--- title: 7 Things to Look for in a Part-Time CFO description: Do you think a part-time CFO could benefit your business? CRR presents 7 key characteristics to look for during the hiring process. image: https://www.crradvisors.com/hubfs/Images/Fotolia_129596352_Subscription_Monthly_XXL.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.crradvisors.com/blog/7-things-to-look-for-in-a-part-time-cfo#main-content) [![CRR](https://www.crradvisors.com/hubfs/CRR.svg)Homepage](https://www.crradvisors.com) - [Home](https://www.crradvisors.com) - [Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/services) - [Audit & Assurance](https://www.crradvisors.com/services/accounting-auditing) - [Business Valuation](https://www.crradvisors.com/business-valuation) - [Client Accounting + Advisory Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/caas) - [Private Client Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/private-client-services) - [Tax for Businesses](https://www.crradvisors.com/tax-services-business) - [Tax for Individuals](https://www.crradvisors.com/tax-services-individual) - [Transaction Advisory](https://www.crradvisors.com/transaction-advisory-services) - [Industries](https://www.crradvisors.com/industries) - [Blog](https://www.crradvisors.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.crradvisors.com/about-us) - [Team & Careers](https://www.crradvisors.com/about-us) - [CRR Charitable Foundation](https://www.crradvisors.com/crr-charitable-foundation) - [Contact](https://www.crradvisors.com/contact-us) - [Client Tools](https://www.crradvisors.com/client-portal) - [Home](https://www.crradvisors.com) - [Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/services) - [Audit & Assurance](https://www.crradvisors.com/services/accounting-auditing) - [Business Valuation](https://www.crradvisors.com/business-valuation) - [Client Accounting + Advisory Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/caas) - [Private Client Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/private-client-services) - [Tax for Businesses](https://www.crradvisors.com/tax-services-business) - [Tax for Individuals](https://www.crradvisors.com/tax-services-individual) - [Transaction Advisory](https://www.crradvisors.com/transaction-advisory-services) - [Industries](https://www.crradvisors.com/industries) - [Blog](https://www.crradvisors.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.crradvisors.com/about-us) - [Team & Careers](https://www.crradvisors.com/about-us) - [CRR Charitable Foundation](https://www.crradvisors.com/crr-charitable-foundation) - [Contact](https://www.crradvisors.com/contact-us) - [Client Tools](https://www.crradvisors.com/client-portal) ![Fotolia\_129596352\_Subscription\_Monthly\_XXL.jpg](https://www.crradvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Fotolia_129596352_Subscription_Monthly_XXL.jpg?width=5000&height=3333&name=Fotolia_129596352_Subscription_Monthly_XXL.jpg) Accounting # 7 Things to Look for in a Part-Time CFO ![John Rizzo](https://www.crradvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Company_Photos/Headshots/Rizzo_John.png?width=48&height=48&name=Rizzo_John.png) John Rizzo April 18, 2017 Many of our clients are turning to CRR for outsourced CFO services, to help them manage their finances and accelerate their growth. Hiring a part-time, or "fractional" Chief Financial Officer (CFO) gives smaller businesses access to a professional with years of experience and an outside perspective, while avoiding the high annual salary that a seasoned, full-time CFO would typically require. A part-time CFO can help your company focus on they key financial elements that will take your business to the next level. Do you think a part-time CFO could benefit your business? Here are 7 key characteristics to look for during the hiring process: 1. ###### Detail Oriented. Your CFO will be responsible for seeing the big picture of your company's financial past, present and future—but must also be able to drill down into the minutiae to identify errors or irregularities that could potentially turn into major headaches later on. 2. ###### Delegator. The ideal CFO candidate will be able to identify issues, propose solutions, and supervise the work of other accounting team members. 3. ###### GAAP Expert. This should go without saying, but your CFO should be well versed in the latest financial, accounting, and regulatory requirements known as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States. 4. ###### Proactive. Since your CFO will be part-time, you'll need someone motivated enough to stay on top of projects and propose forward-looking initiatives, despite not being in the office 40 hours each week. 5. ###### Analytical. Choose a CFO who is not only an expert in accounting principles, but has experience in business planning and analysis. You'll want someone who can forecast future scenarios and create a plan for financial success moving forward, on both an accrual and cash basis. 6. ###### Communicator. The CFO must be able to communicate effectively with ownership, leaders, vendors, and the entire management team. 7. ###### Trusted Advisor. Just like a full-time CFO, yours should be an integral part of your leadership team. You'll want a CFO who acts like an owner, who understands your strategic objectives, and can make recommendations and decisions in the best interest of the company. The part-time CFO model can be highly effective for many smaller businesses, enabling them to meet their financial goals without breaking the bank. If you have questions about CFO outsourcing, leave a comment below, or contact me directly anytime. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crradvisors.com%2Fblog%2F7-things-to-look-for-in-a-part-time-cfo](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crradvisors.com%2Fblog%2F7-things-to-look-for-in-a-part-time-cfo) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://www.crradvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_808994683.jpeg?width=4823&height=2412&name=AdobeStock_808994683.jpeg) Transaction Advisory Banks Banking What the SBA's New Quality of Earnings Rule Means for Your Next Deal](https://www.crradvisors.com/blog/what-the-sbas-new-quality-of-earnings-rule-means-for-your-next-deal) ### [![Staffing agency employees having a team meeting](https://www.crradvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_1876259626.jpeg?width=7936&height=5291&name=AdobeStock_1876259626.jpeg) Staffing Staffing Series Week 4: What Staffing Agency Owners Should Know About the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)](https://www.crradvisors.com/blog/staffing-series-week-4-what-staffing-agency-owners-should-know-about-the-work-opportunity-tax-credit-wotc) [![CRR](https://www.crradvisors.com/hubfs/CRR.svg "CRR")](https://www.crradvisors.com) *"CRR" is the brand name under which CRR, LLP and Bridgepoint Alliance, LLC, doing business as CRR Advisors, offer professional services to its respective clients in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards. CRR, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that delivers attest services to its clients. CRR Advisors provides tax business consulting, and other non-attest services to their clients. Although it may employ CPAs, Bridgepoint Alliance, LLC is not a licensed CPA firm. The use of the terms “our firm,” “we,” and “us,” and similar language, may refer to CRR, LLP and CRR Advisors as it operates in its alternative practice structure.*       - [Home](https://www.crradvisors.com) - [Services](https://www.crradvisors.com/services) - [Industries](https://www.crradvisors.com/industries) - [Blog](https://www.crradvisors.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.crradvisors.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://www.crradvisors.com/contact-us) - [Client Tools](https://www.crradvisors.com/client-portal) --- © 2025 CRR, LLP. All rights reserved.