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.

How a Fractional CFO Helps Your $1–$30M 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: 10-20 hours/month for strategic leadership
• 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	Combat finance, nuclear base CFO, PE-backed companies
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

Fractional CFO services are customized based on your needs. Typical engagements:

• Strategic retainer: 10-20 hours/month - Starting at $5,000/month
• Project-based: M&A, Zero Base Review, system implementation - Custom quote
• Interim CFO: Full-time for 3-6 months - Custom quote

Compare this to: Full-time CFO salary $150K-$250K/year + benefits + equity. You get the same level of leadership at 1/3 the cost.

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.

Schedule Free Consultation or call (616) 881-6777