Cash flow
- Deliverables
- A forecast with documented assumptions and variance monitoring.
- Decisions it supports
- See upcoming obligations and decide on spending.
Iter Advisors · Ongoing financial management
Part-time CFO
A part-time CFO, also known as a fractional CFO, is a finance director who supports an SME on a recurring basis without a full-time position.
At Iter, 1–8 days per month is an indicative observed volume, not a guaranteed attendance schedule or package of days. Scope and availability are agreed in the quote. Part-time support is recurring; an interim assignment is temporary.
An initial conversation to understand your situation and next steps.
When should you choose a part-time CFO?
Part-time work is the recurring arrangement for a Fractional CFO. It combines a senior finance contact, agreed work and decision-making reviews. The level of support depends on the issues to address, data quality and skills already in the team.
- The business leader assembles the figures before every decision.
- Accounting records are available, but forecasts and reporting remain irregular.
- Growth, investors or multiple entities make financial management more complex.
Part-time CFO deliverables for financial management
Deliverables are agreed during scoping, according to your priorities and available data.
Management reporting
- Deliverables
- A dashboard of results, margins and indicators relevant to your business.
- Decisions it supports
- Understand what is changing and why.
Budget and decisions
- Deliverables
- Revenue, expense and recruitment scenarios documented with the teams.
- Decisions it supports
- Compare options before committing.
A documented engagement : Opti Digital
ERP migration and structuring of the finance function. Support on complex tax and legal matters in conjunction with external advisers. Non-dilutive financing obtained. Participation in strategic decisions, including constructively challenging management's assumptions.
Build a reliable finance function and closing process while migrating the ERP, without diluting the founders to fund growth.
Read the case and its scopeA calendar to prepare decisions
| Review | Prepared work | Decision to support |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly, where needed | Collections, payments and overdue invoices | Prioritize payments and collection follow-ups |
| After the monthly close | Results, reconciliations and budget variances | Understand variances and update assumptions |
| Review with management | Cash flow, expense and recruitment scenarios | Decide on a hire or investment |
| An exceptional deadline | Scenarios and bank or investor documentation | Assess financing terms |
This calendar is illustrative. Reviews, work and availability are agreed during scoping. Each review ends with a decision, an owner and a deadline, followed up at the next review.
How does a part-time CFO work?
1. Agree priorities
Identify upcoming decisions, contacts and sources: trial balances, general ledgers, bank statements, outstanding invoices, financing agreements and the budget. Agree access, approval steps and the calendar with the accounting firm.
2. Set up financial management
Reconcile data and document missing information. Where needed, prepare a 13-week cash flow forecast, results analysis and exception monitoring. Setup timing cannot be guaranteed before reviewing the data.
3. Monitor and adjust
Analyze variances, prepare decisions and review the scope as your situation changes.
A leadership role coordinated with your team
The CFO works with the business leader, operational managers and the accounting firm. The CFO organizes financial management; daily tasks and decisions have explicitly assigned owners. A need for permanent presence calls for a different arrangement.
The business leader sets priorities and approves commitments. The CFO builds scenarios and analyzes variances. The accounting firm prepares accounts under its engagement terms; operational managers explain orders, inventory and deadlines. Signing authority or bank access does not automatically follow from the engagement.
Fundraising, an acquisition or a major transformation may require additional work. Included deliverables, cover for absences and handling urgent requests are specified in the contract.
How this fits within a Fractional CFO engagementDefine the scope before the quote.
Recurring Iter engagements range from €3,000 to €8,000 excluding VAT per month. The observed 1 to 8 days per month are indicative, not a contractual package: the proposal defines the scope and assigned profile. Detailed pricing helps you assess your needs.
View CFO pricingFAQ : part-time cfo
What is a part-time CFO?
A part-time CFO supports an SME on a recurring basis without being employed by that client. Iter’s indicative volume is 1–8 days per month. The contract defines scope and availability, rather than a credit of days.
How many days per month?
At Iter, the observed volume ranges from 1 to 8 days per month. This is indicative, not a package or credit of days; scope and availability are agreed in the quote.
Part-time CFO or interim CFO?
Part-time support meets recurring needs with agreed availability. Interim support addresses a temporary replacement or transformation assignment, with an agreed exit and handover.
How does this relate to a Fractional CFO?
Fractional CFO describes finance leadership provided outside a salaried role. Part-time work is its recurring arrangement, with planned interventions. An interim CFO addresses a temporary need for continuity or transformation.
Do we need to change accountants?
Not necessarily. Scoping identifies the accounting firm’s work, expected data and the CFO’s role. Clear coordination avoids duplication.
Can we hire a CFO afterwards?
Yes. The engagement can prepare the handover of tools, assumptions and calendars to an internal hire. Handover needs to be included in the scope.
What commitment is required?
Services and changes to scope are recorded in the contract.
Useful resources
Which decision or deadline are you preparing for?
Describe your needs, current organization and calendar. We will identify useful work together.
Describe my needs