Service

CFO services

Financial judgement for the stage when a bookkeeper is no longer enough and a full-time CFO is not yet justified.

There is a stage most organisations reach where the books are being kept accurately and yet nobody can answer the questions that matter, which contracts are actually profitable. Whether the reserve policy is adequate. What happens to cash if the largest grant is not renewed. What the indirect rate should be next year.

That is a different job from bookkeeping, and it does not require a full-time hire to do well. A full-time CFO in this market is a substantial all-in commitment. Most organisations under roughly $20 million in revenue need the judgement far more than they need the headcount.

What the engagement typically covers

Scoped to what you actually need, and revisited as that changes.

Monthly or quarterly management reporting that a board or investor can read without translation
Budgets, reforecasts and rolling cash flow projections
Contract and programme profitability analysis
Indirect rate structures and provisional billing rates for government contractors
Reserve policy, functional expense allocation and grant compliance for nonprofits
Audit preparation, so the annual audit by your independent auditor stops being a fire drill
Lender and investor reporting, covenant tracking and refinancing support
Systems and process: chart of accounts design, close discipline, approval workflows
Board and finance committee attendance where that is useful

Specialist CFO work

For government contractors

Indirect rates, provisional billing rates, timekeeping discipline and the path from a first SBIR award to a cost-type contract.

For nonprofits

Board reporting, functional expense allocation, grant compliance, reserve policy and audit preparation.

A note on titles

You will see this work advertised as fractional CFO, part-time CFO, outsourced CFO and virtual CFO. They describe the same thing. What actually differs between providers is whether you get a senior person engaging with your business, or a junior analyst producing a monthly pack from a template.

Ask any provider, including us, who specifically will be doing the work, how often you will speak to them, and what they did before.

Keep reading

CFO Services

Audit Preparation

What clients say

Read every review on Google

I had a great experience working with WAGOPOP accounting firm. Tom was very professional, listed carefully to understand before working to accommodate my bussiness needs. And was able to Answer all my inquiries. I highly recommend them

Samuel JacobGoogle review, 5 stars, June 2025

I’ve had a great experience with this WAGOPOP. They offer a full range of services, including account controller support, sales tax management, accurate bookkeeping, and reliable payroll services. The team is professional, responsive, and truly understands the needs of small businesses. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for dependable and comprehensive accounting solutions. Thank you Tom

Peter MichealGoogle review, 5 stars, May 2025

I recommended this place if you at California Manhattan Beach And you’re looking for something special, you have to visit this place. amazing definitely I will come again

Samuel AdlyGoogle review, 5 stars, September 2024

Common questions

Not answered here? Ask us directly: we would rather explain it than have you guess.

How is this different from a bookkeeper or a controller?

A bookkeeper records what happened. A controller makes sure it was recorded correctly and closes the books on time. A CFO uses those numbers to make decisions about what happens next: pricing, hiring, financing, reserves, risk. Most organisations at this stage need a slice of all three. We scope the engagement to cover the gap rather than duplicating what you already have in-house.

How much time does an engagement usually involve?

Commonly somewhere between eight and sixty hours a month depending on size, complexity and what is happening. An organisation in a steady state needs far less than one going through a financing, an acquisition, a first federal contract or a difficult year. We would rather scope it honestly and adjust than sell a retainer that is bigger than the need.

Can you attend our board or finance committee meetings?

Yes, and for most nonprofit and investor-backed clients it is the single most valuable hour of the month. Boards ask better questions when someone in the room can answer them properly, and finance committees function much better when the reporting has been built with them in mind.

Can you do our audit as well?

No. We do not perform audits, reviews or compilations, and we do not issue reports or opinions on financial statements. What we do is the preparation: closing and reconciling the books, building the schedules and the PBC list, and supporting you through the engagement with an independent auditor. If you do not have one yet, we can help you find and engage one. A CFO-side advisor who knows what auditors will ask usually makes the audit go faster.

Is there a minimum commitment?

We ask for an initial three months, because the first month is largely spent understanding your organisation and you would not get value from a shorter engagement. After that it runs month to month. We do not use long lock-ins. If the work is worth doing you will want it to continue, and if it is not, a contract should not be what keeps it going.

How do we start?

Book a scoping call using the form on this page, or call us. We will ask what you need, who is asking you for it, and what condition your records are in, then tell you what the engagement involves and what it will cost before anything begins.

Book a scoping call

Twenty minutes, no charge. Tell us what you need and we will tell you what it involves, what it will take, and whether we are the right fit for it.

A short call with the person who would actually do the work.
A clear scope and a fixed quote before anything begins.
We reply to every enquiry within one business day.

Prefer to talk now? Call (310) 220-0248
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm PT