Fractional CFOs in Phoenix Making Things Happen in 2025

Phoenix Interim Chief Financial Officers to Know

Phoenix is no longer a quiet desert market—it’s one of the fastest-growing metros in the country. Fueled by a mix of startup energy, real estate expansion, healthtech, SaaS, and business services, the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler corridor is teeming with opportunity. But fast growth without financial clarity? That’s where things can break.

Enter the fractional CFO—a critical player in the next generation of growth across Arizona.

At Digital Reference, we’re spotlighting independent fractional CFOs in Greater Phoenix who are helping companies across the Valley build better models, scale smarter, and stay cash-conscious. Whether they operate solo or through small firms, these professionals bring senior-level experience to companies that need strategy and execution—not just spreadsheets.

Our Methodology: How We Curate the List

Each fractional CFO featured here meets the following criteria:

• Based in or actively serving the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro
  
  
• Currently offering fractional or interim CFO services
  
  
• Demonstrated experience in financial operations, strategic modeling, forecasting, or capital planning
  
  
• Public presence via LinkedIn or professional site
  
  
• Relevant experience with startup, growth-stage, or mid-market businesses
  
  

We built this list with operators in mind—leaders who need real financial partnership, not just compliance support.

Phoenix-Area Fractional CFOs to Know

🔹 Paul Kern

Fractional CFO | FP&A and Systems Strategist
Paul brings serious financial planning chops to his fractional engagements. With a background in operations, software, and business services, he partners with founders and leadership teams to build forecasting models, implement finance tech stacks, and guide high-stakes decisions. He’s especially strong at supporting post-seed or post-Series A startups transitioning into more formal finance functions.

🔹 Chris Franz

Fractional CFO | Growth Advisor to Tech & Industrial Firms
Chris is a fractional CFO with a pragmatic, execution-first style. He works with companies across software, healthcare, and manufacturing to identify financial bottlenecks, create visibility, and prepare for expansion. His ability to distill complex data into strategic insight makes him a valuable advisor in both early-stage and transitional companies across Arizona.

Why Fractional CFOs Are on the Rise in Phoenix

Phoenix is growing fast—but growth alone doesn’t solve financial blind spots. With startups scaling, investment picking up, and talent markets shifting, founders need finance leaders who can flex to their current needs.

That’s exactly what fractional CFOs offer:

• 🧮 Cash flow modeling and budgeting for fast-scaling businesses
  
  
• 📈 Capital planning ahead of raises or acquisitions
  
  
• 📊 Reporting infrastructure for board or investor readiness
  
  
• 🔄 Financial systems selection and implementation (QuickBooks, NetSuite, etc.)
  
  
• 💬 Scenario analysis to inform real-world decisions—not just what-ifs
  
  

In Phoenix, where the pace of change is high but the finance talent market is still maturing, fractional leadership offers a powerful bridge.

Who’s Hiring Fractional CFOs in the Valley?

We’re seeing demand from:

• 🛠️ Product-led startups in SaaS, healthtech, and agtech
  
  
• 🏢 Local service businesses expanding locations or headcount
  
  
• 🏗️ Construction and trades firms seeking margin control and project-based visibility
  
  
• 📦 E-commerce operators managing seasonal or rapid inventory cycles
  
  
• 📊 Post-raise companies needing help getting investor-ready and burn-rate aware
  
  

The common thread? They need more than a bookkeeper but less than a full-time hire. Fractional CFOs are that “just-right” fit.

Related Reads on Digital Reference

📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive: A Guide for Founders and Operators
This is your tactical playbook for identifying, vetting, and onboarding the right fractional leader for your business stage.

🔍 Fractional CFOs Near Me 

Explore how other metros are using interim revenue leaders—and what lessons Phoenix can draw from their examples.

Final Word: Financial Clarity for a City on the Move

The Phoenix metro is in scale mode. But in today’s economy, growth without financial rigor is risky. These fractional CFOs are helping companies get ahead of that risk—by building systems, models, and insight that actually guide smart decisions.

Whether you're early-stage and lean, post-raise and scattered, or simply not ready for full-time finance leadership, fractional CFOs bring experience without the executive price tag.

Know a Phoenix-area CFO who’s flying under the radar? Drop us a line at hello@digitalreference.co.

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