Your finance seat is empty. Don’t fill it in a hurry.
Interim Controller / CFO
While You Search
Month-End close On Schedule
13-Week Cash Flow Updated Weekly
Lender & Covenant reporting Delivered
Finance Team Led & steady
Your permanent hire Chosen with care
The business keeps moving. The Hiring decision gets the ttime it deserves.
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.
17+ years
of Controller & CFO leadership experience + MS in Accounting
Why you shouldn’t rush this hire
A wrong finance leader costs far more than a few extra months of searching.
And it isn’t just the balance sheet: in a CareerBuilder survey, 44% of CFOs said a bad hire greatly affects team morale. Technical talent gets you through the interview. Cultural fit is what makes a finance leader last.
46%
Of newly hired executives fail within 18 months, most often because of poor interpersonal or cultural alignment, not a lack of skill.
Leadership IQ
213%
Of annual salary: the estimated cost of replacing a senior executive once lost productivity, turnover, and disruption are counted.
Center for American Progress
$532K
What that 213% looks like on a $250,000 Controller / CFO package before any damage to reporting, lenders or team morale.
Illustrative calculation
What happens when the finance seat sits empty
SOUND FAMILIAR?
A vacancy rarely stays quiet. These are the problems owners bring to me most often.
01
“Our Controller just gave notice.”
A sudden exit stalls plans and leaves the team without direction. I step in fast and keep everything on track.
Revenue looks fine; cash feels tight.
02
Without someone watching liquidity, surprises show up in payroll week. I build a cash forecast you can act on.
03
The close keeps slipping.
Late financials, accounts that haven’t been reconciled in months, numbers nobody fully trusts. I bring the close back on schedule.
The bank, the auditors, and the board are asking.
04
Urgency is how companies end up rushing the hire. With the seat covered, you can wait for the right person.
The team is stretched and uneasy.
05
Staff absorb extra work and worry about what comes next. I lead them with clear priorities and calm, steady communication.
06
“We just need someone in the seat.”
Covenant tests, audit fieldwork, and board packages don’t wait for a hire. I keep them delivered and your credibility intact.
WHAT I COVER WHILE YOU SEARCH
The same Controller / CFO work I’ve done full-time for 17 +years
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
CFO
What do the numbers mean and what should we do next?
Key financial signals currently affecting performance
Budgeting, KPIs and executive dashboards
Bank relationships, debt and covenant reporting
Profitability and margin analysis
Board and owner reporting in plain language
ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE
From first week to a clean handoff
01
Assess the books, cash position, and deadlines. Nothing urgent gets missed in the first weeks.
Stabilize
02
Run & improve
Lead the close, reporting, and team, and fix the processes your new hire would otherwise inherit.
03
Define what the role truly needs, then help evaluate candidates for technical skill and cultural fit.
Help you hire right
04
Onboard your new Controller / CFO with documented processes, so they start strong from day one.
Hand off
A résumé shows what someone can do. Fit shows whether they’ll do it here.
TALENT + CULTURE
After weeks inside your finance function, I know how your owners make decisions, how your team communicates, and what pressure really looks like in your business. That’s the insight you need to judge cultural fit and it’s why I’m certified in Emotional Intelligence as well as experienced in the numbers.
Typical engagement range
$16,500 –
$27,000*
A job description built on reality
Written from inside the role, not from a template.
Technical and behavioral interviews
Candidates tested on the work and on how they lead people.
No pressure to settle
With the seat covered, “not quite right” is an easy no.
Why Work With Cary
For more than 17 years, I wasn't hired simply to report financial 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 teams to uncover what was driving the numbers.
Together, we diagnosed what was driving the numbers, then worked toward solutions, which ultimately led to healthier financial statements.
Today, I combine the real-world Controller and CFO experience with certifications in Emotional Intelligence, High Performance, and Neuro Coaching because sustainable business performance starts when business and people are aligned; it’s rarely just about the numbers.
Because this work is deeply personalized, I limit the number of Private Executive Advisory relationships. This ensures every client receives the level of attention, preparation, challenge, and trusted partnership they deserve.
If you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.
Let’s Chat
Schedule a Service Registration Call
Once the registration form is filled, please schedule a 15-20 min Service Registration Call to review your service requirements.