You raised the round. Now install the financial discipline to make it count.
I’m Taha Ahmed, a 15-year Goldman Sachs veteran. I work 1-on-1 with startup CEOs as a fractional CFO: burn targets the board believes, reporting that tells the story early, and a forecast the team actually runs on.
30 minutes, no pitch. We talk about your numbers and whether I can help.
Senior finance leadership, without the full-time hire
Most startups between seed and Series B do not need a $350k CFO. They need someone who has sat in the seat before, a few days a week, building the finance architecture the next round gets underwritten on.
Finance Architecture
Driver-based forecasts, budgets tied to real operators, runway analysis with clear decision points. The operating system your company runs on.
Board & Investor Reporting
Monthly packs the board trusts. Actuals vs. plan with honest commentary, KPIs that mean something, and materials that hold up in diligence.
Capital Formation
Fundraising strategy, investor-grade models, data room materials, and a narrative that survives partner-meeting scrutiny. Equity, debt, or hybrid.
M&A & Corporate Development
Buy-side and sell-side modeling, synergy and accretion analysis, deal structuring, and integration planning when the deal closes.
Built for founders at a specific stage
This is for you if
- You raised a round and the board expects operating discipline
- You are scaling past product-market fit with no senior finance hire
- You are preparing a fundraise in the next 6 to 12 months
- You are acquiring companies or evaluating a sale
- You need a finance leader the team and the board both respect
This is not for you if
- You need bookkeeping, payroll, or tax prep (I will point you to the right providers)
- You are pre-revenue with no finance complexity yet
- You want someone to rubber-stamp numbers you already decided on
A simple path from first call to operating rhythm
Assessment
We start with a 30-minute call, then a focused diagnostic of your financial operations. You get a clear-eyed view of gaps, risks, and what matters most in the next two quarters.
Architecture
We design the finance stack around your trajectory: forecast model, budget cadence, reporting pack, and KPIs. Built for your board and your operators, not a template.
Execution
I stay in the seat part-time: running the cadence, sitting in on board prep, and guiding you through fundraises, acquisitions, or whatever the quarter throws at you.
Straight answers
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Most engagements run as a monthly retainer sized to hours and scope, from a few thousand dollars a month for a light engagement to the low five figures for a heavy one. Hourly work typically runs a few hundred dollars an hour. Project-based work, like fundraise support, is scoped per engagement. The full breakdown is on the pricing guide.
When should we hire a fractional CFO instead of a full-time one?
If you need senior finance judgment but cannot justify a $300k+ full-time hire, usually from seed through Series B, fractional is the right call. I wrote a full guide on fractional vs. full-time CFO timing.
What happens in the first 90 days?
Assessment first: where the numbers stand and what is missing. Then the forecast, the budget cadence, and the board pack. By day 90 you have burn targets the board believes and a forecast the team runs on. More in the FAQ.
Talk through your numbers with someone who has seen this movie before
Thirty minutes. We look at where you are, what the next round needs, and whether I am the right fit. If not, I will tell you.