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Forward Share Network
Finance + CFO Expert Operators
Get Matched in 48 Hours →A fractional CFO expert operator builds the financial model, owns the board reporting infrastructure, and runs the fundraise preparation process – they do not review your numbers and offer commentary. Forward Share Ventures Finance expert operators have supported Series A and Series B raises, M&A diligence processes, and financial infrastructure builds at growth-stage companies.
What Finance expert operators do that consultants don't
A Finance expert operator owns the financial operating cadence for the engagement period: financial model architecture, board reporting, variance analysis narratives, and the fundraise preparation process. They produce the model, write the board narrative, and run the data room – they do not review a model someone else built and suggest changes. The accountability distinction is load-bearing at Series B: a fractional CFO who builds a financial model that fails to survive investor diligence is accountable for that failure in the next board reporting cycle. That accountability changes how carefully the model is built and how honestly its assumptions are pressure-tested before it goes to investors.
How Forward Share Ventures vets Finance expert operators
Finance STAR cases must document specific fundraise or financial infrastructure outcomes: Series closed at specific amounts, diligence timeline from first meeting to term sheet, board reporting infrastructure built with specific deliverables, or financial model changes with documented investor response. Cases must specify what the expert operator personally built: the model architecture, the reporting package, the data room structure. Verified cases include Series B closes with documented fractional CFO involvement, financial infrastructure builds with specific board reporting outputs, and M&A diligence preparation with timeline and outcome documentation.
When a Finance expert operator is the right call
The clearest situations: you are approaching a Series B raise and your financial model was built at Series A and no longer reflects the business; you have no board reporting infrastructure beyond a monthly spreadsheet; or you are between CFO hires and need continuity on financial operations and board reporting while the search runs. Finance expert operators are also high-leverage for companies with a strong finance manager who lacks Series B-level fundraise experience – the fractional CFO provides the specific fundraise expertise the internal team needs without replacing the operational finance capacity already in place.
Expert operators in this practice
Ace Tarakchian – Fractional CFO, Series B fundraise preparation, board reporting infrastructure, financial model architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the right expert operator for my specific context within this function?
The intake brief asks for your stage, the specific gap, and your timeline. From there, the matching team surfaces 2–3 candidates who've held functional ownership in comparable situations – not just the function in general. Domain depth and stage fit are the primary match criteria.
What does a typical engagement in this function cost?
Advisory seats in this function typically run $3,000–$8,000 per month depending on the expert operator's background and your engagement format. Scoped projects are priced on scope and duration at the kickoff session. There are no placement fees in addition to engagement fees.
How long does a typical engagement last?
Advisory engagements run month-to-month with a 30-day notice period. Scoped consulting projects run 30–90 days with defined deliverables. Ongoing strategic advisory – where the expert operator functions more like a part-time team member – typically runs 3–6 months before transitioning to a lighter advisory cadence.
What's the difference between a fractional hire and an advisory engagement?
A fractional hire is embedded in your operations – on your systems, attending your standups, accountable for a function's output. An advisory engagement through Forward Share Network is structured, session-based, and focused on pattern recognition and specific expertise rather than operational execution. Many companies use both: advisory first, then fractional if the engagement proves out the need.
How do you verify that an expert operator's experience is relevant to our stage?
Forward Share Network's STAR credentialing framework requires documented proof points – specific outcomes (revenue milestones, team scale metrics, turnaround results) from prior roles at comparable stages. Operators who can't produce STAR evidence in a relevant domain don't get listed in that domain.
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