Fractional CFO
Investment-Ready Finance Without the Full-Time Cost
In today’s complex business environment, you need more than just financial management – you need strategic financial leadership that drives transformation and creates lasting value. You’re building something exceptional, but without CFO-level expertise, the financial infrastructure that investors demand simply isn’t there. Gibson Watts delivers senior CFO expertise to ambitious companies navigating growth and critical transitions – giving you C-suite financial leadership exactly when you need it, without the permanent overhead, scaled to your stage.
the CFO gap.
Most growing businesses need sophisticated financial leadership but can’t justify $200K-$400K+ for a full-time CFO. Without this expertise, they face critical challenges:
Strategic Blindspots Owners make major decisions on expansion, pricing, and investments without financial modeling to assess risks or identify opportunities, leading to costly mistakes.
Cash Flow Crises Profitable businesses fail from cash mismanagement. Without expert oversight, companies miss warning signs and face liquidity crunches that threaten operations.
Fundraising Roadblocks Without CFO-level expertise, businesses present poor financials, struggle to tell their story, and secure unfavorable terms or miss opportunities entirely.
Inefficient Operations Disconnected systems and manual processes create reporting delays, data errors, and compliance risks. Leadership reacts to problems instead of preventing them.
The choice has been binary: hire an expensive full-time CFO or go without. Neither works for growing companies.
investment-grade financial foundations.
Financial Modeling & Forecasting We build robust models and forecasting frameworks that demonstrate your path to profitability and give stakeholders confidence in your projections.
KPI Dashboards & Benchmarking We create dashboards aligned to your industry benchmarks and growth stage, providing real-time visibility into the metrics that matter most.
Cash Flow Management We implement strategies that extend your runway and optimise burn rate, ensuring you have the financial breathing room to execute your growth plans.
Risk Management Frameworks We establish frameworks that identify and mitigate threats to your growth trajectory, protecting your business from financial and operational vulnerabilities.
Strategic Decision Support We provide decision support across expansion and resource allocation, ensuring major decisions are grounded in sound financial analysis.
Unit Economics & Pricing Analysis We conduct unit economics and pricing analysis that identifies paths to improved margins and sustainable profitability.
Scalable Financial Systems We implement systems and controls that scale with your business, creating infrastructure to support rapid growth without compromising accuracy.
fundraising excellence.
Due Diligence Preparation We prepare your financial documentation and systems for rigorous due diligence, identifying and addressing potential issues before investors discover them, ensuring a smooth process with no surprises.
Investor-Ready Financial Narratives We craft compelling financial narratives that tell your growth story with clarity and confidence, translating complex data into the strategic insights that resonate with investors.
Board Reporting Excellence We design and deliver board reporting that demonstrates financial sophistication and strategic thinking, positioning you as a mature, fundable business that inspires investor confidence.
Term Sheet & Valuation Guidance We provide strategic guidance through term sheet negotiations and valuation discussions, ensuring you understand the implications of every clause and secure terms that support your long-term success.
grant & funding applications.
Financial Narrative Development We craft compelling financial narratives that align your business case with funding criteria, demonstrating clear value and impact to grant evaluators.
Budget Development & Justification We develop detailed budgets and financial justifications that meet specific grant requirements, providing the rigorous documentation funders expect to see.
R&D Tax Credits & Innovation Funding We prepare comprehensive R&D tax credit and innovation funding applications that maximize your claim value while ensuring full compliance with program requirements.
Post-Award Management We handle post-award financial reporting and compliance management, ensuring you meet all obligations and maintain strong relationships with funding bodies.
Clean Financial Documentation We ensure your financial records are audit-ready and organised, accelerating transaction timelines by eliminating documentation delays during critical deal phases.
Valuation Modeling We develop comprehensive valuation models for strategic opportunities, helping you understand what your business is worth and make informed decisions about potential transactions.
Acquisition Integration Planning We create detailed financial integration plans for acquisitions, ensuring smooth transitions and rapid realisation of synergies while minimising operational disruption.
Exit Positioning We position your business for optimal exit outcomes, structuring your financials to maximise valuation and appeal to potential acquirers or public market investors.
Expert CFOs
A carefully selected network of C-suite financial leaders with deep expertise across industries and growth stages.
Successful Cases
We have a proven track record of delivering results across a wide range of business challenges.
Industries Served
We understand the unique financial dynamics of your industry and deliver tailored solutions that drive results.
Satisfaction
Our clients consistently choose to work with us again and refer us to their networks.
why fractional makes sense.
Access Expertise at Your Stage Get seasoned CFO leadership calibrated to your growth phase – whether you’re approaching £1M ARR or preparing for Series B. You wouldn’t hire a full-time General Counsel before you need one; apply the same logic to your CFO function.
Cost-Effective Excellence Secure executive-level financial strategy for a fraction of a full-time salary. Redirect those savings toward product development, customer acquisition, or extending your runway.
Flexibility That Scales Ramp services up during fundraising, down during steady-state operations. Need intensive support for three months before your funding round? We’re there. Lighter touch once you’ve closed? We adjust.
Speed to Impact Skip the 3-6 month hiring process. We onboard in weeks, not months, bringing battle-tested frameworks that have supported hundreds of successful funding rounds.
Our fractional CFOs have:
Led finance functions through multiple funding rounds and exits
Built investor relationships across venture capital and private equity
Served portfolio companies within leading investment firms
Developed financial strategies for businesses from £500K to £50M+ ARR
The Results:
95% of our clients successfully close their funding rounds within 12 months
Average runway extension of 4-6 months through optimized cash management
Portfolio companies consistently receive “exceeds expectations” feedback on financial diligence
what working together looks like.
Discovery & Roadmapping (Week 1-2) We audit your current financial function, identify gaps against investor expectations, and build a prioritised roadmap for investment readiness.
Foundation Building (Month 1-3) We implement core financial infrastructure: models, forecasts, KPI frameworks, and reporting systems that demonstrate financial maturity.
Strategic Partnership (Ongoing) Your fractional CFO becomes an integral part of your leadership team – joining board meetings, advising on strategic decisions, and guiding you through critical growth moments.
Fundraising Support (As Needed) When it’s time to raise, we intensify our support: refining your financial story, preparing for diligence, and ensuring you enter conversations from a position of strength.
Trusted by PE-backed companies, high-growth businesses, and organisations navigating critical transitions across the UK.
engagement options.
Foundation
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Monthly financial reporting & KPI dashboards
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Quarterly forecasting updates
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Strategic advisory (4 hours/month)
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Board presentation support
Growth
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Everything in Foundation
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Comprehensive financial modelling
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Weekly strategic advisory (16 hours/month)
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Investor reporting frameworks
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Fundraising preparation support
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Grant application management
Transformation
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Everything in Growth
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Intensive strategic partnership (32+ hours/month)
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Active fundraising management
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M&A readiness & support
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Dedicated team access
Custom
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M&A transactions
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Fundraising rounds
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Interim full-time CFO coverage
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Crisis management
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Special situations
Next Steps
Ready to build investment-grade financial foundations?
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation to evaluate your current financial infrastructure, identify gaps that could concern investors, outline a pathway to investment readiness, and discuss how fractional CFO support could accelerate your growth.