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A fractional CFO provides the same strategic financial leadership as a full-time CFO, including reporting, financial planning, cash management, lender and investor communication, and helping leadership make better decisions with better information, but on a part-time or project basis. At Helm, that means an experienced advisor embedded in your business.

Engagements vary by need. Some clients retain Helm on an ongoing fractional basis for 10 to 30 hours per month. Others engage us for a defined project like an audit preparation, a system implementation, or exit readiness work. We scope each engagement around what the business actually needs, not a standard package.

The right fit is less about size and more about the stage of the business and the nature of the challenge. Helm works with a sliding scale of different business sizes depending on the service. This includes nonprofits and start-ups that need a fractional CFO advisor, small to mid-size businesses optimizing processes and systems or approaching an exit, and mid to large PE-backed businesses that need post-acquisition integration services.

Yes. Helm has experience with nonprofits and grant-funded organizations, including grant management, board reporting, and audit readiness. The financial complexity of nonprofits, including compliance requirements, restricted funding and board accountability, is well within our scope.

Engagements can be structured as fractional retainers, defined projects, or interim arrangements. Pricing reflects the scope, intensity, and duration of the work, not a standard package. We'll discuss structure and investment during our initial conversation and provide a written proposal before any engagement begins.

Helm is based in Annapolis, MD and serves clients across the Mid-Atlantic region and nationally. Most client work is a combination of remote and on-site. The right balance depends on the nature and intensity of the engagement.