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Forward Share Network
Series B CFO Expert Operator – Ace Tarakchian
Get Matched in 48 Hours →A fractional CFO at Series B provides CFO-level financial leadership – board reporting, financial modeling, fundraise preparation, and operational finance – without the $300K+ annual cost of a full-time hire. Ace Tarakchian has served as fractional CFO across seven Series B rounds and two M&A processes at Forward Share Ventures.
Why Series B companies need a fractional CFO now
Series B diligence is where founders realize their financial infrastructure is six months behind where it needs to be. Investors expect a board-ready financial model, monthly reporting packages, and a three-year scenario plan. Most Series B founding teams have a bookkeeper and a spreadsheet. The gap between those two realities is exactly where a fractional CFO expert operator steps in.
What Ace covers in a fractional CFO engagement
Ace focuses on three areas: financial model architecture (unit economics, scenario planning, and the board deck numbers), board reporting infrastructure (monthly packages, KPI dashboards, variance analysis), and fundraise preparation (data room, investor narrative, diligence Q&A). He has done this seven times at Series B, which means he knows which questions come at week 6 of diligence – and builds the answers into the model at week 2.
What the engagement actually looks like
A standard 90-day fractional CFO engagement begins with a two-week financial infrastructure audit, then moves to building or rebuilding the model, establishing the reporting cadence, and preparing the fundraise package. Ace typically works 15-20 hours per week during active fundraise periods and 8-10 hours per week in steady-state operational finance mode.
A STAR case from the Forward Share Ventures network
Situation: A B2B SaaS company at $8M ARR was preparing for a Series B raise with a financial model built in year one that no longer reflected the business. The board wanted a revised three-year model and monthly reporting infrastructure before investor outreach began.
Result: New financial model built in three weeks. Monthly reporting package launched. Series B closed at $18M – the lead investor cited "unusual financial rigor for a company this size" in the close announcement. Total engagement: 14 weeks.
"The financial model is the thesis made numerical. If it doesn't hold up under five minutes of diligence, the raise stalls – not because the business is bad, but because the story isn't defensible. That's fixable, and it's fixable fast."
– Ace Tarakchian, Finance Expert Operator, Forward Share Ventures
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request an introduction to this expert operator?
Submit a brief through the match form at Forward Share Network. The team reviews your situation, confirms the expert operator's availability, and arranges a 20-minute introductory call – typically within 48 hours of your submission. No commitment is required before the intro call.
What engagement formats are available?
Three main structures: a structured advisory seat (one 60-minute session per month plus async availability), a scoped consulting project (30, 60, or 90 days with defined deliverables), or a strategic advisory retainer for ongoing functional partnership. The right format depends on your situation and timeline.
How much time does a typical engagement require?
Advisory engagements run roughly 2–3 hours per month per company, including the structured session and async exchanges. Scoped projects are more intensive for the duration – scope and time commitment are defined at kickoff. Most expert operators carry 2–4 active engagements simultaneously.
Are there placement fees or exclusivity arrangements?
No placement fees. Forward Share Network operates on an engagement model, not a transactional staffing model. Expert operators are not exclusive to any company – they bring the perspective of working across multiple situations simultaneously, which is a core part of the value.
What if my situation changes mid-engagement?
Engagements are structured with defined check-in milestones – typically at 30-day intervals. If your situation shifts, scope can be renegotiated at the next milestone. For scoped projects, the team can also configure a scope amendment before the halfway point if circumstances change materially.
Ready to match? No prep needed. 20 minutes.
Get Matched in 48 Hours →How It Works
Tell us your gap
20-minute read with Vish. We map the function, stage, and urgency — no deck required.
We match in 48 hours
You receive 1–3 STAR-verified operators matched to your exact situation — reviewed and accountable.
Deploy in days
No contract lock-in. Start with a sprint or ongoing engagement. Cancel any time.
How We Compare
The honest breakdown — what separates a Forward Share expert operator from your other options.
| Criteria | FSV Expert Operator | Staffing Agency | Full-Time Hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to deploy | 48 hours | 3–6 weeks | 3–6 months |
| Commitment | Cancel anytime | Contract-locked | 12+ months |
| Track record | STAR-verified outcomes | Resume-screened | References only |
| Cost model | Engagement-based, no fee | 20–30% placement fee | Base + equity + benefits |
| Quality | Top 5% — curated from 400+ | Available candidates | Best hire at this stage |
| Risk | Low — no long-term lock-in | Medium — fee non-refundable | High — mis-hire is 1.5–2× salary |
Find Your Expert in 48 Hours.
No prep needed. 20 minutes. You'll leave with a clear read on your gap — and the right operator to close it.
STAR-Verified · No Placement Fee · Cancel Anytime