INTERIM & FRACTIONAL CONTROLLER /CFO
Senior finance leadership, exactly when and how much you need it.
Whether your finance seat just went empty or you need CFO-level thinking without a full-time hire, you get the same 17+ years of Controller and CFO experience, sized to your situation.
WHICH SOUNDS LIKE YOU?
INTERIM
“Our finance seat is empty.”
A stand-in who closes the books, protects cash and steadies your team, so you can take the time to hire the right person.
FRACTIONAL
“We need a CFO’s thinking, not a full-time hire.”
Ongoing part-time leadership alongside your team: clearer numbers, stronger cash flow and better decisions, without executive overhead.
17+ years Controller & CFO leadership MS in Accounting Certified in Emotional Intelligence , High Performance & Neuro Coach
SOUND FAMILIAR?
The problems owners bring to me most often.
INTERIM
A sudden exit stalls plans and leaves the team without direction. I step in fast and keep everything on track.
“Our Controller just gave notice.”
INTERIM
The Bank, Auditor, the Board: Covenant tests, audit fieldwork, and board packages don’t wait for a hire. I keep them delivered and your credibility intact.
“Everyone is asking for our numbers.”
INTERIM
Staff absorb extra work and worry about what comes next. I lead them with clear priorities and calm, steady communication.
“The team is stretched and uneasy.”
EITHER
Without someone watching liquidity, surprises show up in payroll week. I build a cash forecast you can act on.
“Revenue looks fine; cash feels tight.”
EITHER
Late financials, unreconciled accounts, numbers nobody fully trusts. I bring the close back on schedule.
“The close deadline keeps slipping.”
FRACTIONAL
Growth hides margin leaks. I turn your numbers into dashboards and profitability analysis leadership can act on.
Growing, but I can’t track the money
FRACTIONAL
Finance has no time: I work alongside Finance, Operations and IT to align your chart of accounts, workflows and reports so the new system gives you real visibility.
Switch over ERP for better reporting
FRACTIONAL
Your team records the numbers. I help leadership interpret them, plan, budget and prepare for lender or investor conversations.
“We have an acccounting team, not a strategist.”
WHAT I COVER
The same Controller / CFO work I’ve done full-time for 17+ years.
Interim or fractional, the scope draws from the same two seats. We focus on whichever your business needs most.
Controller
Are the numbers right, on time and under control?
Month-end close and reconciliations
Accurate, timely financial statements
Internal controls and clean processes
Inventory accuracy and cost reporting
Audit and tax coordination with your CPA
ERP conversion, chart of accounts and reporting design
CFO Services
What do the numbers mean, and what should we do next?
Cash flow forecasting and working capital (AR, inventory, AP)
Budgeting, driver-based forecasting and KPIs
Executive dashboards and profitability analysis
Bank relationships, debt and covenant reporting
Capital planning and lender or investor preparation
Board and owner reporting in plain language
CHOOSE YOUR ENGAGEMENT
Two ways to work together.
Your finance seat is empty. Don’t fill it in a hurry.
Interim Controller / CFO ↓
I step in as your interim Controller / CFO: closing the books, protecting cash and keeping lenders, auditors and your team steady, so you can take the time to hire someone with the right skills and the right fit for your culture.
Month-end close
On schedule
13-week cash flow
Updated weekly
Lender & covenant reporting
Delivered
Finance team
Led and steady
TYPICAL ENGAGEMENT
$16,500-$27,000
[per month/per engagement]
From first week to a clean handoff
STABILIZE
01
Assess the books, cash position and deadlines so nothing urgent gets missed in the first weeks.
RUN & IMPROVE
02
Lead the close, reporting and team, and fix the processes your new hire would otherwise inherit.
CONSISTENT
HELP YOU HIRE RIGHT
03
Define what the role truly needs, then evaluate candidates for technical skill and cultural fit.
HAND OFF
04
Onboard your new Controller / CFO with documented processes, so they start strong from day one.
The process may include each of these stages, tailored to your organization.
Why you shouldn’t rush this hire
Technical talent gets someone through the interview. Cultural fit is what makes a finance leader last.
46%
of newly hired executives fail within 18 months, most often from poor cultural alignment, not lack of skill.
213%
of annual salary: the estimated cost of replacing a senior executive.
$532K
LeadershipIQ
Center for American Progress
what that looks like on a $250,000 Controller / CFO package, before any damage to reporting, lenders or morale.
Illustrative calculation
FRACTIONAL CONTTROLLER / CFO
Executive-level financial leadership, without the full-time overhead.
I don’t replace your team. I work alongside leadership and finance to strengthen visibility, align finance with operations, and make sure the numbers are interpreted and acted on, not just reported. The goal is to build your organization’s financial capability, not dependency.
Strategic Advisory
8 hours / [week or month]
$7,100+
Monthly reviews, interpretation for leadership and a sounding board for key decisions.
Engaged Leadership
16 hours / [week or month]
$14,100+
Adds budgeting and forecast oversight, cash planning and hands-on process improvement.
Embedded CFO
24–40 hours / [week or month]
$22,000- $36,000+
Deep involvement in strategy, capital planning, lender relationships and ERP transitions.
Most engagements begin with a 3-month advisory period so leadership has time to implement improvements and establish stronger financial visibility.
How we work…
STABILIZE
01
Assess the books, cash position and deadlines so nothing urgent gets missed in the first weeks.
RUN & IMPROVE
02
Lead the close, reporting and team, and fix the processes your new hire would otherwise inherit.
HELP YOU HIRE RIGHT
03
The process may include each of these stages, tailored to your organization.
Define what the role truly needs, then evaluate candidates for technical skill and cultural fit.
HAND OFF
04
Onboard your new Controller / CFO with documented processes, so they start strong from day one.
A fractional CFO can increase the value of your business and your leadership’s capacity to solve new problems as you scale.
🔄️
Not sure which fits? You don’t have to choose forever.
Many interim clients move to a fractional engagement once their new hire is settled, and some find fractional covers what they needed all along. We’ll figure out the right fit on our first call.
Hi, I'm Cary. I've been there.
CARY AMARO
Controller/CFO
For 17 years, I wasn’t hired just to report performance. I was expected to improve it.
When operations struggled, I didn’t stay behind a spreadsheet. I partnered with operations, sales, purchasing, production and leadership to diagnose what was driving the numbers, then worked toward solutions that led to healthier financial statements.
Today I pair that Controller and CFO experience with certifications in Emotional Intelligence, High Performance and Neuro Coaching, because sustainable performance starts when business and people are aligned. It’s rarely just about the numbers.
Confidential from day one
Before any engagement begins, we sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement so every financial and operational detail you share stays strictly confidential.
Your decisions stay yours
A brief Management Acknowledgment confirms your organization retains responsibility for the information provided and full ownership of its decisions and direction.
Once the registration form is filled, please schedule a 15-20 min Service Registration Call to review your service requirements.