FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I determine what services my company needs?
- Are you a staffing agency?
- If I hire CFO Strategies, am I contractually obligated to work with you for a specific period of time?
- How much does it cost?
- When do we have to pay for CFO Strategies’ services?
- Where is your office?
- Do you have to come to our office, or can the services be completely virtual?
- Who will be assigned to my company?
- My business is very complex. How will you be able to understand the work we do and quickly start helping?
- My business has had a lot of turnover in the accounting department and I have very specific requirements. How do I know you are going to address them?
- What happens if the person working on our account leaves CFO Strategies?
- Are you only available on a part-time basis?
- What hours do you work?
How do I determine what services my company needs?
We’re here to help you determine what services would be right for your organization. Our team will set up an on-site or virtual meeting with you to learn more and then perform a complimentary due diligence review, which includes a review of your financial records and interviews with key staff.
We then generate a proposal that outlines our assessment and makes recommendations for implementing best practices, including a multi-phased approach to achieving the mutually agreed-upon goals. If you decide not to hire us or do not want to move forward, you still get to keep the complimentary business review at no cost.
Are you a staffing agency?
No. While we can help place full-time controllers and CFO’s in the event a company is looking for a full-time person, our team consists of employees of CFO Strategies designed to meet your company’s specific needs.
If I hire CFO Strategies, am I contractually obligated to work with you for a specific period of time?
No, we do not ask for a specific timeframe for services when we agree to work together. We are at-will. While we do ask for 30-days notice to help in a transition period, services can be terminated at any time by either party.
How much does it cost?
Our fees are based upon the amount and type of services we provide, complexity and volume, and seniority of staff assigned. The fee is typically less than if you hired an outside accounting firm to do similar work. We support our clients both on-site and virtually and do not charge for telephone calls or email correspondence. It is part of what we do.
When do we have to pay for CFO Strategies’ services?
Many of our clients pay a fixed monthly fee for recurring work; some prefer to pay regularly at the same time that they fund their payroll. We will work with you to accommodate the payment option that works for you.
Where is your office?
Our office is your office. We establish ourselves as a member of your team, providing services on-site, yet remaining available even when we are not there, to support your staff and senior leadership as issues arise. We work at our clients’ offices but supplement our time with remote work as well. COVID-19 has prompted more remote work and we are fully capable of both on-site and virtual working relationships.
Do you have to come to our office, or can the services be completely virtual?
No, we do not have to come to your office. We tailor our services and offerings based on your company’s needs and wants. We can perform services 100% remotely if you would prefer us not to come on-site.
Who will be assigned to my company?
We assign a CFO Strategies professional or team with the appropriate skill and industry experience for your company’s needs and wants. We hit the ground running, adding value on day one.
My business is very complex. How will you be able to understand the work we do and quickly start helping?
Our team consists of CFOs and controllers with many years of experience in a wide range of industries. We match the specific person or people assigned to your team based on skill set, experience, and expertise to ensure they have knowledge about your industry. The only thing we need to learn is how you conduct your particular business operations, but in terms of your industry, we can add value immediately.
My business has had a lot of turnover in the accounting department and I have very specific requirements. How do I know you are going to address them?
Businesses are unique and some are complex, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. We tailor and customize our services and approach to every client to ensure your needs are met.
What happens if the person working on our account leaves CFO Strategies?
In most companies, if your CFO or your controller leaves, you are scrambling to find a replacement. At CFO Strategies, you will either have a team on your account depending on the size of your company and engagement, or we will assign a backup person who will be available to step in as needed.
That secondary person is available to cover if your primary professional is sick or on vacation. We will meet with you and set up a plan that makes the most sense for you and your business and we will communicate frequently to make sure your needs are met. We have the bandwidth to make sure your account is taken care of seamlessly and you don’t have to stress about turnover. This allows you to focus more on running your business.
Are you only available on a part-time basis?
Our core business model is for small and midsize companies that require permanent part-time services. Typically, these companies either don’t have the volume of work for a full-time person or they don’t have the budget to pay a CFO or controller on a full-time basis. However, many times it is more cost-effective for companies to outsource their entire accounting department to CFO Strategies. In that scenario, we have employees that are working full time specifically for that client. We will customize the nature, extent, and timing of our services to your specific needs in an affordable way.
What hours do you work?
We typically work the same hours as our clients and we know that each client has different needs and each industry’s “busy season” can be different. We don’t watch the clock or bill hourly, and we are always accessible to address issues or challenges. For our on-site clients, we will also supplement our on-site work with remote work.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us today. We are here to help you grow your business.