A fractional CFO engagement fails or succeeds in the first 30 days. This checklist ensures nothing falls through the cracks: from granting financial system access to aligning on KPIs and board reporting cadence.
Systems Access & Setup
- Grant QuickBooks / Netsuite / Xero admin access
- Share read-only bank portal credentials
- Provide access to payroll system (Gusto, ADP, Rippling)
- Share cap table and equity management system
- Connect accounting software to reporting stack
30-Day Priorities
- Review trailing 12 months P&L and balance sheet
- Audit burn rate and runway calculation
- Map all existing vendor contracts and payment terms
- Identify top 3 cash flow risks
- Deliver first board-ready financial summary
60-Day Milestones
- Build 13-week cash flow forecast
- Standardize monthly close process (target: 5 business days)
- Implement department-level budget tracking
- Establish KPI dashboard (CAC, LTV, gross margin, churn)
- Conduct pricing model review
90-Day Deliverables
- Annual budget + quarterly reforecast model
- Scenario planning (base / bull / bear)
- Vendor renegotiation recommendations
- Fundraising readiness assessment (if applicable)
- Board presentation template established
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