Recent News & Blog / Outsourced CFO Services: What Are They and How Can They Benefit Your Organization?
January 7, 2026
By Krista M. Gardner, CPA, Member of the Firm
Choosing the right CFO for your organization’s accounting and future planning needs is critical. This person will not only need the necessary experience, but they’ll also need expertise in your specific industry, while fitting the traditional employee mold. For these reasons, Outsourced CFO services have increasingly become an attractive option for many organizations.
CFO services can benefit your organization in many ways as a temporary or even permanent solution. Whether you have a temporary vacancy of your Director of Finance or Business Manager, or need an additional resource added to your current finance and accounting team, Outsourced CFO services are tailored to your organization’s needs at that time, with the ability to ebb and flow as the organization or situation changes over time, reacting to external impacts and preparing for future needs of the entity and those it services.
What can an Outsourced CFO do for your organization?
Working with an Outsourced CFO allows your organization to have access to the financial expertise you need without the salary and benefit expense of an in-house hire. In addition to the payroll cost savings, using the Outsourced CFO model allows your organization to "right size" according to your specific needs where you determine what the goals and outcomes are, how much time is needed, and the length of time.
Some additional examples of what an Outsourced CFO can provide to your organization include:
- Filling a vacant role (in a temporary or permanent capacity), as well as assisting in finance role transitions and the necessary training
- Budgeting, whether through assessing your current process and offering suggestions, or assisting with/running the entire budget process with your team
- Audit preparation and management
- Financial statement preparation
- Cash flow forecasting and assessing current needs
- Providing guidance on how to maximize returns of current and future assets
Often on a monthly basis, Outsourced CFOs will meet to review current financial positions and will effectively communicate with your staff, management, and board members on what the financials mean and how to use that information in important decision making.
An Outsourced CFO can also assess your processes and procedures, as well as related internal controls, to provide suggestions for strengthening controls, while creating efficiencies for your team. They also provide current general ledger system set up, charts of accounts, reporting, etc. to provide feedback and suggestions on how to utilize your systems more effectively or to assist in identifying new systems.
What are the benefits of working with an Outsourced CFO?
As mentioned earlier, there are many organizational benefits of working with an Outsourced CFO, especially from a financial perspective. However, there are many other benefits, including:
- Access to an expert in your industry that understands the needs of your organization.
- A relationship that can mold to your team’s needs based on priorities but can adapt as needs change.
- Additional resources, whether you need a one-time project or ongoing support.
The goal of an Outsourced CFO is to provide the resources your team needs to look forward to and prepare for the future, while simultaneously allowing them to focus on the work they do best. Finding an expert in your industry could be the key to unlocking your organization’s full potential where your goals are achieved while you are actively planning for the future. With resources in this space continuing to be increasingly limited, working with an Outsourced CFO may just be a perfect fit for your organization and team.
We’re here to help
Whether you’re asking yourself if there’s a better way to complete a process or if you feel unable to achieve all the necessary tasks, our team at SEK is here to help with Outsourced CFO services, and more. We can also support your organization if you have a payroll or accounts payable team member out on extended leave with an entire department available to serve in that role for as long or little as you need.
If you’re interested in learning more about our Outsourced CFO & Accounting Solutions, we’d love to hear from you. Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch shortly!
Additionally, if your organization is seeking HR support or assistance with reviewing your employee handbook or benefits, our Outsourced HR Department is here to offer strategic support and guidance for your unique situation.