Fractional CFO Services
Improving profitability and growth
Running a business is all-consuming. Between managing your team, keeping customers happy, and handling the hundred small fires that crop up every week, it is easy for the financial side of things to slip down the list. You know the numbers matter. You just do not always have the time (or the tools) to get proper visibility over them
The Benefits of Monthly Management Accounts
At Coffey & Co., we provide outsourced CFO support as part of a fully integrated service that covers your bookkeeping, tax compliance, management accounts, and strategic financial planning, all under one roof. You are not hiring a separate consultant who parachutes in once a month and disappears. You are getting a team that already understands your numbers inside out, because we are the ones looking after them day to day.
We work with owner-managed businesses, family-run companies, and growing SMEs across Limerick and throughout Ireland. If your business has reached the point where you need more than basic accounts but you are not ready for a full-time finance director, this is the practical, hands-on support that fills that gap.
What Is a Fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO (sometimes called an outsourced CFO, part-time CFO, or virtual CFO) is a senior finance professional who works with your business on a flexible, part-time basis. You get the financial insight and oversight of a Chief Financial Officer without the salary that comes with a permanent hire.
For most of our clients, that role is not a standalone appointment. It is the natural next step in a relationship where we already handle the bookkeeping, prepare the accounts, and file the tax returns. Because we are already embedded in your finances, we can spot the patterns, flag the issues, and have the conversations that move your business forward. That joined-up approach is what makes the service work so well for smaller, owner-managed businesses.
How is this different from what your accountant already does? Your standard accounting service looks backwards: what happened last year, what you owe Revenue, whether the numbers balance. A fractional CFO looks forward. Where is the cash going to be in three months? Which parts of the business are actually profitable? What would it cost to take on that extra staff member? That is the kind of thinking a fractional CFO brings to the table.
How a Fractional CFO Can Help Your Business
This is not abstract strategy for boardrooms and investor presentations. It is practical, hands-on financial support for business owners who want clearer numbers and better decisions.
Get Proper Visibility Over Your Cash Flow
Cash flow is the thing that keeps most business owners awake at night. A fractional CFO builds a clear picture of what is coming in and going out, forecasts your cash position over the weeks and months ahead, and helps you plan for the lumpy bits (VAT bills, payroll months, seasonal dips). The goal is simple: fewer surprises, more control.
Management Accounts That Actually Tell You Something
A lot of business owners get their year-end accounts and think, “Right, that is done.” But year-end accounts are a snapshot of the past. Monthly management accounts give you a live picture of how the business is performing right now. We produce clear, jargon-free reports that show you your revenue, costs, margins, and profitability, broken down by the things that matter to your business (whether that is by service, by location, or by customer type). When the numbers are easy to understand, you actually use them.
KPIs That Keep You on Track
KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are just the handful of numbers that tell you whether the business is heading in the right direction. For a retailer, that might be gross margin by product line. For a services business, it might be revenue per employee or debtor days. We help you identify the right KPIs for your business, set them up in a simple dashboard, and review them with you regularly so they do not just sit in a spreadsheet gathering dust.
Make Business Decisions with Confidence
Should you take on another employee? Can you afford to move premises? Is that new piece of equipment worth the investment? These are the kinds of decisions that feel risky when you are working from instinct alone. With clear financial data behind you, they become much easier. We help you run the numbers, weigh up the options, and make choices you can stand behind.
Budgets and Forecasts You Can Actually Use
Budgeting does not have to be complicated. We build practical, realistic budgets and rolling forecasts that give you a financial plan for the year ahead. Then we track your actual performance against it so you can see early when things are going off course and adjust before it becomes a problem.
One Team, One Service: Bookkeeping, Compliance, and CFO Support Together
Here is what makes our fractional CFO service different from most. We do not just arrive to review numbers that someone else has prepared. For the majority of our clients, we handle the full finance function: the bookkeeping, the VAT returns, the payroll, the Revenue filings, and the year-end accounts. That means when we sit down to talk about your cash flow forecast or your margins, we already know the detail. We are not starting from scratch.
That integrated approach saves you time, reduces the risk of things falling between the cracks, and means the person giving you financial guidance is the same person who sees every invoice, every payment, and every bank transaction. It is a joined-up service, not a bolt-on.
What Our Fractional CFO Service Covers
Depending on where your business is at and what you need, our outsourced CFO support can include:
- Day-to-day bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
- VAT returns, payroll, and Revenue compliance
- Monthly management accounts and performance reporting
- Cash flow forecasting and management
- Budgeting and financial planning
- KPI development and tracking
- Profitability analysis by service, product, or customer
- Cost control and margin review
- Financial process improvement and systems setup
- Support with bank applications and lending requirements
We build the package around your business. Some clients need the full works. Others just need us to layer the CFO-level insight onto their existing bookkeeping and compliance. Either way, you get one team, one relationship, and one clear picture of your finances.
Signs Your Business Could Benefit from a Fractional CFO
You do not need to be a large company to benefit from this kind of support. If any of these sound familiar, it is worth having a conversation:
- You are never quite sure where the cash is going or when things will be tight
- You only see your accounts at year-end and wish you had better visibility in between
- The business is growing, but you are making decisions by gut feeling rather than financial data
- Your margins seem to be shrinking but you cannot pinpoint why
- You are spending more time worrying about the numbers than running the business
- You need better reporting for a bank, a lender, or a grant application
- You know you need financial help but a full-time finance director is not realistic
Most of our fractional CFO clients are owner-managed or family-run businesses that have reached a stage where the financial complexity has outgrown their existing setup. They do not need a boardroom CFO. They need someone practical who will roll up their sleeves and help them get on top of the numbers.
How Our Fractional CFO Service Works
- We get to know your business. We start with a review of your current financial position: what reporting you have, what systems you are using, and what challenges or goals are driving the need for more support.
- We agree priorities and quick wins. Some things can be fixed quickly (tidying up your bookkeeping, building a basic cash flow forecast). Others take a bit longer (setting up monthly management accounts or developing KPIs). We map it out together so you know what to expect.
- Ongoing, hands-on support. We provide regular monthly support: producing your reports, reviewing performance, and sitting down with you to talk through the numbers. This is not a one-off report that goes in a drawer. It is a working relationship.
- We adapt as you grow. As your business changes, the scope of our work changes with it. You might start with bookkeeping and compliance, then add management accounts and cash flow forecasting as you grow. The service evolves with you
Bookkeeper vs Accountant vs Fractional CFO
This is a question we get all the time.
The beauty of working with us is that you do not need three separate providers. We handle all three layers as one integrated service, so nothing falls through the gaps.
Here is a simple way to think about the difference:
| Role | Primary Focus | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
|
Bookkeeper |
Recording Transactions |
Data entry, bank reconciliation, invoicing, receipts. |
|
Accountant |
Compliance and tax |
Year-end accounts, tax returns, VAT, Revenue filings. |
|
Fractional CFO |
Planning and performance |
Cash flow forecasting, management accounts, KPIs, budgets, decision support |
Meet our client specialist
Barry Coffey
Client Accountant
Barry provides the professional clarity and strategic insight that keeps businesses moving forward. His comprehensive approach covers everything from annual accounts and tax planning to business advisory and investment strategies, all delivered with the personal touch that comes from decades of partnership with ambitious business owners who refuse to let finances hold them back.
What Does a Fractional CFO Cost in Ireland?
Most of our fractional CFO clients pay between €1,000 and €5,000 per month, depending on the scope of the engagement. A business that needs bookkeeping, compliance, and basic management accounts will sit at the lower end. A business that needs the full service, including detailed forecasting, KPI reporting, and regular financial reviews, will sit towards the higher end.
For comparison, a full-time CFO in Ireland typically costs between €180,000 and €250,000 per year in salary alone, according to Morgan McKinley’s 2026 Salary Guide. For most owner-managed businesses, that is neither practical nor necessary. A fractional CFO gives you the financial leadership you need at a cost that fits your business.
We will give you a clear, fixed monthly fee based on your needs. No surprises.
FAQ ‘s
What does a fractional CFO actually do?
A fractional CFO provides financial oversight and planning on a part-time basis. In practice, that means building cash flow forecasts, producing monthly management accounts, developing KPIs, helping with budgets, and sitting down with you regularly to review performance and plan ahead. It is hands-on support, not high-level consultancy.
Is this suitable for a small or family-run business?
Absolutely. Most of our clients are owner-managed and family-run businesses. You do not need to be a large company to benefit from better financial visibility. If your business has grown to the point where you need more than year-end accounts, this service is designed for you.
Do I need to have a separate bookkeeper or accountant?
No. For most of our clients, we provide bookkeeping, tax compliance, and CFO-level support as one joined-up service. That means one team looking after everything, from the day-to-day transactions right through to your financial planning and reporting.
How often would we meet or review the numbers?
That depends on your business. Most clients have a monthly review where we walk through the management accounts, discuss cash flow, and flag anything that needs attention. Some businesses prefer fortnightly catch-ups, especially during busier periods. We agree the rhythm that works for you.