Real Stories

Helping Small Owners make it work in today's marketplace

Posted on: Apr 14, 2008

Posted by: cfopartner1
Member since: Apr 9, 2008

CFO Partner Northern Virginia, VA
Share with friend

The Story

This small business forum is, in my mind, an opportunity for owners/entrepreneurs, to exercise thought, express concerns and issues and collectively, find answers that will serve to enhance both their companies and their quality of life. As founder and President of CFO Partner, I have worked with many small to mid-size companies during the past fifteen years of my professional career. I have served owners and board members to my best ability and have been fortunate to have been successful in making firms successful.

Having gleaned from on-hand experiences as a Chief Financial Officer or Senior Financial Consultant what makes good business tick, so to speak, and thrive in the marketplace, I have also worked closely with several firms that unfortunately had to seek chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and have turned these firms around or restructured them successfully. Most importantly to me, however, I learned what happens to good people who worked hard and long at their business but did not develop the internal financial systems, controls and methodologies needed to manage there firm effectively.

As a senior mentor on a pro-bono basis, I also work with small business owners at local universities and state/national small business service programs, helping small business owners get the framework of there company in place so that they can "play the game to win" instead of "playing the game not to lose". It is important, I believe, that small businesses thrive and not fail, however many entrepreneurs have great ideas and solid work ethics but have a limited knowledge of how to effectively manage the business of the business.

CFO Partner is a good place for many pro-active small to mid-sized companies to find business solace, so to speak. My firm provides clients expertise both in terms of consulting as well as finance system models that I have developed, utilized, referenced and implemented successfully on large corporations. The financial models are, inherently complex but thorough and provide excellant budgetary guidelines and strategic framework. The models are not integrated into any software program of our clients, rather they are stand alone and function independant of the corporate software platform.

I am not a software guru. I just know what has worked in my executive career to allow companies to succeed. The guidance I provide firms, both in terms of creating the financial systems their company needs as well as the hands on advise and strategic input is designed to be affordable to small firms. Essentially, and as the name of my firm implies, I give owners of small to mid-sized firms access to the skills of a Chief Financial Officer without the cost associated with hiring one.

I welcome the participation this forum offers and look forward to being of assistance to many who find the services of CFO Partner, useful and relevant.

Russell Morris
President
CFO Partner