Fractional CFO

Merushka Chetty

Joe O’Regan – Why 90% of Startups Waste Their Capital 

James Kennedy chats with Joe O’Regan – founder of Intrinsic CFO and an ACCA-qualified fractional CFO – about the full arc of capital: deploying it in banks, raising it in corporate finance, and managing it inside growing SMBs. From wind-farm project finance and PPAs to benchmarking margins and preparing for exit, Joe breaks down how smart capital allocation – and the “three Es” (economical, effective, efficient) – drives durable growth. Along the way: dairy-farm grit, Big Four consulting, Canada radio days, and why every business should be “always ready to sell.”

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Merushka Chetty

Kyle Gasaway – How We Got Acquired by IBM Using Only QuickBooks

James Kennedy welcomes Kyle Gasaway, founder of Unicorn Group, to unpack the myths and realities of ERP implementations and why many startups don’t need them nearly as early as they think. Kyle shares candid lessons from years as a Big Four auditor, controller, and startup CFO – covering failed NetSuite and Sage Intacct rollouts, QuickBooks-powered exits (including an IBM acquisition), and his framework for keeping finance stage-appropriate. He also explains how fractional CFOs can maximize value through equity strategy, pricing discipline, and simplicity in systems

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Merushka Chetty

Haim Ratzabi – The Startup Secret They Don’t Want You to Know

James Kennedy chats with Haim Ratzabi, founder of HR Boutique CFO Services in Israel, about building and scaling companies in the Startup Nation – from early finance ops through U.S. GAAP/IFRS readiness and the long road to a NASDAQ listing. Haim explains Israel’s unique mix of government R&D support, elite military tech networks, and a deep advisor ecosystem (Big Four + global law firms) that helps startups go global. You’ll hear what it really takes – time, fees, bankers, tooling – to go public, when to bring in a fractional CFO, and how to structure finance so founders can move fast and pass investor/bank scrutiny.

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Merushka Chetty

Karl Baker – The Third Exit Strategy NO ONE Talks About! 

James Kennedy sits down with Karl Baker, CPA and founder of Baker CFO Advisory, to unpack a third path to ownership and exit: employee ownership paired with open-book management. Drawing on Jack Stack’s The Great Game of Business and Karl’s decades in public accounting and fractional CFO work, they dig into ESOPs, teaching every employee the P&L, and the cadence of weekly financial huddles that move companies faster—without chaos. We also get into when to bring in a fractional CFO, how to get bank-ready for growth, and why decisions made with 60–70% of the data often beat waiting for “perfect.”

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Merushka Chetty

Ryan Chenier – The MBA Secret Most Business Owners Miss 

In this episode of The Gross Profit Podcast, James Kennedy sits down with Winnipeg-based Fractional CFO Ryan Chenier to explore how strategic financial leadership can transform a business. Ryan shares his journey from an MBA graduate to building his own dream CFO practice, and why podcasting has become an unexpected yet powerful business development tool. He explains how a process-driven approach and a focus on ROI – both in time and money – can help owners make smarter, faster decisions.

Ryan also walks through two compelling client case studies: guiding an electrical services company from startup to a lucrative sale, and helping a high-growth business overcome cash flow challenges with three-way budgeting and bank financing. From aligning teams around enterprise value to knowing when to pivot a strategy, Ryan’s insights offer practical lessons for any entrepreneur aiming to grow, scale, or exit with confidence.

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Merushka Chetty

Aldo Aprile -Why Restaurants REALLY Fail

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Aldo Aprile, CPA and founder of Aprile CPA, to explore why every fractional CFO needs a close partnership with a tax expert – and why savvy business owners should plan taxes year-round, not just at filing time. Drawing on Aldo’s upbringing in a Peruvian family restaurant, his stints at GE, AmEx, PF Chang’s and more, they dig into restaurant prime-cost math, setting performance incentives, and the critical tax-planning moves that can save entrepreneurs tens of thousands each year.

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Merushka Chetty

Christophe Gantzer – Swiss Expert: Your Supply Chain Will Fail

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Christophe Gantzer, fractional CFO and co-founder of Clear Edge, to unpack the seismic shift in ESG and sustainability reporting across Europe – and what it means for Swiss and EU businesses alike. Drawing on his 20+ years in finance and his unique perspective as a French expat in Switzerland, Christophe explains the new CSRD/ESRS framework, how non-financial KPIs are now a finance function imperative, and why risk management must expand to cover environmental and social “debts.” Along the way, he shares real-world examples – from chocolate price shocks to cyber-risk parallels – that illustrate why CFOs can no longer sit on the sidelines of sustainability.

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Merushka Chetty

Scott Clements – The Outsourcing Secret NOBODY is Talking About!

James Kennedy welcomes Scott Clements, co-founder of Park Financial LLC and seasoned fractional CFO, to explore how he’s built a coast-to-coast advisory practice using online tools, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. Drawing on his unique journey – from EY auditor to high-school math teacher and back into finance – Scott reveals how he leverages technology and referral networks to serve clients nationwide. He also shares the systems he uses to manage feast-or-famine cash flows, balance in-house versus outsourced talent, and position his firm for steady, sustainable growth.

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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.

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