One of the most common questions clients have is the difference between a CPA and a CFO. While both are important, a CPA and CFO have vastly different roles. A CPA is typically more tax-focused and more transactional, while a CFO is more focused on the long-term financial strategy of the business. For a CFO, this includes forecasting, budgeting, resolving cash flow issues, optimizing systems, raising capital, and more.
It's usually easy for an organization to identify when they need a little more expertise managing their finances, but it's not always easy to identify exactly what type of help they need. We often get asked whether an organization needs a CPA or CFO.
While both CPAs and CFOs are financial experts, their areas of expertise, specialties, and roles are quite different.
One mistake we've seen is companies assuming a CPA can provide them with the same benefits and strategies as a CFO. In reality, a CPA and a CFO both have important - but very different - roles within an organization.
1. CPAs MANAGE TAX STRATEGY
While the role of a CPA varies based on the organization for which he or she is working, one of the greatest benefits a CPA will bring to your organization is their knowledge of tax law and compliance. A CPA will traditionally keep, audit, and inspect financial records, then prepare financial and tax reports.
Companies will usually hire a CPA when they need help with the following:
- Ensuring their company's finances are accurate and compliant;
- Preparing their taxes and understanding tax law.
2. CFOs SHAPE AND IMPLEMENT FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
While a CPA is usually organizing existing numbers and providing tax or GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) advice for how to record that information, a CPA is not typically someone who will undertake full financial strategy.
A CFO brings a level of strategy, insight, and execution for which CPAs or small financial teams may not be qualified. CFOs have a wide range of industry, operations, and corporate finance experience. They are focusing on future cash flow more than historical data, and are experts in long-range operational planning and making sure every arm of the company is performing at a sustainable peak performance.
Companies will usually hire a CFO when they need help in the following areas:
- Financial strategy and growth
- Efficient, scalable operations
- Optimizing margins
- Forecasting
- Measuring and improving profitability
- Expense control/cash flow
- Financial relationships
- Financial risk assessment
- Establishing systems, policies, and procedures
- Financial project management
- Shareholder relationships
3. WHILE A CPA IS AN EXPERT IN TAX STRATEGY, A CFO FOCUSES MORE ON THE LONG-TERM STRATEGY OF YOUR ORGANIZATION
When you choose a CFO vs. a CPA, your CFO is first going to get a deep sense of your business goals and existing strategy - thus the reason for the Complimentary Discovery Session. Then they will look for the best places to improve your existing strategy, systems, and operations to accelerate your achievement of those goals and to maximize your probability for sustainable success.
One of a CFO's most important tools is the long-term forecast. A financial forecast drills-down to the detail to determine where money should be spent, where money should be coming from, and when. This forecast will guide budgeting, fundraising, sales, marketing, purchasing, and operations.
4. CFOs HELP WITH FUNDRAISING AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Many organizations bring on a CFO when they're preparing to raise funds. While a CPA may have experience in making sure your taxes are in order and that your books are drawn up in accordance with GAAP prior to fundraising, raising capital is something CFOs have dealt with on a regular basis. They know what investors or lenders are looking for and will help your organization prepare accordingly.
Most lenders and investors want to see more than a sound tax strategy and orderly books; they're looking for companies they can be confident will achieve success. While passion and a good product/service is important, it doesn't necessarily provide proof of potential success to investors and lenders. For this type of logic and proof, you need clear books to show current execution of strategy, and a financial forecast to show a sustainable growth strategy.
Your CFO will develop a forecast that will become one of the most important documents in your fundraising efforts, but that's not the only benefit a CFO will provide you during fundraising:
- Relationships. A CFO will also have a rich network of relationships with lenders and investors from which they can draw to help you achieve your financing goals.
- Fundraising Strategy. A CFO will also be able to advise you in the best mix of debt and equity financing for your organization, how much you need to raise, and where the best places will be to raise it. Your CFO will also help you negotiate the best terms for your company.
- CFO Presence. Having an experienced CFO represent you and your business brings reputation and sophistication to your company. Investors want to know they can rely on the financial data they're provided, and having a CFO as your capital raising partner gives them confidence in the information you provide, as well as in your overall company structure.
IS MY COMPANY READY FOR A CFO?
"Our company is too small for a CFO - we couldn't keep him or her busy full time, and it's just not in our budget right now." In the case of most small or growing businesses this is probably true! But that doesn't mean your organization wouldn't benefit highly from a part-time, outsourced CFO.
A fractional CFO, otherwise known as an outsourced CFO, is the perfect tool for growing organizations. In this model, you achieve the expertise of a highly-reputed CFO, but only hire him or her for the time your company requires.
Since you're only paying for the hours you need, this is significantly less expensive than adding a full-time CFO to your corporate team. Even more importantly, it provides you a level of expertise and insight that most organizations would be unable to afford with a full-time CFO.
CPA vs. CFO - FINAL THOUGHTS
While a CPA is an essential tool for professional and compliant tax strategy, a CFO is your secret weapon for growth. With their tools, relationships, and expertise, your company gains insider knowledge from someone who has already helped dozens of companies just like your own succeed. They are the architect who takes your dreams and shows you exactly how to build them; they help you know who and what you need to get the job done in the most efficient ways possible, and helps guide your implementations from start to finish.
