Virtual CFO Services: Finance & Operations Solution Areas
Owners and executives working at mid-sized firms face a broad spectrum of financial and operational challenges. While every company’s goals and objectives will be different, all firms share the need for access to high-level expertise needed to meet these challenges and increase stakeholder value. Often, mid-sized businesses don’t have the in-house financial and operational expertise needed to resolve pressing challenges. In this scenario, the business can engage with a virtual CFO services firm that has addressed these challenges for similar businesses.
Areas for Finance & Operations Solutions
A virtual CFO services provider offers a comprehensive set of financial and operational solutions to meet a wide range of different challenges and needs. To serve as an illustration of the solution scope, we’ve used a graphic that shows the 68 finance and operations areas in which we deliver virtual CFO services. The areas are grouped into 17 rows and are hierarchical in nature. That is, the solutions move from core accounting services at the bottom up to advanced initiatives, performance optimization, governance and compliance and strategy and transactions at the top.
All the different components that contribute to a solution must operate cohesively for a business to realize full value from an engagement with a virtual CFO services firm. Sometimes, however, a less-comprehensive approach is taken. When this happens, the business runs the risk of not maximizing the return on investment from its engagement with the provider. All virtual CFO services solutions focus on delivering targeted value that supports outcomes like the following:
- Improved management decision making
- More clear, accurate and timely data
- Continuous improvement through cost-effective enhancements and expansion
- High-level and long-term strategic planning
- Accelerated development and reduced costs
- Pursuit of new opportunities to increase sales and revenue and boost value
Investigate Virtual CFO Services Firms Carefully
The fact is, not all virtual CFO services firms are created equal. At some firms, the professionals delivering CFO services don’t have real-world experience as former seated enterprise CFOs. For example, the professional may have financial but not operational expertise. In this case, he or she will be unable to see the big picture and provide the level of comprehensive solutions the business needs.
It’s important to work with a virtual CFO services firm that has exceptional depth and breadth in providing a broad spectrum of business finance solutions. Otherwise, financial and operational solutions may just be temporary fixes that don’t adhere to best practices and aren’t fully integrated. While the solution may be faster and less expensive, it won’t deliver maximum value to your business.
Professionals with real-world experience as former seated CFOs will be able to integrate needed interdependent solutions into a bundle that’s focused on one high-level outcome. For example, the professional could team with a business as a project CFO in order to group finance solutions into a bundle that’s focused on a single outcome, such as raising capital to fund growth. After conducting a cash flow analysis, the virtual CFO services professional will perform restatements and update forecasts to ensure that the financial model is both current and accurate. He or she will then incorporate the statements and model into a financing presentation designed to help the business secure a loan or obtain equity financing.
Benefits of Working with the Right Firm
Your business could realize multiple benefits by working with a virtual CFO services firm where the professionals have real-world experience as former seated CFOs, including the following:
Broad and deep experience will be applied to resolve financial and operational challenges correctly.
The on-demand CFO will apply the exact expertise needed to solve challenges in ways that tailor solutions to your company’s specific challenges.
You will realize value in many ways, including tangible, intangible, future and personal value.
Concluding Thoughts
Owners and executives working at mid-sized firms face a broad spectrum of business challenges. Often, however, mid-sized businesses don’t have in-house the financial and operational expertise needed to resolve pressing challenges. The business may need to hire a virtual CFO services firm that has addressed these challenges for other similar businesses. As you investigate virtual CFO services firms, be sure to look for one where the professionals have real-world experience as former seated enterprise CFOs.
Arthur F. Rothberg, Managing Director, CFO Edge, LLC
Related Articles
Outsourced CFO: Who Can Benefit from Engaging One?
Contract CFO: Resolve Financial Challenges Cost-Effectively
What Value Should You Expect from a CFO Consulting Firm?
Three Actions to Expect from a Potential External CFO
How Do You Differentiate Potential CFO Partner Firms?
No Comments