The Fractional CFO
In the aftermath of a significant downturn in 2003 that particularly impacted the online world, I was a young accountant, feeling the uncertainty that permeated the business landscape.
Encouraged by entrepreneurial friends, I took a leap and bootstrapped an online shoe company. It didn’t succeed. I learned valuable lessons about how costs can quickly spiral out of control and the sensitivities of a challenging market.
The frustration was real, but it ignited a desire to understand the intricacies of business more deeply. I continued to work in the accounting field and learnt along the way how to manage tight cash flows within struggling businesses.
I saw first-hand the anxieties and fears business owners would go through to just keep the lights on. I was spending this time learning how to support struggling owners with their business.
As the economy began to recover, I ventured into creating a part-time property portfolio to compliment my full-time accounting job. For a time, things looked promising. However, the major economic crisis of 2008 then struck, leading to me having to dispose of my portfolio. This was a tough period, a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the economy.
I was grateful to have the stability of my accounting career to fall back on. I continued to see the devastating impact the financial crisis had on the businesses around me. I continued to manage tight finances of the business I worked with and witnessed first hand how easily businesses can fail without the right people onboard.
It was during a later phase in 2016 that I decided to explore my entrepreneurial side again, leveraging my accounting skills to start a side hustle as a freelance accountant. This was the beginning of my Fractional CFO service, a way to support other businesses financially.
This period was about gradual growth, building expertise, and understanding the diverse financial needs of various enterprises. I realised one thing in common with all the entrepreneurs I would advise was that they all struggled with issues which came natural to me, such as cash flows management, analysing gross margins and how they translate into net margins, balancing the debt-to-equity dilemma.
I had now gained 16 years’ experience working with struggling businesses and had learnt from personal experiences about tough economic situations; I felt like this was the right time to start focusing on helping struggling business owners with their business. So, I started to focus on Fractional CFO services for struggling business owners.
The 2020 pandemic struck, and this became a catalyst for me to fully commit to the entrepreneurial path I had been developing. I started doing my Fractional CFO work full-time.
Having dedicated years to building my Fractional CFO service as a venture, it eventually reached a point of significant momentum. My Fractional CFO service is my full-time success. I help struggling businesses navigate their financial landscapes and achieve sustainable growth.
My journey, marked by initial setbacks, real-world economic lessons, and years of dedicated side-hustle development, allows me to connect with struggling business owners on a genuine level. I understand their concerns because I’ve experienced similar challenges.
My expertise comes not just from theory, but from the practical lessons learned along the way. Like many successful Fractional CFOs who guide businesses through financial complexities, I bring strategic financial leadership and a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey. I’ve learned that obstacles are not dead ends, but rather important opportunities for growth and the foundation for lasting success.