No CFO at Series B? Ace Tarakchian Covers the Gap

A fractional CFO can start within days of an engagement being agreed – there is no recruiting pipeline, no offer negotiation, and no notice period. The first week typically focuses on a financial audit and stakeholder interviews. By the end of week two, the fractional CFO has a clear picture of what exists and what needs to be built. For urgent board or investor deadlines, an emergency engagement can compress this to a single week of intensive output. The key is that fractional CFOs like Ace are operators-in-role, not advisors – they do the work themselves.

The deliverables depend on the immediate gap, but typically include: a clean monthly close process, a board-ready financial package, a 24–36 month rolling forecast, a headcount model tied to the operating plan, investor reporting templates, and documentation of all financial processes for the eventual full-time CFO. For companies in active fundraise, Ace also builds the investor data room financial section and prepares the founding team for diligence questions on unit economics, burn, and runway assumptions.

Both can be true at the same time. A fractional CFO is most appropriate when the full-time search will take longer than the situation allows, or when the company's financial complexity does not yet justify a $350K–$450K base salary for a seasoned CFO. At Series B, many companies benefit from a fractional CFO for 6–12 months while the product, team, and board rhythm stabilize – then make the full-time hire from a position of strength rather than urgency. Ace frequently assists with the full-time search and ensures a clean handoff.

Ace attends board meetings, presents the financial package, and fields board questions directly. He also handles investor update emails, diligence data room coordination, and direct conversations with existing and prospective investors. Boards respond well to a credentialed CFO voice in the room – it signals operational maturity. Ace operates as a full member of the leadership team for the duration of the engagement, not as a consultant who submits reports and disappears.

Fractional CFO engagements at Series B typically run $15,000–$25,000 per month for two to three days per week of embedded time. A full-time Series B CFO costs $350,000–$500,000 in total compensation annually, plus equity. Over a six-month fractional engagement, the cost difference is significant – and the fractional option does not consume equity or require a multi-month search. For companies between rounds, the fractional model also preserves cash while maintaining board credibility. Through Forward Share Ventures, engagements are scoped to the specific gap and re-evaluated monthly.