Fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Cost Discipline, Turnaround & Scalable Growth
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a strategic, hands-on financial leader responsible for bringing discipline, cost control, and scalable financial infrastructure to a 25-unit and growing retail franchise group.
This part-time executive engagement (1020 hours per week) provides the organization with CFO-level rigor and turnaround capability.
The ideal candidate is a financial operator who excels at identifying waste, tightening controls, improving cash flow, and building systems that support profitable scale. This role will shape the financial roadmap and may evolve.
The Fractional CFO will partner closely with the CEO and COO to ensure the company has the financial clarity, reporting accuracy, and cost discipline required to support operational resets, margin expansion, and long-term growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Strategy & Leadership:
Serve as the senior financial advisor to the CEO and COO, providing clear guidance on cost structure, capital allocation, and financial risk
Build a multi-year financial model that supports profitable unit expansion, working capital needs, and ownership returns
Conduct financial due diligence for new units, lease negotiations, remodels, and capital investments
Identify risks to EBITDA targets and develop scenario planning frameworks to guide decision-making
Establish a financial strategy that prioritizes margin protection, cash discipline, and operational efficiency
Financial Reporting & Analysis:
Oversee accurate, timely monthly financial statements and management reporting
Deliver unit-level and portfolio-level P&L analysis with actionable variance insights
Build a financial dashboard and KPI framework that gives the COO and district managers visibility into performance drivers
Ensure reporting aligns with franchise requirements and ownership expectations
Create transparency around cost centers, margin erosion, and financial trends
Budgeting, Forecasting & Cash Management
Lead the annual budgeting process with a focus on cost control and realistic operational assumptions
Maintain rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts and actively manage working capital
Monitor cash position, debt service, and banking covenants
Identify opportunities to improve cash conversion cycles, renegotiate vendor terms, and optimize capital deployment
Build a cash discipline culture across the organization
EBITDA Optimization & Cost Control:
Partner with the COO to implement accountability structures that protect and grow EBITDA
Analyze labor productivity, COGS, occupancy costs, and overhead to identify inefficiencies and cost leaks
Lead cost-reduction initiatives, procurement improvements, and vendor renegotiations
Provide financial modeling for pricing, product mix, and promotional strategies
Build a margin-focused operating rhythm that supports both turnaround and scale
Accounting, Compliance & Controls:
Oversee the accounting function and ensure strong internal controls across all units
Manage relationships with CPA firms, tax advisors, lenders, and franchise financial reporting partners
Ensure compliance with GAAP, tax obligations, and franchise financial reporting standards
Review and approve month-end close, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation
Strengthen audit readiness and financial accuracy across the organization
Technology & Systems:
Evaluate and implement financial systems, POS integrations, and reporting tools that support scale
Standardize financial data collection and reporting across all units
Automate manual processes to reduce errors and increase efficiency
Build a scalable financial infrastructure that supports growth from 25 to 50+ units
Growth & Transaction Support:
Support ownership in evaluating new unit economics, real estate pro formas, and ROI analysis
Prepare financial packages for lenders, SBA financing, or investor discussions
Advise on recapitalization, exit planning, or future transactions
Ensure growth decisions are grounded in financial discipline and long-term profitability
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
12+ years of progressive finance experience, including 35 years at CFO or VP Finance level
Experience in multi-unit retail, franchise, restaurant, or consumer-facing environments
Demonstrated success in cost reduction, cash optimization, and EBITDA improvement
Hands-on experience with accounting oversight, month-end close, and internal controls
Proven ability to deliver CFO-level output in a fractional or part-time capacity
Strong working knowledge of GAAP and franchise financial reporting requirements
Preferred:
Direct franchise system experience (franchisee or franchisor)
Experience scaling companies
Familiarity with SBA lending, commercial real estate financing, and franchise capital structures
CPA, CFA, or MBA
Experience with POS systems, cloud accounting platforms (QuickBooks, NetSuite), and BI tools
Competencies & Attributes
Turnaround-focused financial operator who can quickly identify waste and implement cost discipline
Strategic thinker who simplifies complexity and communicates clearly to non-financial leaders
Disciplined and structured, bringing rigor without unnecessary bureaucracy
Trusted advisor with high integrity and confidentiality
Comfortable working in a lean, fast-moving environment with multiple priorities
Able to be present for key meetings while managing the role remotely or hybrid