Fractional CFO Services for High-Growth Startups

Wall Street-trained financial executive providing strategic CFO and COO services to startups from pre-seed through Series B. Build institutional-grade financial operations that scale with your growth.

Explore Services

Dozens of

Startups Advised

Multi-Million

Capital Raised

Significant

Burn Optimisation

Emily Kessler Barnett - Fractional CFO for startups

Why Choose a Fractional CFO + COO Combination?

Get senior-level financial and operational leadership at a fraction of the cost of full-time hires. Perfect for startups and SMBs that need strategic expertise without the overhead.

Speed to Value

Hit the ground running with proven frameworks and processes. No learning curve or onboarding delays — immediate impact on your financial operations and strategic planning.

Controls & Compliance

Implement robust financial controls, audit-ready processes, and compliance frameworks. Especially critical for regulated environments like fintech and broker-dealer operations.

Data-Driven Decisions

Transform raw data into actionable insights. Build dashboards that track unit economics, cash runway, and key performance indicators that matter to investors and stakeholders.

Comprehensive Fractional CFO & COO Services

From startup bookkeeping to enterprise-level financial operations, our fractional CFO and COO services provide the strategic financial leadership your growing business needs.

Bookkeeping & Accounting

Professional bookkeeping services for startups and SMBs, including monthly closes, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation. Transform messy books into audit-ready financial records.

  • Monthly financial closes
  • Bank reconciliations
  • Accounts payable/receivable
  • Financial statement preparation

Financial Planning & Analysis

Strategic FP&A services including budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modeling. Build data-driven financial models that support fundraising and strategic decision-making.

  • Budget development & monitoring
  • Cash flow forecasting
  • Unit economics analysis
  • Board reporting packages

Capital Raising Support

End-to-end capital raising support for startups, including investor materials, due diligence preparation, and financial modeling for Series A, B, and beyond.

  • Investor pitch deck financials
  • Due diligence data rooms
  • Valuation modeling
  • Term sheet negotiations

Operational Excellence (COO)

Fractional COO services focusing on operational efficiency, process optimization, and organizational structure. Build scalable operations that support rapid growth.

  • Process documentation
  • Team structure optimization
  • KPI dashboard development
  • Vendor management

Compliance & Controls

Implement robust financial controls and compliance frameworks, especially critical for regulated industries like fintech and broker-dealer operations.

  • Internal controls design
  • Audit preparation
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Risk management

M&A & IPO Readiness

Prepare your startup for major transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and IPO readiness. Implement public-company controls and SEC reporting frameworks.

  • M&A due diligence
  • IPO readiness assessment
  • Public company controls
  • SEC reporting preparation

Industry Expertise

Specialized fractional CFO services tailored to your industry's unique financial challenges and opportunities.

SaaS & Technology

Recurring revenue models, customer acquisition costs, lifetime value optimization, and SaaS metrics reporting.

E-commerce

Inventory management, marketplace accounting, fulfillment cost analysis, and multi-channel revenue tracking.

Fintech

Regulatory compliance, broker-dealer operations, risk management, and specialized financial reporting requirements.

Healthcare & Biotech

R&D accounting, clinical trial budgeting, regulatory milestone tracking, and grant management.

Client Success Stories

Hear from founders and executives who have transformed their financial operations with strategic CFO/COO leadership.

Balance Sheet Equity Cleanup Expert Needed
Upwork Review
5.0 • Jan 9, 2025 — Jan 21, 2025

"Emily is a true accounting pro! Her analysis and clean-up were spot on, and efficiently implemented. She clearly understood balance sheet accounting, and corrected our accounts. I wouldn't hesitate to hire her again."

Reference — Morgan Stanley (Finance)
Reference Letter

"Emily has an excellent work ethic, is proactive and very reliable. She grasped new systems quickly and was pivotal in numerous initiatives. She also led teams effectively and built strong cross‑functional relationships."

Reference — Morgan Stanley (Wealth Mgmt Finance)
Reference Letter

"Emily became one of my most trusted managers. I relied on her to step into our most complex areas and to lead through acquisitions, new products, and platform builds. She has my highest recommendation."

Recommendation — Bookkeeping & A/P & A/R
Recommendation

"Emily bridges operational bookkeeping and strategic finance. Her meticulous attention to detail, proactive issue‑spotting, and hands‑on approach to reconciliations make her an invaluable asset to any organisation."

Why Choose Emily Kessler Barnett as Your Fractional CFO?

With over a decade of Wall Street experience and specialized expertise in startup finance, Emily brings institutional-grade financial leadership to growing companies at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CFO.

Wall Street Pedigree

Former Morgan Stanley executive with deep experience in complex financial operations, risk management, and regulatory compliance across multiple business lines.

Startup Specialist

Proven track record helping startups scale from pre-seed through Series B and beyond, with expertise in venture capital fundraising and growth-stage financial operations.

Hands-On Approach

Not just strategic advice - Emily rolls up her sleeves to implement systems, clean up books, and build the financial infrastructure your business needs to scale.

Core Competencies
  • Fractional CFO Services
  • Startup Bookkeeping
  • Financial Planning
  • Capital Raising
  • Fractional COO Services
  • SMB Financial Operations
  • M&A Integration
  • IPO Readiness
Emily Kessler Barnett - Fractional CFO and COO
Professional Credentials

Series 7 & 66
Formerly Securities Licensed

Get Your FREE 30-Minute CFO Consultation

Discover how fractional CFO services can transform your startup's financial operations. In this complimentary consultation with Emily Kessler Barnett, we'll assess your current financial processes and identify opportunities for growth and optimization.

Financial Health Assessment

Review your current bookkeeping, cash flow management, and financial reporting processes to identify gaps and opportunities.

Growth Strategy Discussion

Explore how strategic CFO guidance can support your startup's scaling plans, fundraising goals, and operational efficiency.

Custom Action Plan

Receive personalized recommendations for improving your financial operations and preparing for your next growth phase.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Perfect for startup founders, SMB owners, and growing companies looking to optimize their financial operations with fractional CFO expertise.

30 Minutes
Focused Discussion

Virtual Meeting
Zoom or Phone

Completely Free
No Obligations

All consultations are confidential and covered by professional advisory privilege.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about fractional CFO/COO services and how we can help your startup or SMB scale efficiently.

A fractional CFO provides strategic financial leadership including FP&A, board reporting, capital strategy, and operational guidance, while a bookkeeper handles transaction recording and basic financial maintenance. As your fractional CFO, I focus on transforming financial data into strategic insights that drive business decisions and growth. For startups and SMBs, this means getting C-level financial expertise without the full-time executive salary.

Typically 30-90 days depending on complexity. We start with a rapid assessment, clean up historical data, implement proper controls, and establish monthly reporting cadence. Most startup clients see significant improvements within the first month, with full board-ready reporting by month three. This accelerated timeline is crucial for companies preparing for fundraising or investor updates.

Absolutely. I leverage my network and expertise to prepare comprehensive investor materials, build compelling financial narratives, manage data rooms, and participate directly in investor calls and due diligence processes. Having secured multi-million dollar financing across multiple engagements, I understand what investors need to see from startups at every stage, from pre-seed through Series B and beyond.

Yes, IPO readiness is one of my core specializations. I implement public-company controls, establish SEC reporting cadence, develop disclosure workflows, and ensure compliance frameworks are audit-ready. My experience includes managing complex capital structures and enabling private-to-public transitions for high-growth companies.

I'm platform-agnostic and work with the tools that best fit your startup's needs: QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite for accounting; Ramp, Bill.com for AP/AR; Carta for cap table management; Mosaic, Adaptive for FP&A; and various business intelligence tools for dashboarding. I can also help you select and migrate to optimal platforms as you scale from startup to SMB to enterprise.

I have extensive experience in regulated environments including broker-dealer operations and fintech compliance. All engagements include comprehensive confidentiality agreements, and I maintain strict data security protocols. My background includes managing high-risk portfolios with zero audit findings, making me ideal for startups in regulated industries.

Fractional retainers typically include monthly financial close and reporting, board pack preparation, budget and forecast management, cash flow analysis, KPI dashboard maintenance, strategic planning sessions, and unlimited email/phone consultation. Specific scope is customized based on your company's needs and growth stage, whether you're a pre-revenue startup or a scaling SMB.

The fractional COO service focuses on operational efficiency and organizational structure while the CFO work handles financial strategy and reporting. Together, they provide comprehensive business leadership for startups and SMBs. This includes process optimization, team structure design, vendor management, and operational KPI tracking - all aligned with your financial goals and growth objectives.

I specialize in startups from pre-seed through Series B ($1M-$50M revenue range) and established SMBs looking to scale or optimize operations. This includes early-stage companies needing to establish proper bookkeeping and financial controls, growth-stage startups preparing for fundraising, and mature SMBs requiring strategic financial leadership for expansion or exit planning.

Yes, bookkeeping cleanup is one of my most requested services. Many startups and SMBs have accumulated months or years of messy financial records that need professional attention. I specialize in forensic accounting, historical corrections, and implementing proper bookkeeping processes going forward. This work is essential for companies preparing for audits, fundraising, or M&A transactions.

Ready to Scale Your Financial Operations?

Whether you're preparing for your next funding round or building systems for sustainable growth, let's discuss how fractional CFO services can accelerate your success.

Typically responds within 24 hours • All consultations are confidential