Chief Financial Officer

Fractional CFO | CPA Required | Hybrid – Burlington, VT Ascend Fractional Finance, LLC | Full-Time | $150,000 base + profit sharing

You'll thrive here if... You're energized by variety, comfortable switching contexts across industries, and you can parachute into a new environment, assess it quickly, and start adding value before you have all the answers. You're thorough and you build things right, but you don't need everything to be perfect before you move forward. You're the person who looks at a complicated situation and thinks, I can work with this. You want meaningful, challenging work across a range of clients and industries rather than the same set of problems at the same company year after year.

If you love helping business owners make better decisions with better financial information, this could be a great fit.

About Ascend

Since 2015, Ascend Fractional Finance has been the go-to fractional finance partner for Vermont's most dynamic small businesses. Our team of seasoned CFOs, Controllers, and Accounting Managers serves over 80 local companies, giving them enterprise-level financial leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.

We're a tight-knit, high-caliber team that takes the work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. Our services come highly recommended by CPAs, attorneys, and business advisors throughout the region. Learn more at ascendvt.com.

The Role

As a Fractional CFO, you'll carry a portfolio of two to five clients at a time, typically companies with $3M to $50M in annual revenue across industries including manufacturing, biotech, CPG, ecommerce, and technology. No two days look the same, and that's exactly the point.

You'll serve as the senior financial voice for each client, helping ownership and leadership teams understand their numbers, plan for the future, and make confident decisions. You are a consultant, not an employee, which means you manage your time carefully, hit the ground running, and begin adding value immediately.

You'll also work closely with the broader Ascend team, including fellow CFOs and Controllers, giving you peer support and exposure to complex engagements you simply wouldn't encounter in a single-company role.

What You'll Do

• Serve as a strategic financial partner to business owners and leadership teams
• Develop and oversee FP&A functions including budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management
• Prepare and present financial statements and management reports that drive real decisions
• Lead or support recapitalizations, strategic planning, and other high-stakes financial initiatives
• Oversee accounting functions and collaborate with controllers and accounting staff at each client
• Identify and implement improvements to financial systems, processes, and internal controls
• Collaborate with external auditors, lenders, attorneys, and advisors on behalf of clients
• Contribute to internal methodology and tool development as the firm continues to grow

What We're Looking For

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• Active CPA license
• 10+ years in a complex accounting or finance environment, with demonstrated upward progression
• Direct experience as a CFO, VP of Finance, or senior financial leadership role
• Strong GAAP knowledge and financial management fundamentals
• Experience with FP&A, strategic planning, and cash flow management
• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to get up to speed quickly on various ERP platforms
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities across multiple clients or entities simultaneously

You'll stand out if you have:

• Public accounting background
• Manufacturing, cost accounting, or activity-based costing experience
• Experience supporting recapitalizations, transactions, or capital raises
• Experience in multiple industries or a multi-client environment
• A track record of building and mentoring accounting and finance teams

Work Environment

This is a hybrid role. Roughly 75% of your work is remote from your home office; the remaining 25% involves on-site visits to client locations, most within 30 to 60 minutes of Burlington. Clients range from office environments to light manufacturing and warehouse settings.

Standard business hours apply. We work hard for our clients, but we don't believe in burnout.

Compensation & Benefits

• $150,000 base salary, commensurate with experience
• Annual profit-sharing tied to individual and team performance
• 15 days PTO + 7 paid holidays
• Health insurance benefit (details provided during interview process)
• Flexible hybrid schedule

How to Apply

Submit a brief note of interest and your resume for immediate consideration. We review applications promptly and will reach out within one week to candidates moving forward. Qualified applicants can expect a two-step conversation process.

Ascend Fractional Finance is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $150,000.00 - $150,001.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Experience:

• GAAP: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Burlington, VT 05402