What Is a Fractional CFO?

A Fractional CFO is an experienced financial executive who provides high-level CFO services to businesses on a part-time, contract, or retainer basis—without the commitment and cost of a full-time hire.

But here's the difference: most fractional CFOs come from Big 4 firms or corporate finance roles.

I come from:

• Managing $33B+ in combat operations in the Middle East
• Serving as CFO for America's largest nuclear missile wing ($720M budget, 140 personnel)
• Leading financial operations for PE-backed companies (managed 2 acquisitions, drove 50% growth)
• Starting as an E-1 (lowest rank) and earning my way to Major and Squadron Commander

That's not just different experience—it's a completely different level of pressure, accountability, and results.

I've also sat in the finance seat for companies raising on SAFEs and first priced rounds. Two of those clients have closed.

How a Fractional CFO Helps Your $3–25M Business

1. Strategic Financial Leadership

You get CFO-level thinking without CFO-level salary. I bring:

• Zero-Based Budgeting: Saved $2.4M at Malmstrom AFB, defended $80M budget, secured $12M increase
• Real-time dashboards: PowerBI, Tableau, NetSuite—so you know your numbers now, not at month-end
• Scenario planning: What happens if revenue drops 20%? What if you acquire a competitor? I model it.
• KPI frameworks: Metrics that actually drive decisions, not vanity numbers

2. M&A Due Diligence & Integration

Whether you're buying, selling, or getting acquired:

• Buy-side DD: I uncover risks before you sign (saved clients from bad deals)
• Sell-side prep: Clean up financials, maximize valuation, stage for exit
• Integration: Merge operations without losing momentum (did this at Entech—2 acquisitions, $9M growth)

3. Crisis Management & Firefighting

When things go sideways, you need someone who's led through chaos:

• Took command during COVID-19 at Malmstrom, led 140 people to #1 global ranking
• Managed $33B in combat operations—your quarterly close doesn't rattle me
• Rapid turnarounds: Assess fast, fix what's broken, build for long-term

4. Cost Optimization (Without Breaking Things)

Most "cost-cutting" is just layoffs and panic. I do strategic reallocation:

• Zero Base Review methodology: Every dollar justified, legacy waste eliminated
• Procurement savings: Contracted Procurement-as-a-Service at ARCOS, saved $158K/year
• Process efficiency: Reduced production time 80% at Malmstrom while cutting labor costs $5M

5. Audit, Compliance & Risk Management

If you're facing audits, lender covenants, or regulatory requirements:

• Performed first combat zone audit in 5 years (Iraq)—found $2M in excess funds
• Internal control design: Built for scale, not bureaucracy
• Risk frameworks that work: Not theoretical—tested under fire

6. Team Development & Leadership

I don't just "do the work"—I build your team's capabilities:

• Led teams of 140+ people, turned underperforming orgs into award-winning operations
• Mentorship: Develop your finance team so they grow with the business
• Hiring: I know what good finance talent looks like (and how to keep them)

How It Works

Step 1: Discovery Call (Free)

We talk about your business, challenges, and goals. I assess if fractional CFO services are the right fit.

Step 2: Engagement Design

I don't do cookie-cutter packages. We design an engagement that fits your needs:

• Ongoing retainer: 10 hours / $5,000 or 20 hours / $7,500 per month
• Project-based: M&A, Zero Base Review, audit prep, system implementation
• Interim CFO: Full-time for 3-6 months during transition

Step 3: Execute & Deliver

I start fast. No 90-day "learning phase." I assess, prioritize, and deliver results.

What Makes Me Different

Most Fractional CFOs	Gabriel Denny
Big 4 background, corporate finance	E-1 to squadron commander. CFO, 341st Comptroller Squadron (nuclear ICBM wing). PE-backed operator.
Theory and best practices	Real experience under actual pressure
Managed risk in spreadsheets	Managed $33B+ when mistakes had real consequences
Never worked their way up	Started as E-1 (lowest rank), earned every promotion
Crisis = conference calls and committees	Led 140 people to #1 ranking during COVID-19

Pricing

Two retainers. Project work on top when you need it.

• 10 hours / $5,000 per month
• 20 hours / $7,500 per month
• Project work: M&A, zero-base reviews, and systems — quoted separately

Compare this to: Full-time CFO salary $150K-$250K/year + benefits + equity. You get the same level of leadership at a fraction of the cost. Bookkeeping stays with your CPA.

The two retainers, what’s in and what’s not: pricing. Same math versus a full-time hire: fractional CFO vs full-time. Defense contractors: GovCon CFO and DCAA / SF 1408. Construction: job cost, WIP, bonding. Raising on a SAFE or first priced round: diligence-ready books.

Questions I get

What does a fractional CFO engagement cost?

10 hours / $5,000 or 20 hours / $7,500 per month. Project work for M&A, zero-base reviews, and systems is quoted separately.

Who is this for?

$3–25M tech, defense contractors, and construction. US Central and Eastern time zones. I have also sat in the finance seat for early-stage tech companies raising on SAFEs and first priced rounds.

Do you replace my CPA or bookkeeper?

No. Bookkeeping stays with your CPA. I run the executive finance seat — cash, forecast, the pricing of decisions, M&A, and systems.

How do we start?

Book 30 minutes. We talk about the business. If it is a fit, we design the engagement. No long-term lock-in required.

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll discuss your business, challenges, and whether fractional CFO services are the right fit. No pressure, no sales pitch—just a conversation.

Book 30 minutes or call (616) 881-6777