Fractional CFO

Merushka Chetty

Mike Jerman – Why PE Firms NEED Fractional CFOs

In this episode James Kennedy sits down with Mike Jerman, founder of Hollywell Partners, to dive deep into the world of financial due diligence, quality of earnings, and the real work behind private equity deals. Mike shares his unique journey from Air Force captain to PwC director and ultimately founder of a high-performing fractional CFO firm that he later sold to a PE-backed group.
They explore why private equity firms rely on fractional CFOs, the hidden risks revealed in due diligence, and what really separates accounting from financial storytelling when preparing a business for sale. Mike also opens up about how his firm discovered fraud during a routine quality of earnings check – and what business owners can learn from that.
Stick around to the end to hear Mike’s heartfelt tribute to his business mentor, and why mentorship is one of the most underrated drivers of success.

Read More »
Merushka Chetty

Adam Sher – Why Your Tax Accountant Is Killing Growth

In this week’s episode, host James Kennedy is joined by Adam Sher, a seasoned CFO who has worked with some of the most exciting growth-stage companies in the startup ecosystem.
Adam shares what it’s like to parachute into high-growth environments as a fractional CFO, where finance meets chaos, and strategy meets reality. With a background that spans e-commerce, SaaS, and AI, Adam brings a refreshingly honest take on how CFOs can balance operational excellence with founder vision – especially when the numbers tell a different story.
From managing investor expectations to rebuilding financial infrastructure after layoffs, Adam’s war stories offer valuable insights for CFOs, founders, and operators alike.

Read More »
Merushka Chetty

Tiffany Vogel – The 3-Year Plan to Build and SELL a CFO Empire!

This week James sits down with Tiffany Vogel, founder of Insight CFO Services, to explore what it means to build a scalable, values-driven fractional CFO firm from the ground up. Tiffany shares her unconventional decision to take on debt and build a team from day one – defying the typical solo CFO path.
They dive into her background in healthcare analytics, her real estate investing success, and how those experiences shaped her approach to financial leadership. Tiffany also talks candidly about setting boundaries, managing burnout, and keeping her mission at the center of everything she builds.
Stick around to the end to hear how she’s planning retreats for founder transformation – and why every CFO should be thinking about their exit, too.

Read More »
Merushka Chetty

Kyle Smith – The Balance Sheet Red Flag That Could Bankrupt You

This week James sits down with Kyle Smith, founder of Strata Advisory and seasoned fractional CFO, to explore what it takes to help fast-growing service businesses thrive. With a background in management consulting and a knack for navigating complex financial waters, Kyle breaks down the strategies he uses to guide his clients toward clarity, confidence, and profitable decision-making.

They discuss building financial infrastructure from scratch, the difference between being busy and being successful, and why most business owners need to stop trying to do it all.
Stick around to the end to hear Kyle’s take on how fractional CFOs can make themselves indispensable to the CEOs they serve.

Read More »
Merushka Chetty

Jason Andrews – One Cold Email Changed His Career Forever

This week James sits down with Jason Andrews from FloQast to unpack the unexpected journey from accounting to marketing – and the lessons learned scaling a finance function through hypergrowth. Jason opens up about his time at Twilio, where he helped guide the company from $650M to over $4B in revenue, led a massive ERP migration, and managed a global team across five time zones. He also shares why he made the surprising leap into marketing at FloQast and how his accounting DNA continues to drive his impact.
Whether you’re navigating messy month-end closes, leading through explosive growth, or considering a career pivot, this episode is full of wisdom on process, people, and perspective.

Read More »
Merushka Chetty

Garon Goodspeed – QuickBooks to NetSuite: The REAL Nightmare

This week James sits down with Garon Goodspeed, co-founder of Treaty Oak Financial Services, to explore three essential areas every finance leader should understand. First up: what it’s like to prepare for an IPO – and then walk away just before the bell rings. Next, Garon shares battle-tested advice on designing sales compensation plans that motivate teams without blowing the budget. Finally, Garon reflects on launching his own fractional CFO practice and reveals what fueled its rapid growth in just a few months.
Whether you’re scaling toward a liquidity event, managing a fast-moving sales team, or thinking about starting your own CFO consultancy, this episode is packed with lessons from the trenches.

Read More »
Merushka Chetty

Hillel Steiner – This Israeli CFO Secret Could Double Your Profits

This week James sits down with Hillel Steiner, founder of ProfitUp Financials and a fractional CFO based in Israel, to discuss the surprising advantages of working with international finance talent. Together, they dive into the differences between U.S. and Israeli business cultures, what founders often get wrong about funding, and how having a strong financial strategy can be the difference between staying stuck and scaling up.
Hillel also walks through a real-life case study of a BI company stuck in a high-revenue, low-profit cycle – and how he helped them transform by refocusing their service model and aligning their team more efficiently.
Stick around to the end for a massive bonus offer from Hillel that’s perfect for growing service-based companies.

Read More »