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Best Fractional CFOs in San Diego
San Diego Area Fractional CFO Services
San Diego isn’t just palm trees and sunshine. It’s a growing economic powerhouse fueled by biotech breakthroughs, defense innovation, clean energy startups, and a thriving small-business community. What many people don’t see, however, is the financial infrastructure that helps these businesses thrive. Behind the scenes, Fractional CFO consultants are steering companies toward sustainable growth, funding success, and financial clarity.
At Digital Reference, we’ve made it our mission to research, evaluate, and highlight the consultants who are shaping industries across the country. Our methodology involves deep dives into LinkedIn profiles, company websites, case studies, and client outcomes. We’re not just putting names in a list—we’re curating the professionals who stand out in their ability to combine financial acumen with strategic foresight.
And if you’re new to Digital Reference, check out our About Page. We’re not just listing names—we’re introducing you to people who are shaping the future of finance.
In this blog, we’ll introduce you to five San Diego-area Fractional CFO consultants to watch in 2025. Some run their own firms, others are part of consultancies, and some work as solo practitioners. What unites them is their impact on the businesses they serve.
San Diego’s Financial Landscape and the Role of Fractional CFOs
The San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad region is known for its entrepreneurial spirit. From biotech firms raising venture capital to small businesses navigating inflationary pressures, the financial stakes are higher than ever.
This is where Fractional CFOs play a pivotal role. Unlike full-time CFOs, fractional consultants bring flexible, high-level expertise to companies that don’t yet need (or can’t yet afford) a full-time executive. They design financial systems, lead fundraising strategies, oversee compliance, and—most importantly—help founders and CEOs make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Let’s meet the San Diego-area experts who are redefining what a CFO can do.
🌟 Meet San Diego’s Fractional CFOs Making things Happen
🔶 Aaron Campos
Founder & Fractional CFO
Aaron Campos is the co-founder of V3 Plutus Partners, a financial advisory firm that specializes in delivering CFO services to small- and mid-sized businesses. With a CMA designation and extensive operational experience, Aaron blends traditional accounting with forward-thinking financial leadership.
At V3 Plutus Partners, Aaron has worked with clients across industries ranging from healthcare to tech startups. His approach is rooted in helping business owners see the story behind the numbers. Instead of overwhelming leaders with reports, he translates complex financials into clear, actionable insights.
Key highlights of Aaron’s work include:
📊 Designing scalable financial systems for growing companies
💡 Advising on mergers and acquisitions, ensuring financial due diligence is airtight
🌎 Supporting international operations with cross-border financial planning
🚀 Partnering with founders to refine fundraising strategies and investor presentations
What makes Aaron unique is his holistic perspective. He doesn’t just look at a balance sheet—he considers operations, culture, and long-term vision. This makes him a trusted advisor not just for financial matters, but also for big-picture business decisions.
👉 In San Diego’s fast-moving startup scene, Aaron’s ability to combine precision with strategy is exactly what growth-minded companies need.
🔶 Randy Noll
Fractional CFO and Partner
With decades of leadership experience, Randy Noll of Engage CFO brings heavyweight expertise to fractional financial consulting. His background includes senior executive roles in both private and public companies, giving him a wide-angle lens on finance and operations.
At Engage CFO, Randy works with mid-market companies seeking strategic clarity and financial discipline. His specialty lies in helping organizations that have reached a plateau—or are preparing for the next stage of growth—rethink their approach to finance.
Randy’s expertise covers:
📊 Restructuring financial operations for efficiency and growth
🧾 Implementing reporting frameworks that empower leadership teams
🤝 Guiding ownership transitions and succession planning
🚀 Supporting capital raises and lender negotiations
One thing clients consistently highlight is Randy’s ability to balance detail with vision. He can get into the weeds of a financial model and, in the next breath, discuss the long-term strategic implications of a company’s direction.
👉 In San Diego’s business community, where family-owned businesses and startups often collide, Randy’s mix of stability and adaptability makes him an invaluable partner.
🔶 Denise Gurulé
Fractional CFO. Founder & CEO
As founder of DMG Accounting and Advisory, Denise Gurulé has built a reputation for being a forward-thinking CFO consultant with a passion for helping business owners achieve both profitability and peace of mind.
Her approach blends accounting rigor with strategic advisory services. While many consultants stop at compliance, Denise goes further—helping leaders align their financial strategy with their business and personal goals.
Areas where Denise shines include:
📊 Designing accounting systems that save time and reduce errors
🧮 Cash flow forecasting and budgeting for better decision-making
💼 Advising professional service firms on growth and scalability
👩💻 Leveraging technology to streamline financial processes
What stands out about Denise is her personalized approach. She takes the time to understand each client’s unique challenges, then builds financial frameworks that fit their style of leadership. Clients describe her as both detail-oriented and approachable.
👉 For San Diego’s professional services and small-business sectors, Denise represents the kind of steady, insightful guidance that keeps companies not only surviving—but thriving.
🔶 Robin Rothstein
Managing Partner, Fractional CFO and COO
When it comes to fund administration and investment strategy, Robin Rothstein has earned her place as one of San Diego’s standout Fractional CFOs. With her firm, R2 Fractional Fund Services, Robin focuses on an often-overlooked but vital area of finance: helping investment managers and funds get the CFO-level guidance they need without the full-time overhead.
Robin’s expertise comes from a rich background in fund operations, financial reporting, and investor relations. Her clients value the fact that she understands both the technical compliance side and the human communication side of financial leadership.
Key areas where Robin excels include:
📊 Fund administration and reporting, ensuring compliance and transparency for investors
💸 Supporting investment managers with back-office financial operations
🌱 Helping early-stage funds establish financial infrastructure that scales with growth
🧾 Guiding investor relations strategies, making sure LPs stay confident and informed
In San Diego—a city where venture capital is steadily growing, especially in biotech and clean energy startups—Robin’s expertise is uniquely positioned to support fund managers who want to compete on a national level. She bridges the gap between sophisticated investors and emerging funds, which is exactly the kind of financial leadership San Diego’s venture ecosystem needs.
👉 What truly sets Robin apart is her precision and client-centric approach. Fund managers trust her because she doesn’t just “handle the numbers”—she proactively spots risks, streamlines processes, and positions clients for long-term credibility.
🔶 Grant Berman
President
Grant Berman, founder of Lola Consulting, is another San Diego-based Fractional CFO worth knowing in 2025. His background spans corporate finance, startup advising, and operational leadership—giving him the kind of versatility that makes him invaluable to growing companies.
At Lola Consulting, Grant has built a reputation for helping early- and growth-stage businesses tackle their toughest challenges with clarity and strategic direction. His expertise includes:
📊 Building financial models that help founders understand the long-term impact of their decisions
💡 Advising on fundraising strategy, from seed rounds to Series A and beyond
🔎 Implementing financial systems and processes that prepare companies for scale
🤝 Acting as a strategic thought partner for CEOs navigating uncertainty
San Diego’s startup ecosystem is booming in industries like SaaS, clean tech, and consumer goods—and Grant has worked closely with founders in these spaces to build financial infrastructure from the ground up.
What sets Grant apart is his ability to adapt financial strategy to the personality and goals of the company. For some founders, that means building a clear roadmap for a venture-backed exit; for others, it means creating a sustainable financial model that supports bootstrapped growth. His flexibility and insight make him an asset to San Diego’s diverse business community.
👉 Clients describe Grant as approachable, detail-oriented, and highly strategic. In other words, he’s the kind of CFO consultant who doesn’t just crunch numbers—he builds confidence.
Wrapping It Up: Why San Diego’s Fractional CFOs Matter
San Diego is a city on the rise—not just in tourism or biotech, but across every corner of its economy. Startups, mid-sized firms, and even family-owned businesses are looking for ways to grow smartly, attract investment, and scale sustainably. That’s where Fractional CFOs step in as game-changers.
Each of the professionals we’ve highlighted—Aaron Campos, Randy Noll, Denise Gurulé, Robin Rothstein, and Grant Berman—represents a different angle of financial expertise. From fund management to startup scaling to international expansion, these consultants are shaping how businesses in San Diego prepare for 2025 and beyond.
And here’s the bigger picture: Fractional CFOs aren’t just number crunchers. They’re strategists, communicators, and growth partners. They translate financial complexity into clear action plans, giving leaders the confidence to make bold moves in a competitive market.
At Digital Reference, our mission is to highlight exactly this kind of talent. We go beyond the surface, offering tools like video resumes, professional reference collection, and curated consultant spotlights that put authenticity at the heart of professional growth.
👉 Curious about how the consulting space is changing? Check out our guides:
💸 Finance Consultants in Los Angeles to Watch
🧺 How to Hire a Market Research Consultant
💰 How to Hire Financial Consultants
✨ In short: San Diego’s Fractional CFOs are more than consultants—they’re the unsung heroes behind the city’s next wave of growth. And at Digital Reference, we’re here to make sure you know who they are.
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