By Jesse Sanchez. 

Fox & Partners shares how technology, education and client-focused service can help finance professionals thrive. 

Technology continues to reshape the finance and financial technology industries, but the foundational skills that support strong business relationships remain essential. In a recent Authority Magazine interview, Fox & Partners explored five strategies for succeeding in this changing environment while staying grounded in sound financial principles. 

One central theme was the value of combining modern tools with fundamental business knowledge. Fox & Partners integrates platforms such as Jirav, Bill.com and Notion to streamline financial processes and improve efficiency. These tools support the firm’s work, but they do not replace the accounting principles and human judgment required to guide business owners effectively. 

Education also plays an important role in the firm’s approach to outsourced chief financial officer (CFO) services. A background in teaching has influenced how financial information is shared with clients, with an emphasis on helping business owners understand their finances and make informed decisions. Rather than simply providing reports, the goal is to give clients practical knowledge they can apply within their organizations. 

Flexibility is another key lesson. Early in the firm’s development, assuming that every client had access to email created challenges. That experience led Fox & Partners to establish more traditional communication methods for clients who preferred them, reinforcing the importance of adapting service to individual needs. 

The interview also emphasized human connection, continuous learning and the enduring value of accounting fundamentals. Although technology and financial platforms will continue to evolve, professionals must remain attentive to the people behind the numbers. 

Fox & Partners’ mission is to help business owners reduce financial stress and pursue greater financial freedom through clear, practical guidance. 

Learn more about Fox and Partners’ approach to outsourced CFO services!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Hurley Fox explains how accurate financial data, disciplined planning for cash flow and effective technology can help contractors grow profitably. 

Contractors may be skilled at delivering quality work, but sustainable growth also requires a clear understanding of where money enters, moves through and leaves a business. In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman spoke with Hurley Fox, owner of Fox & Partners, about the financial challenges and opportunities contractors face as their companies grow. Fox & Partners provides outsourced accounting, controller and chief financial officer services to small businesses across the country. 

One of the most common mistakes Hurley sees is a failure to understand gross margin. Contractors need to track the labor and material costs associated with each project rather than focusing solely on revenue. Hurley emphasized, “If you don't understand your gross margin, you don't understand if you are pricing correctly.” 

Accurate job costing can also help contractors determine which services, projects and customers are most profitable. Hurley recommended tracking employee time by job and customer, reviewing timesheets consistently and recording material purchases for specific projects. 

Cash flow requires equal attention because reported income does not always reflect the amount of money available in the bank. Customer payment schedules, debt payments, owner distributions, taxes and asset purchases can all affect available cash. A cash flow forecast can help business owners anticipate upcoming obligations and prepare for seasonal fluctuations. 

Contractors should also examine whether their financial statements are accurate before relying on them to make decisions. Hurley explained that each balance sheet item should be supported by documentation, such as a bank statement, loan agreement or asset purchase record.  

Technology can make these processes easier, but Hurley cautioned against adopting software simply because a newer option is available. He advised, “The best software is the software that works for you and your team.” The most effective system is one employees understand and use consistently. 

By developing reliable processes and reviewing financial results regularly, contractors can identify problems, test potential solutions and make decisions based on meaningful data. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about strengthening your company’s financial foundation with accurate data, disciplined cash flow planning and effective technology! 

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Organized financials, stronger cash flow and a clear business roadmap can help owners make more confident decisions. 

Running a growing business requires owners to balance daily operations, long-term planning and financial performance. As those responsibilities expand, Fox & Partners can provide part-time chief financial officer (CFO) support to help address recurring challenges that may be limiting the organization’s progress. 

1 – Lack of clean, current financials 

One common problem is a lack of clean, current and useful financial information. A part-time CFO can organize accounting records, connect balance sheet items to source documents and create reports that clearly show how the business is performing. Online dashboards can also make key financial metrics easier to monitor and use when adjusting strategies. 

2 – Poor cash flow 

Cash flow is another frequent concern. Even profitable businesses may struggle to understand where their money is going. Reviewing income, expenses, accounts receivable, debt and other financial activity can reveal opportunities to retain more cash. Once positive cash flow is established, a CFO can help determine whether excess funds should be reinvested in the business or distributed to ownership. 

3 – Inefficient accounting processes 

Inefficient accounting processes can create delays and errors. Part-time CFO services may include implementing accounting technology, closing monthly books on time, automating accounts payable and accounts receivable processes and documenting procedures. Written processes help preserve continuity when employees are unavailable or leave the company. 

4 – No clear business roadmap 

Beyond accounting, many business owners need a clearer roadmap. A part-time CFO can help establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) goals while encouraging owners to step back from daily demands and evaluate the larger direction of the company. 

5 – Business-related stress 

These challenges can also create significant stress. Reliable financial reporting, improved processes and strategic support can give owners greater clarity and allow them to focus on the work they do best. 

Learn more about how Fox and Partners supports businesses with outsourced CFO services!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Fox & Partners helped a real estate development firm organize its accounting, improve investor reporting and create systems that supported continued growth. 

“Hurley has been incredibly helpful in advising us as a startup nonprofit with our financial and fundraising strategies! He is thorough and thoughtful in his feedback, reviewing all our documents with great precision and has helped us be more strategic in our fundraising efforts. It has been a joy working with Hurley and I highly recommend him to anyone looking to grow their organization.” — Kyra Limberakis

When a growing real estate development firm approached Fox & Partners, its leaders were managing dozens of properties without a formal bookkeeping system. Financial information was spread across separate Excel spreadsheets, while the company lacked standardized reports, clear goals and an organized structure for communicating with investors. Recognizing the need for a more organized financial foundation, the firm’s leaders reached out to Fox & Partners for support. 

Fox & Partners began by reviewing three years of financial information and compiling a complete list of approximately 15 business entities. The team created both an Excel-based overview and a visual representation of the company, documenting bank accounts, loans, property intentions and equity structures. A QuickBooks Desktop account was then established for each entity. 

Using prior tax returns as beginning balance sheets when applicable, the team reconciled bank accounts through the current month and worked with the owner to ensure that every balance-sheet item could be traced to a supporting document. Financial statements and review procedures were refined over several months as additional transactions and account needs emerged. 

Fox & Partners also created standardized folders in Google Drive, giving the client an organized system for storing documents and collaborating with the accounting team. The improved financial records supported current investor reports that included equity balances, narrative updates, future capital calls or distributions, internal rate of return, return on investment and projected timelines. 

Within four months, Fox & Partners had reconciled thousands of transactions and developed clear reporting systems. The relationship continued over the following three years as the firm helped reorganize deal structures, supported fundraising efforts, assisted with onboarding a chief operating officer and helped the company expand its network. 

The partnership demonstrates how organized accounting can create a foundation for stronger reporting, clearer planning and long-term business development. 

Learn more about how Fox & Partners supports businesses with outsourced chief financial officer services!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Fox and Partners helped a real estate development firm organize its financials, improve investor reporting and build a foundation for growth. 

When a growing real estate development firm turned to Fox & Partners for help, the company was facing stress around its accounting, reporting and overall financial organization. The firm had dozens of properties tracked separately in Excel, no exact bookkeeping system and no formalized business plan, goal structure or easy-to-read reports. 

Fox & Partners began by bringing structure to the firm’s financial picture. The team reviewed the client’s spreadsheets and available information, then compiled a list of about 15 properties and businesses. That work included creating both an Excel list and a visual overview to help the client better understand the full scope of the company. 

From there, Fox & Partners set up a QuickBooks Desktop account for each entity and documented key details, including bank accounts, loans, property intent and equity structure. The team also gathered supporting documents such as HUDS, business formation documents, operating agreements, loan documents, bank accounts and bank access. 

With the foundation in place, Fox & Partners began creating clean financials for each entity. For businesses that had operated the previous year, the team used the last tax return as the beginning balance sheet. They reconciled bank accounts through the current month, then reviewed the financials with the owner so each line item could be traced back to a source document. 

The work also included creating standardized investor reports. Using Google Drive as a shared server, Fox & Partners developed systems for monthly reconciliations, standardized folders and transparent collaboration. The investor reports included current equity balances, narrative updates, future capital calls or distributions, current internal rate of return and return on investment and updated projected timelines. 

Within four months, Fox & Partners had reconciled thousands of transactions, created clear reports and helped the client provide investors with the information they needed. Over the next three years, the partnership expanded to include deal structure reorganization, fundraising support, network growth and work with a chief operating officer who helped take the foundation further. 

Learn more about Fox & Partners and how its outsourced chief financial officer services support growing businesses!

When the numbers stop making sense, we give you clarity and direction. Our consulting support helps you understand performance, strengthen margins and plan your next move with confidence.

Services include:

• Full financial health assessment
• Pricing, margin and long-term strategy support
• Profitability analysis and expense review
• Growth planning and operational guidance

Contact for a free consultation.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how fractional CFOs shift between consulting, accounting and executive roles to meet changing financial demands. 

For contractors and business owners, financial management does not operate on a fixed track. As companies expand, adjust to new workloads or respond to changing market conditions, the demands on budgeting, reporting and long-term planning move with them. That variability is reshaping how businesses approach financial leadership, with companies such as Fox & Partners highlighting the growing role of fractional chief financial officers (CFOs) as a flexible alternative to traditional, full-time roles. 

The value of a fractional CFO extends beyond cost considerations. It lies in the ability to match expertise to need in real time. Rather than remaining confined to a single function, these professionals scale their involvement up or down depending on the situation, moving from targeted advisory work to embedded operational leadership as conditions require. That flexibility is most clearly defined across three primary functions, each tied to a different level of engagement. 

At the advisory level, fractional CFOs serve as consultants, working with companies that may already have internal financial staff but need sharper insight into performance. This work centers on reviewing financial statements, identifying inefficiencies and recommending improvements that can strengthen profitability or streamline processes. Ongoing check-ins help ensure those changes translate into measurable results, making this role particularly effective for short-term initiatives or focused financial adjustments. 

As needs deepen, the role often shifts into accounting and bookkeeping. Here, the work becomes more operational, with fractional CFOs taking responsibility for building or reinforcing financial infrastructure. That can include implementing accounting systems, tracking transactions, reconciling accounts and producing consistent monthly reporting. For businesses without a fully developed accounting function, this level of involvement creates the stability required to maintain accurate, actionable financial data. 

At the highest level, fractional CFOs step into an executive role, where financial oversight becomes integrated with broader business strategy. In this capacity, they manage accounting teams, collaborate with department leaders and guide decisions that shape long-term direction. While this level of engagement is more intensive and typically limited to fewer clients, it delivers executive-level perspective without the full cost of a permanent hire. 

As financial demands continue to shift, businesses are placing greater emphasis on aligning resources with immediate priorities. Fractional CFOs provide a way to do that with precision, offering scalable expertise that strengthens financial oversight while preserving operational flexibility. 

Learn more about how fractional CFOs help businesses adapt financial strategy in real time by scaling expertise from advisory support to full executive leadership!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

A closer look at how flexible financial leadership is helping companies improve stability, reduce costs and plan for long-term growth. 

For small businesses navigating growth, financial management often becomes both a bottleneck and a risk point. The need for strategic oversight is rarely in question, but the cost of a full-time chief financial officer places that level of leadership out of reach for many organizations. In response, part-time CFO services, including those offered by Fox & Partners, are gaining traction as a model that delivers high-level financial guidance without the structural burden of a full-time hire. 

At its core, the shift reflects a broader change in how businesses approach financial leadership. Rather than focusing solely on recordkeeping and compliance, companies are prioritizing forward-looking strategy. A part-time CFO operates within that space, extending beyond accounting into forecasting, budgeting and risk assessment. This approach allows business owners to move from reactive decision-making to deliberate planning grounded in financial data. 

That distinction becomes particularly important when addressing cash flow; one of the most persistent challenges for growing companies. Instead of treating cash shortages as isolated issues, part-time CFOs evaluate the systems that produce them. By analyzing payment cycles, receivables and vendor terms, they introduce adjustments that improve liquidity and reduce operational strain. In doing so, they not only resolve immediate pressure points but also build a more resilient financial structure over time. 

The economic case for this model is equally compelling. A full-time CFO can command a salary exceeding $200,000 annually, a level of investment that many small businesses cannot justify. Part-time services provide access to comparable expertise on a flexible basis, allowing companies to align financial leadership with their current stage of growth while avoiding long-term overhead commitments. 

At the same time, the value extends beyond cost savings. Part-time CFOs play a critical role in risk mitigation by maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring compliance with tax and regulatory requirements and identifying discrepancies before they escalate. This level of oversight reduces the likelihood of costly missteps and strengthens overall operational confidence. 

As market conditions grow more complex, financial leadership is being redefined by its ability to deliver clarity and direction. For small businesses, the rise of part-time CFO services signals a shift toward precision, where access to the right expertise at the right time can determine not just survival, but long-term success. 

Learn more about how part-time CFO services are helping small businesses strengthen financial strategy, improve cash flow and scale with greater confidence!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

This outsourced accounting firm is helping contractors gain financial clarity and scale their businesses. 

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living, are pleased to welcome Fox and Partners into their community. 

For some contractors, financial management can become a secondary priority as day-to-day operations demand constant attention. Fox and Partners is built to address that challenge, providing outsourced accounting and CFO services that bring structure, visibility and strategic direction to business finances. Supporting approximately 200 businesses nationwide, the firm works with both companies that need guidance for existing accounting teams and those looking to fully outsource their financial operations. 

At the core of Fox and Partners’ approach is a shift from basic bookkeeping to strategic partnership. By ensuring financial data is accurate, timely and clearly organized, the team creates a foundation that allows business owners to move beyond reactive decision-making. With that clarity in place, contractors are better positioned to evaluate performance, refine pricing strategies and plan for sustainable growth. 

From this company, you can expect: 

• Accurate and timely financial reporting that delivers a reliable view of business performance 
• Strategic financial guidance that supports growth, pricing and operational decision-making 
• Flexible service models that integrate with existing teams or fully replace in-house accounting functions 
• Access to high-level financial expertise, including CFO oversight, without the cost of internal hiring 
• A practical understanding of construction and trades businesses, aligned with the pace and demands of field operations 

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome Fox and Partners!

About Fox and Partners 

Fox and Partners is a full-service accounting and financial operations firm serving more than 65 clients and 200 businesses. Our team of 15 professionals, including bookkeepers, controllers and CFOs, provides both hands-on accounting execution and strategic, executive-level oversight in a fully remote model. At Fox & Partners, we specialize in outsourced CFO and business services designed to help you better understand your finances, overcome challenges and ensure sustainable growth.