.jpeg)
Best Fractional CFO Services in Phoenix
Phoenix Interim & Fractional Chief Financial Officers
Phoenix is no longer a quiet desert market—it’s one of the fastest-growing metros in the country. Fueled by a mix of startup energy, real estate expansion, healthtech, SaaS, and business services, the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler corridor is teeming with opportunity. But fast growth without financial clarity? That’s where things can break.
Enter the fractional CFO—a critical player in the next generation of growth across Arizona.
At Digital Reference, we’re spotlighting independent fractional CFOs in Greater Phoenix who are helping companies across the Valley build better models, scale smarter, and stay cash-conscious. Whether they operate solo or through small firms, these professionals bring senior-level experience to companies that need strategy and execution—not just spreadsheets.
Our Methodology: Phoenix Fractional CFO Services
Each fractional CFO featured here meets the following criteria:
- Based in or actively serving the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro
- Currently offering fractional or interim CFO services
- Demonstrated experience in financial operations, strategic modeling, forecasting, or capital planning
- Public presence via LinkedIn or professional site
- Relevant experience with startup, growth-stage, or mid-market businesses
We built this list with operators in mind—leaders who need real financial partnership, not just compliance support.
Meet The Best Fractional CFOs in Phoenix
♦️ Chris Franz
Fractional CFO | Growth Advisor to Tech & Industrial Firms
Chris Franz is a fractional CFO with a pragmatic, execution-first approach to financial leadership. He works with companies across software, healthcare, and manufacturing to uncover financial bottlenecks, improve visibility, and prepare for sustainable expansion.
✨ Highlights:
💡 Supports leadership teams in identifying constraints and turning financial data into clear operating signals.
🧭 Brings a practical lens to growth planning, balancing speed with financial discipline.
📈 Trusted advisor to both early-stage and transitional companies navigating scale.
Chris’s strength lies in distilling complexity into insight — helping founders and operators make confident decisions backed by clear financial narratives.
♦️ Paul Kern
Fractional CFO | FP&A and Systems Strategist
Paul Kern brings deep financial planning and systems expertise to his fractional CFO work. With a background spanning operations, software, and business services, he partners closely with founders and executive teams to strengthen financial decision-making.
✨ Highlights:
💡 Expert in building robust forecasting and FP&A models that support growth-stage companies.
🧭 Specialises in implementing modern finance tech stacks and scalable reporting systems.
📈 Particularly effective with post-seed and post-Series A startups formalising their finance function.
Paul is known for bringing structure without rigidity — helping teams move from intuition-led decisions to disciplined, data-backed execution.
♦️ Thomas J. Mahoney
Fractional COO
Thomas J. Mahoney is a fractional COO known for his execution-first approach to operational leadership. He partners with growing and mid-sized businesses to stabilise operations, improve internal systems, and support leadership teams through scale and transformation.
✨ Highlights:
💡 Deep experience supporting founders and executives through operational complexity and growth transitions.
🧭 Strong focus on clarity, accountability, and execution across teams and functions.
📈 Helps businesses move from reactive operations to structured, repeatable performance.
Thomas is often valued for his calm, practical leadership style — bringing structure without bureaucracy and momentum without chaos.
♦️ Austin Smiley
Founder, Smiley Strategy
Austin Smiley is the founder of Smiley Strategy, where he works as a fractional growth and operations advisor to founders and leadership teams. His work sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, and organisational clarity.
✨ Highlights:
💡 Supports founders in sharpening strategy and aligning teams around clear priorities.
🚀 Known for translating big-picture thinking into practical, executable operating models.
📊 Helps businesses build scalable systems that support growth without overcomplication.
Austin’s direct, grounded style makes him a trusted partner for leaders who want momentum, focus, and results — not just plans.
♦️ Joe Ezra
Fractional COO
Joe Ezra is a fractional COO who works closely with startups and scaling businesses to build strong operational foundations. He partners with founders to improve execution, decision-making, and internal alignment during critical growth phases.
✨ Highlights:
💡 Hands-on operator with experience across early-stage and scale-up environments.
🧭 Helps founders prioritise what matters most when everything feels urgent.
📈 Focused on building simple, effective systems that support sustainable growth.
Joe is often described as a steadying force — bringing clarity, structure, and follow-through to fast-moving teams.
Why Fractional CFOs Are on the Rise in Phoenix
Phoenix is growing fast—but growth alone doesn’t solve financial blind spots. With startups scaling, investment picking up, and talent markets shifting, founders need finance leaders who can flex to their current needs.
That’s exactly what fractional CFOs offer:
- 🧮 Cash flow modeling and budgeting for fast-scaling businesses
- 📈 Capital planning ahead of raises or acquisitions
- 📊 Reporting infrastructure for board or investor readiness
- 🔄 Financial systems selection and implementation (QuickBooks, NetSuite, etc.)
- 💬 Scenario analysis to inform real-world decisions—not just what-ifs
In Phoenix, where the pace of change is high but the finance talent market is still maturing, fractional leadership offers a powerful bridge.
Who’s Hiring Fractional CFOs in the Valley?
We’re seeing demand from:
- 🛠️ Product-led startups in SaaS, healthtech, and agtech
- 🏢 Local service businesses expanding locations or headcount
- 🏗️ Construction and trades firms seeking margin control and project-based visibility
- 📦 E-commerce operators managing seasonal or rapid inventory cycles
- 📊 Post-raise companies needing help getting investor-ready and burn-rate aware
The common thread? They need more than a bookkeeper but less than a full-time hire. Fractional CFOs are that “just-right” fit.
Related Reads on Digital Reference
📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive: A Guide for Founders and Operators
This is your tactical playbook for identifying, vetting, and onboarding the right fractional leader for your business stage.
Explore how other metros are using interim revenue leaders—and what lessons Phoenix can draw from their examples.
Final Word: Financial Clarity for a City on the Move
The Phoenix metro is in scale mode. But in today’s economy, growth without financial rigor is risky. These fractional CFOs are helping companies get ahead of that risk—by building systems, models, and insight that actually guide smart decisions.
Whether you're early-stage and lean, post-raise and scattered, or simply not ready for full-time finance leadership, fractional CFOs bring experience without the executive price tag.
Know a Phoenix-area CFO who’s flying under the radar? Drop us a line at hello@digitalreference.co. Digital Reference is here to help - need more insight into the world of Finance Professions? - Check out below:
- Outsourced CFO Services in the US
- US-Based Financial Advisors
- City Directories of Fractional CFOS
- Save some money -> Outsourced CFO services in India & Outsourced CFO services in Canada
If there is other content that you think we're missing that would help make Finance more authentic and transparent, let us know at hello@digitalreference.co . Thanks for reading! Keep work human!
Phoenix-focused Guides to Finding the Right Professional for Your Needs
- Phoenix Fractional CMO Services
- Fractional COO Services in Phoenix
- Fractional CHRO Services in Phoenix
- Outsourced CTO Services in Phoenix
Explore our International Directories of Part-Time, Fractional, and Virtual CFO Services
Fractional CFO Services in Australia
Top Outsourced CFO Agencies in Australia
Explore a list of top fractional CFO firms in Australia offering part-time financial leadership to startups and growth-stage companies.
Fractional CFO Services in Canada
Top Outsourced CFO Agencies in Canada
A curated directory of top Canadian firms offering outsourced and fractional CFO services, with a strong emphasis on affordability and financial clarity.
Fractional CFO Services in India
Top Outsourced CFO Agencies in India
India's growing ecosystem of financial leadership includes cost-effective, high-impact CFO services for scaling companies.
Fractional CFO Services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Top Outsourced CFO Agencies in the UAE
A roundup of leading part-time CFO firms in Dubai and beyond, offering strategic support for regional and international ventures.
Fractional CFO Services in the United Kingdom (UK)
Top Outsourced CFO Agencies in the UK
From London to Leeds, this list highlights some of the best interim CFO providers for UK-based startups and SMEs.
Fractional CFO Services in the United States (USA)
Top Outsourced CFO Agencies in the USA
A national view of leading firms offering fractional CFO services to startups, family businesses, nonprofits, and more.
Take a Dive into OurRegional Guides to Fractional & Part-Time CFO Talent
Looking for financial leadership that fits your stage and budget? These city-by-city guides highlight vetted, independent fractional CFOs helping companies grow smarter, operate leaner, and plan with confidence.
Fractional CFOs in Ann Arbor Making Things Happen
Ann Arbor’s deep tech and academic ecosystem is supported by a growing cohort of CFOs who understand innovation, grants, and founder-led finance.
Fractional CFOs in Atlanta Making Things Happen
Atlanta-area fractional CFOs bring sharp financial discipline to fast-growing tech, logistics, and consumer brands across the Southeast.
Fractional CFOs in Austin Making Things Happen
In a city known for startups and scale-ups, these CFOs help Austin companies make smart capital decisions and operationalize growth.
Fractional CFOs in Chicago Making Things Happen
Chicago’s finance-savvy fractional CFOs support companies across manufacturing, logistics, tech, and services with pragmatic financial leadership.
Fractional CFOs in Dallas-Fort Worth Making Things Happen
From fundraising prep to financial operations, these DFW-based CFOs bring high-impact expertise to Texas’s most diverse business hub.
Fractional CFOs in Denver Making Things Happen
Denver’s startups and PE-backed firms are increasingly turning to fractional finance leaders who can help bridge vision and execution.
Fractional CFOs in Detroit Making Things Happen
Detroit’s resurgence is being shaped by finance professionals who know how to manage transformation—from legacy to modern systems.
Fractional CFOs in Houston Making Things Happen
Houston-based fractional CFOs offer clarity and control to companies navigating scale in healthcare, logistics, energy, and services.
Fractional CFOs in Los Angeles Making Things Happen
LA’s creative and tech-driven economy benefits from fractional CFOs who understand cash flow, venture expectations, and brand finance.
Fractional CFOs in Miami Making Things Happen
Miami’s capital influx and startup energy are backed by fractional CFOs helping local companies stay lean, fundable, and focused.
Fractional CFOs in Nashville Making Things Happen
Nashville-based CFOs are powering healthcare, SaaS, and creative businesses with the structure and insight needed for sustainable growth.
Fractional CFOs in New York City Making Things Happen
NYC fractional CFOs bring Wall Street discipline to Main Street startups—from fintech and fashion to media and SaaS.
Fractional CFOs in San Francisco Making Things Happen
In the heart of venture capital and product-led growth, these SF-based CFOs are helping startups move from story to sustainability.
Fractional CFOs in Tampa Making Things Happen
Tampa’s startup and services economy is supported by CFOs bringing strategic clarity to e-commerce, healthtech, and founder-led orgs.
Fractional CFOs in Washington DC Making Things Happen
DC’s nonprofits, govtech, and professional services firms benefit from fractional CFOs who understand compliance, complexity, and growth.
Careers are long, but life is short. Let’s build a more transparent and efficient financial consulting industry—together. Explore your options. Ask the right questions. And build your team—with transparency and trust.
– The Digital Reference Team
Subscribe to our newsletter
We'd love to have you follow our journey, learn about to new features and functionality, and get access to talent ecosystem news.
