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Why Medium-to-Large SMEs Need Fractional CFO Services

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Why Medium-to-Large SMEs Need Fractional CFO Services

For medium to large SMEs, accessing CFO-level expertise can be transformative, but hiring a full-time CFO isn’t always necessary. A fractional CFO delivers the strategic insight, financial discipline, and executive-level guidance that can transform how your business performs, grows, and competes, all without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.

At Gallagher Keane, we work with SMEs to provide outsourced CFO services that drive growth, strengthen decision-making, and enhance operational efficiency.

The Strategic Value of a Fractional CFO:

1. Executive-Level Financial Leadership

Fractional CFOs provide the same strategic oversight as a full-time CFO. They partner with your executive team to:

  • Drive growth strategies and evaluate expansion opportunities

  • Ensure financial planning is aligned with business objectives

  • Implement processes that optimise profitability and efficiency

2. Advanced Reporting and Insights

Understanding your numbers is essential, but understanding what they mean is transformative. Fractional CFOs deliver:

  • Detailed management accounts and dashboards designed to meet your business needs.

  • Insightful KPIs that measure performance, cash flow, and operational efficiency

  • Real-time visibility into financial health to support informed, confident decision-making

3. Funding, Investment, and Expansion Support

If your business is preparing for investment, securing financing, or evaluating mergers and acquisitions, a fractional CFO can:

  • Prepares accurate financial projections and business cases

  • Guides funding strategies and investor negotiations

  • Supports due diligence and financial modelling for complex transactions

4. Optimising Cash Flow and Working Capital

A fractional CFO ensures your business has the liquidity to operate efficiently, seize growth opportunities, and minimise financial risk. They help optimise cash flow, manage working capital, and identify potential cost-saving measures without compromising growth.

5. Governance, Risk Management, and Board-Level Insights

Growth comes with complexity. Fractional CFOs provide:

  • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

  • Clear financial reporting for boards, investors, and stakeholders

  • Strategic recommendations to navigate market and operational challenges

6. Cost-Effective, Flexible Expertise

Hiring a full-time CFO can be expensive and inflexible. Fractional CFO services allow your business to access top-tier financial expertise on a schedule and budget that suits your needs, delivering maximum impact without long-term commitments.

Why Gallagher Keane?

We specialise in working with medium-to-large SMEs to provide outsourced CFO services that truly make a difference. Our team doesn’t just manage the numbers, we partner with you to:

  • Drive growth and maximise profitability

  • Improve financial visibility and operational efficiency

  • Support strategic planning and investment readiness

  • Provide confidence and clarity to leadership teams

Businesses that leverage fractional CFO services often see transformative results: smarter decision-making, stronger financial control, and better preparedness for growth and investment opportunities.

Contact us:

Contact Gallagher Keane today at info@gallagherkeane.ie to discover how our fractional CFO services can help your business thrive in 2026 and beyond.