Fractional CFO

CFO-level leadership, without the full-time hire.

Many growing companies outgrow their finance function before they can justify a full-time CFO. The controller keeps the books closed, but nobody owns the forecast, the lender relationship, or the margin story the owners and sponsor want to hear.

Metric & Margin gives you an experienced CFO for the days and decisions that need one. Engagements are led by senior finance professionals, backed by more than 30 years of finance leadership across PE-backed and owner-led companies in manufacturing, equipment rental, project-based industries, and international operations.

When a fractional CFO makes sense

• A PE sponsor or lender expects reporting your team cannot yet produce.

• Revenue is growing, but cash stays tight and nobody can say exactly why.

• Product and customer margins are argued about rather than known.

• An acquisition, refinancing, or sale process is on the horizon.

• Leadership makes major decisions without a forecast it trusts.

• The controller is strong on accounting but has no one senior to escalate to.

What we take on

Cash and working capital. A rolling 13-week cash forecast, collections and inventory discipline, and early warning on liquidity pressure.

Forecasting and planning. Annual budget, monthly reforecast, and the scenarios leadership needs before committing to hiring, equipment, or pricing changes.

Margin visibility. Product, customer, location, or project profitability the team can explain and act on.

Sponsor, board, and lender reporting. A monthly package with KPIs and a clear explanation of results, plus covenant and borrowing-base support.

Deals and transactions. Diligence preparation, quality-of-earnings support, add-on integration, and sale readiness.

Finance team leadership. Coaching the controller and accounting team, clarifying roles, and building controls that scale.

How it works

Engagements run on a set schedule, typically a fixed number of days per month on site and remote, sized to your needs and adjusted as they change. Most start with the Finance Health Assessment so the first 90 days focus on what matters most. Pricing is customized after a confidential discovery conversation.

What you can expect in the first 90 days

1. Days 1 to 30: Assessment of close, reporting, cash, and controls. A 13-week cash forecast in place.

2. Days 31 to 60: A monthly reporting package and KPIs leadership and the sponsor agree on. Priority fixes under way.

3. Days 61 to 90: Budget or reforecast, margin analysis, and a roadmap for the next two quarters.

Track record

• Monthly close reduced from 35 days to 5.

• More than $1M in profitability improvement supported.

• A $10M acquisition integrated into existing finance operations.

Common questions

How is this different from hiring a full-time CFO? You get the same level of experience for the time the business actually needs, without a long search or a full executive package. Many clients use a fractional CFO until the business is ready for a permanent hire, and we hand off a documented, working finance function when that hire arrives.

Will you work with our existing controller and CPA firm? Yes. We strengthen your team and work alongside your outside accountants. We do not replace them.

Can you support our PE sponsor's reporting requirements? Yes. Sponsor and lender reporting is one of the most common reasons companies bring us in.

What if we need someone in the seat full time for a while? Then Interim Controller or interim finance leadership may be the better fit. The Health Check will tell you which.

Find out if fractional CFO support fits.

Start with a complimentary, confidential 20-minute Finance Health Check.