Fractional CFO & Tax Preparation for Startups

Wall Street-trained financial executive. Strategic CFO/COO services from pre-seed through Series B. Plus: dedicated tax preparation service—save $5k-$30k in taxes with expert deduction planning and entity optimization.

Explore Services

50+

Startups Advised

$300M+

Capital Raised

40%

Avg Burn Reduction

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.

Core Services

Comprehensive financial leadership tailored to your startup's stage and needs.

Tax Preparation Service

NEW. Deduction audits, entity structure optimization, CPA coordination. Don't leave $5k-$30k on the table. Packages from $2,500-$8,000.

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Financial Cleanup & Reporting

Messy books? We transform chaotic finances into board-ready reporting. From rapid assessment to clean close processes, typically completed in 90 days.

FP&A & Unit Economics

Build investor-grade financial models. CAC, LTV, NDR dashboards. The metrics that determine funding viability and guide scaling decisions.

Capital Raising & M&A

Prepare investor materials, manage data rooms, participate in investor calls. Secured $300M+ across all engagements.

Client Success Stories

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

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

"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."

Mike Hill
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."

Robert Patrissi
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley | Finance
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."

Norman Heusser
Executive Director, Liquidity, Investments & Financing Controllers, Morgan Stanley
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 organization."

Bruno Pereira
Colleague across two CFO engagements

Financial Leadership Insights

Deep-dive guides on startup tax planning, unit economics, financial cleanup, and more.

View All Blog Posts
Tax Planning
Complete Startup Tax Planning Guide

Entity structure, deductions, compliance calendar, and strategies that save $5k-$30k annually.

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Finance
Messy Books to Board-Ready Financials

90-day transformation plan. From chaos to clean close processes and institutional reporting.

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SaaS
SaaS Unit Economics

CAC, LTV, payback period, NDR. The metrics investors want to see.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about fractional CFO/COO services and how we can help your business.

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. I focus on transforming financial data into strategic insights that drive business decisions and growth.

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 clients see significant improvements within the first month, with full board-ready reporting by month three.

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 helped secure $300M+ in financing across multiple engagements, I understand what investors need to see.

Yes, tax planning is core to my CFO services. I structure businesses for tax efficiency, identify overlooked deductions (typically $5k-$30k annually), manage compliance calendars, optimise entity structures, and coordinate with CPAs. Perfect timing for tax season planning.

Fractional CFO retainers range from $3,000-$8,000/month depending on scope, frequency, and complexity. Most startups pay 60-70% less than hiring a full-time CFO at $180k-$250k annually. We tailor engagements to your stage and needs.

I'm platform-agnostic and work with the tools that best fit your 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.

Get Tax-Ready & Scale Your Financial Operations

Whether you need tax preparation (save $5k-$30k), financial cleanup, investor-ready metrics, or strategic CFO guidance—let's discuss how we can accelerate your success.

Email

emily@thermzgroup.com

Typically responds within 24 hours • All consultations are confidential