Best Fractional CFOs in Columbus

Columbus Fractional CFO Services

Columbus, OH is one of the Midwest’s most underrated financial hubs — a city where innovation, tradition, and resilience intersect. With its mix of Fortune 500 giants, high-growth startups, university-led research initiatives, and a thriving healthcare and retail presence, Columbus is no stranger to transformation. But behind every strong business is strong financial leadership — and increasingly, that leadership comes in the form of Fractional CFOs.

These finance professionals aren’t just “numbers people.” They’re strategic guides who help organizations make smarter decisions, navigate uncertain markets, and design scalable systems. Whether it’s a scrappy startup on High Street, a growing healthcare provider in the suburbs, or a logistics firm expanding across state lines, Columbus companies are calling on Fractional CFO consultants to fill the gap between tactical accounting and visionary financial leadership.

Our Methodology - Columbus Fractional CFOs:

At Digital Reference, we’ve built our methodology around research, reputation, and results. For this list, we looked closely at Columbus-based financial consultants and fractional CFOs who demonstrate:

• Proven track records across industries like tech, healthcare, manufacturing, and nonprofits
  
  
• A reputation for trustworthiness, transparency, and relationship-building
  
  
• Tangible results in helping businesses grow, restructure, or prepare for investment
  
  
• A presence in the Columbus, OH metro area, with ties to the local economy
  

Our goal? To help Columbus companies make informed decisions when choosing financial leadership support. Now, let’s dive into the professionals shaping Columbus’ financial future.

This curated list includes solo consultants, freelancers, and fractional CFOs working within firms. Each of these professionals brings something unique to the table — and together, they highlight how diverse and dynamic Columbus’ financial consulting scene has become.

🌟 Meet Columbus Fractional CFOs Making things Happen

♦️ Chase Seaver

Fractional CFO at Art of Toil, LLC 

🔗LinkedIn

Chase Seaver stands out as one of Columbus’ most versatile fractional CFOs. With a career rooted in helping high-growth companies scale responsibly, he blends financial strategy with operational know-how. What makes him especially valuable is his ability to step into fast-paced environments and immediately bring clarity to financial systems.

Chase has spent years guiding businesses through key inflection points — whether that’s preparing for investor pitches, optimizing cash flow, or creating reporting frameworks that can withstand scrutiny. In Columbus’ startup ecosystem, where innovation often outpaces structure, professionals like Chase are vital in building the bridge between vision and sustainability.

Some of the highlights of Chase’s work include:

📊 Investor-Ready Forecasting: He specializes in creating models that resonate with venture capitalists and angel investors.

🚀 Startup Acceleration: Many young Columbus firms credit him with establishing the discipline needed for rapid growth.

🧩 Operational Finance: Beyond spreadsheets, Chase rolls up his sleeves to streamline workflows, align budgets with goals, and reduce financial friction.

His style is consultative but also entrepreneurial — a perfect fit for Columbus’ business community that thrives on collaboration and innovation.

♦️ Janet Hurt

Principal at J.Hurt Consulting, LLC

🔗LinkedIn

With years of financial leadership experience, Janet Hurt brings a human-centered approach to the role of Fractional CFO. She has worked extensively with nonprofits and healthcare organizations, two pillars of Columbus’ economy. Her ability to combine financial acumen with mission-driven leadership makes her an invaluable resource for organizations that must balance growth with values.

Janet’s career is defined by her focus on stability and sustainability. Where many CFOs might prioritize only profit margins, Janet has consistently shown that long-term success comes from aligning financial decisions with organizational purpose. In Columbus, where community-driven initiatives and healthcare institutions are major players, her perspective resonates deeply.

Key aspects of Janet’s approach include:

💡 Strategic Budgeting: Ensuring that organizations not only meet short-term needs but also prepare for long-term growth.

🏥 Healthcare Expertise: Specialized knowledge in financial systems that support patient-focused institutions.

🌱 Nonprofit Financial Leadership: Helping mission-oriented groups remain solvent while staying true to their cause.

Janet’s strength lies in her ability to mentor leadership teams, guiding them through the complexities of financial strategy in ways that are accessible and empowering. For Columbus’ nonprofits and healthcare providers, that’s a priceless combination.

♦️ David Conley

Founder at Conley CFO & Consulting LLC

🔗LinkedIn

If your business is facing a crossroads — whether it’s financial restructuring, strategic redirection, or preparing for acquisition — David Conley is the kind of Fractional CFO you want in the room. His expertise lies in navigating complexity and delivering transformative financial strategies.

David has built his career on helping organizations in Columbus and beyond tackle turnaround challenges. He has a reputation for being both analytical and pragmatic, ensuring that companies don’t just survive hard times but come out stronger on the other side.

What sets David apart is his ability to build trust during difficult moments. Business leaders know that with him, they’re getting transparent, no-nonsense advice backed by rigorous financial modeling.

Highlights of David’s work include:

🔄 Turnaround Expertise: Guiding companies through restructuring with confidence.

📉 Risk Management: Identifying vulnerabilities before they become crises.

📈 Growth Positioning: Designing financial roadmaps for businesses preparing to scale after stabilization.

For Columbus’ mid-sized businesses that often find themselves competing with larger national players, David’s ability to sharpen operations and finances provides a much-needed edge.

♦️ Jamey Halsey

Interim / Fractional CFO and Value Growth Advisor at Helios CFO + Advisory

🔗LinkedIn

As the founder of Helios CFO, Jamey Halsey is a fixture in the Columbus financial consulting community. He’s built Helios into a firm known for providing fractional CFO services that go beyond accounting — focusing on strategic leadership, growth support, and business transformation.

Jamey’s career highlights his belief that financial leadership should empower rather than restrict. Through Helios, he’s worked with a variety of companies — from startups seeking seed funding to established firms looking to modernize their systems. His work reflects Columbus’ broader business ecosystem: dynamic, fast-growing, and constantly reinventing itself.

Some of the hallmarks of Jamey’s work include:

🔍 Deep-Dive Financial Analysis: Helping leadership teams uncover insights they might otherwise miss.

🏢 Firm-Based Support: With Helios, companies gain not just Jamey’s expertise but also the backing of a collaborative team.

🌟 Vision-Oriented Leadership: He helps businesses tie financial decisions directly to their long-term goals.

Columbus’ reputation as a place where both startups and established companies thrive makes Jamey’s style of leadership particularly impactful. He represents the new generation of CFOs — one that blends traditional financial rigor with an adaptive, entrepreneurial mindset.

Wrapping Up: Why Columbus, Why Now

Columbus has long been seen as a test market for consumer products, a healthcare hub, and a university city. But in recent years, it’s become much more — a financially innovative ecosystem that mirrors larger national trends while maintaining its Midwest practicality.

The professionals we’ve highlighted — Chase Seaver, Janet Hurt, David Conley, and Jamey Halsey — represent the range of what makes Fractional CFO consulting in Columbus so powerful: adaptability, transparency, mission-driven leadership, and transformative strategy.

At Digital Reference, we believe that strong financial leadership doesn’t just support businesses — it shapes communities. That’s why we put so much emphasis on careful research, reputation checks, and verified results when curating lists like this. Our mission is to make it easier for companies in Columbus and beyond to find the right consultant at the right time.

↪️ If you’d like to learn more about who we are and what drives us, you can start here:

♦️ Find Fractional CFOs Near You

♦️ Finance Executives & What They Do‍

♦️ Fractional CFO Agencies in the USA

And if you’re looking to connect with financial leaders who can guide your company through growth, transformation, or scaling — Digital Reference is here to help you make that connection.‍