanup plan. Full onboarding takes one week.

Question 7

I already have a bookkeeper. What happens to them?

Accepted Answer

Your bookkeeper stays — a fractional CFO works above the bookkeeping layer, not instead of it. Your bookkeeper handles day-to-day transaction entry. The CFO turns their data into management accounts, forecasts, KPI dashboards, and strategic analysis.

Question 8

I've been handling finance myself. Do I actually need this?

Accepted Answer

Yes — if you're running a $2M+ business without a dedicated finance function, you're making decisions on incomplete data. A 13-week cash flow forecast, margin analysis by service line, budget vs. actual variance: these turn a growing company into a valuable one.

Question 9

What if I need more than reports? M&A, board prep, exit planning?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Board Ready tier includes M&A advisory, board prep, exit planning, and investor reporting. Real private equity deployment experience at Arle Capital Partners, The Bancroft Group, and Leaf Clean Energy PLC.

Question 10

What happens if my business outgrows your service?

Accepted Answer

When you outgrow fractional, your CFO helps you hire the full-time replacement — that's by design. Job spec, candidate evaluation, smooth transition. Most businesses need 12–24 months of fractional before full-time makes economic sense.

Question 11

Do you work with construction companies?

Accepted Answer

Yes — construction is a core vertical. WIP schedules, job cost reconciliation, overbilling/underbilling analysis, AIA billing, and percent-complete revenue recognition. Construction companies lose 3–8% margin on every project without proper financial controls.

Question 12

Can you handle SaaS metrics and recurring revenue models?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. MRR, ARR, churn, LTV:CAC, net revenue retention, cohort analysis, and burn rate tracking are standard deliverables. Metrics dashboards that speak investor language, not just bookkeeper language.

Question 13

What about law firms and professional services?

Accepted Answer

Law firms are ideal for fractional CFO support. Trust accounting compliance, IOLTA reconciliation, partner distribution planning, realization rate tracking, and WIP aging analysis. Most firms have 15–25% leakage between billed and collected amounts.

Question 14

Do you work with e-commerce or DTC brands?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contribution margin by channel/SKU, inventory management and COGS tracking, marketplace fee reconciliation (Amazon, Shopify), customer acquisition cost analysis, and 3PL cost optimization.

Question 15

Can you support PE-backed or VC-backed companies?

Accepted Answer

Core strength. Experience on the PE side at Arle Capital Partners and The Bancroft Group. Monthly board packs, variance analysis, KPI dashboards, covenant tracking, and exit-ready reporting.

Question 16

Can you handle US and UK entities together?

Accepted Answer

Yes — cross-border US/UK finance is a key differentiator. ACMA/CGMA qualified in both jurisdictions. Intercompany eliminations, transfer pricing documentation, FX management, and consolidated reporting across US and UK entities.

Question 17

We have multiple subsidiaries on different accounting systems. Can you consolidate?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multi-entity consolidation across QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage, or any combination. Intercompany eliminations, minority interest calculations, and standardized consolidation templates.

Question 18

Do you handle fund accounting or fund administration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NAV calculations, investor allocations, capital calls, distribution waterfalls, and LP reporting. Direct experience with Leaf Clean Energy Company administration including investment pipeline and due diligence.

Question 19

What accounting software do you work with?

Accepted Answer

All major platforms: QuickBooks Online/Desktop, Xero, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, FreshBooks, Wave. Plus construction tools (Procore, Buildertrend, Foundation), PM platforms, and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau).

Question 20

What do you mean by AI-powered financial reporting?

Accepted Answer

AI handles the volume work: categorizes transactions, matches invoices, flags anomalies, generates first-pass variance commentary. Every number and recommendation is reviewed by a human before it reaches your desk. Enterprise-grade thoroughness at fractional pricing.

Question 21

Can you help us migrate from QuickBooks to NetSuite?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chart of accounts mapping, historical data migration, parallel running, user training, and post-migration reconciliation. Most failed ERP migrations fail because nobody mapped the business processes first.

Question 22

How do you handle data security and confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

All data encrypted in transit and at rest. Read-only bank feed connections, MFA on all platforms, signed NDAs before engagement. Professional liability (E&O) insurance carried. Financial data never touches shared infrastructure or AI training datasets.

Question 23

Are you SOX compliant? Can you help with audit prep?

Accepted Answer

SOX-aligned controls implemented for companies that need them. Segregation of duties, internal control documentation, reconciliation sign-off procedures, and audit-ready workpapers. Full audit package preparation reduces auditor time and fees.

Question 24

Is there a long-term contract or minimum commitment?

Accepted Answer

No long-term contracts. Month-to-month after the first 30 days. Most clients stay 12–24 months because the service pays for itself. Only requirement: 30 days' notice for clean handover.

Question 25

How much does a fractional CFO cost compared to a full-time hire?

Accepted Answer

Fractional CFO: $3,995–$8,995/month. Full-time CFO: $250,000–$500,000+ annually (salary, benefits, bonus, equity, recruiting). That's a 60–80% cost reduction. For $2M–$15M businesses, you need the right 10–20 hours of CFO time, not 40 hours/week.

Question 26

What's the ROI of hiring a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Most clients see 3–5x ROI within 6 months. Returns from recovered margins, improved cash flow forecasting, reduced audit fees, better pricing decisions, and CEO time savings.

Question 27

Can I start with bookkeeping and add CFO services later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Start at the Controller tier ($3,995/month) for monthly close, reconciliation, and management reporting — then upgrade to CFO or Board Ready tier as needs evolve. Fractional scales with your business.

Question 28

What does reports by the 5th actually mean?

Accepted Answer

By the 5th business day of every month: complete P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statement with written commentary, KPI dashboard, 13-week cash flow forecast, budget vs actual variance, and AP/AR aging. Hard deadline, not a suggestion.

Question 29

How do we communicate? Weekly calls? Slack?

Accepted Answer

Whatever works: monthly deep-dive call when the management pack lands, plus ad-hoc access via email, Slack, or Teams. Response within 4 business hours during US Eastern time.

Question 30

What's your availability? Can you handle my business?

Accepted Answer

Maximum 8–10 active clients at any time. Deliberate limit to ensure senior-level attention on every account. AI handles the scale; the practitioner handles the relationships.

Question 31

What time zone do you operate in?

Accepted Answer

US Eastern Time (EST/EDT), Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM. UK clients accommodated with overlap hours. West Coast clients benefit: reports ready before your day starts.

Question 32

What results can I expect in the first 90 days?

Accepted Answer

Days 1–14: Diagnostic and gap assessment. Days 15–30: First management pack delivered. Days 31–60: Cash flow forecast operational, KPI dashboard live. Days 61–90: Strategic insights — margin analysis, pricing optimization, 12-month financial roadmap.

Question 33

Will this help me sell my business or raise capital?

Accepted Answer

Significantly. Companies with auditable books, KPI tracking, and financial models sell for 1–3x higher multiples. 12–24 months of structured financial management increases valuation and reduces due diligence friction.

Question 34

How is BlackpeakCFO different from other fractional CFO firms?

Accepted Answer

Three things: (1) Principals only — Stuart Wilson handles your account personally. (2) AI-powered accuracy at fractional pricing. (3) Dual US/UK qualification — ACMA CGMA with 24 years across Citigroup, ABN AMRO, and private equity. Not a staffing agency — a senior practitioner with a direct line.

Question 35

What is a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CFO is a senior financial executive who works with your business part-time or on contract, providing the same strategic financial leadership as a full-time CFO at 40–60% lower cost. They handle financial planning, cash flow forecasting, KPI dashboards, board reporting, and strategic analysis — typically for businesses between $2M–$15M in revenue.

Question 36

What is the difference between a fractional CFO and a fractional controller?

Accepted Answer

A fractional controller focuses on financial operations: monthly close, reconciliations, GAAP compliance, and management reporting. A fractional CFO operates at a strategic level: financial modeling, fundraising support, M&A advisory, board presentations, and growth planning. Many businesses start with controller services and add CFO-level work as they grow.

Question 37

What is the difference between a CPA and a CFO?

Accepted Answer

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) focuses on backward-looking compliance: tax preparation, audit support, and regulatory filings. A CFO focuses on forward-looking strategy: cash flow forecasting, financial modeling, KPI dashboards, growth planning, and investor relations. Your CPA ensures you comply with the past; your CFO ensures you prosper in the future. Both roles are essential — they complement each other.

Question 38

Do you offer bookkeeping services?

Accepted Answer

BlackpeakCFO offers full-service bookkeeping as part of the Controller tier and above. This includes transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, accounts payable/receivable management, and month-end close. Bookkeeping is the foundation — management accounts, forecasting, and strategic analysis are built on top.

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