Institution vs FocusCFO: operations or fractional leadership?

FocusCFO describes a fractional CFO service. Institution offers managed accounting and finance operations with related services. These may answer different needs: leadership over a finance process and the operational work that produces the accounting record.

If your bank accounts are unreconciled, identify who will repair and maintain them. If the accounts are dependable but management needs help allocating cash or planning growth, define the finance decisions and meeting rhythm. A company can reasonably need both assignments.

Ask whether the adviser will attend operating meetings, supervise an accounting team, maintain a forecast, or deliver recommendations for management to implement. Confirm the time available and the responsibilities excluded from the engagement.

Bring a real decision such as renewing a lease or adding a location. Request the inputs required, the scenarios to evaluate, and the way the recommendation will be documented. Look for explicit assumptions and risks rather than a promised outcome.

The forecast should start from approved cash, receivables, payables, debt, and payroll obligations. Name the accounting owner supplying those figures and the reviewer handling unusual balances. Ask how corrections reach prior forecasts and current reporting.

If Institution provides the accounting while another adviser leads planning, agree the handoff. If either proposal combines the roles, ask for separate deliverables and review responsibilities. A single relationship is useful only when the work is actually covered.

Price recurring leadership separately from bookkeeping, cleanup, tax, software, and model construction. Ask how urgent questions are handled between scheduled meetings. Verify whether the adviser can make decisions or only recommend actions to an authorized manager.

Retain the model, assumptions, operating calendar, and decision notes. Before signing, arrange backup coverage and an orderly exit process. Choose on the leadership and delivery your business needs, rather than assuming that an accounting subscription and a fractional executive engagement are equivalent purchases.