For sponsors, CEOs & search partners
Finance leadership during a transition, a growth phase, or a period that calls for clearer cash and operating visibility.
An interim CFO mandate should establish clear ownership, reliable information, and a practical review rhythm. I bring CFO experience at HeyTutor and finance transformation work in private equity portfolio companies. The scope below describes a proposed engagement; the experience section provides examples of completed work.
The business need
A leadership transition, growth, or an acquisition program can change what a business needs from finance. The immediate priority may be cash visibility, a more useful board package, or an operating plan management can use to make decisions.
The engagement begins with those business needs and an agreed definition of what the CFO will own. A transition to a permanent CFO will call for a different sequence from a mandate centered on financing or rebuilding reporting.
Proposed mandate
Responsibilities would be agreed around the company’s priorities.
Establish a cash forecast with clear assumptions and regular review. Connect working capital and operating decisions to funding needs. Where financing is in scope, coordinate the analysis, supporting information, and communication required.
Build a consistent view of actual performance, the forecast, and the drivers of change. Give management, the board, and the sponsor a clear explanation of results, expected developments, and decisions requiring attention.
Work with the Controller and accounting team to agree responsibilities for the close, reconciliations, reporting, and escalation of issues. Set review expectations and coordinate external advisers where included in the mandate.
Assess team needs, develop recurring processes, and support hiring or staff development where agreed. Match accountability for finance priorities to the reporting line, decision rights, and resources assigned to the role.
A proposed approach
The sequence would be adapted to the situation and agreed scope.
| Priority | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Confirm ownership | Agree responsibilities, decision rights, and matters requiring CEO, sponsor, or board involvement. |
| Review the information | Assess cash, financial reporting, forecasts, and the quality of the underlying data. |
| Identify urgent decisions | Prioritize the issues affecting liquidity, performance, financing, or the leadership transition. |
| Establish recurring reviews | Assign owners and a management review rhythm, with a clear path for resolving exceptions. |
| Prepare the next stage | Document team priorities, process improvements, and the handoff or longer-term plan. |
Completed work
Examples of past responsibilities and deliverables, with each role’s scope identified.
HeyTutor · CFO role
Used a 13-week cash forecast to anticipate funding needs and negotiated an $8M invoice financing facility to bridge payroll and customer collections. Built the finance function and hired a Controller.
Galloway · FP&A consulting · Kelso / ARA
Integrated five acquisitions into organic and pro forma reporting. The Monthly Reporting Package was recognized by Kelso as best-in-portfolio, and ARA adopted the Value Creation Plan KPI package as a model for other portfolio companies.
Read the acquisition reporting exampleACES · FP&A consulting · General Atlantic
Extended a one-week cash-out forecast to a 13-week forecast with receipts by payer, and trained the assistant controller to maintain it. This work was delivered within an FP&A and finance transformation engagement.
Read the healthcare planning exampleOwnership and resources
At the outset, the CEO, sponsor, and interim CFO should agree on outcomes, responsibilities, and resources. The Controller, operating leaders, and external partners should understand how their work connects to the mandate.
Clear accountability and access to the necessary information give the engagement a practical foundation for making decisions and preparing the next stage.
Explore the finance tools & resourcesStart with the business situation
For a sponsor, recruiter, or management team evaluating an interim CFO need, an initial conversation can establish the business situation, required scope, and whether my experience is a fit.