vcfo

At last night’s Austin Business Journal CFO Awards, vcfo's CEO Ellen Wood received the Legacy Award. This award recognizes the impact she has had on financial professionals across the region and beyond - specifically for her pioneering the concept of the fractional CFO. Congratulations, Ellen!

The current business landscape presents a paradox for many small-to-medium businesses (SMBs). Business confidence is high despite significant operational challenges and political uncertainty. CEOs of growing companies are bullish, seeing ripe opportunities for expansion, even as they struggle to scale. As SMBs strive to grow, the traditional focus on short-term financial metrics like earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, EBITDA, and the critical ever present pressure for cash can distract them from other ways to drive sustainable value creation. Those who want to thrive in the long run will prioritize more than immediate profitability; they will build enduring enterprises grounded in long-term strategic vision and intangible asset growth along with the more visible #EBITDA measurements. The challenge for SMBs lies in first identifying and cultivating their intangible assets. Entrepreneurs can start with a frank assessment of their organization through the eyes of someone looking in with a market perspective. An outside board member or investor can be helpful in doing this. These investments pay off by increasing the company’s resilience and making it more attractive to future investors and eventually buyers.

If your business is growing but cash flow is a constant concern, you’re not alone. Many companies experience revenue growth but struggle to maintain the liquidity needed to pay bills, expand operations, or invest in the future. This can often be traced back to gaps in capital structure and a lack of clarity in financial planning. To ensure your business can sustain growth, you need to have a strong capital structure that balances debt and equity, while also aligning your cash flow with long-term objectives. A clear picture of your balance sheet and cash flow is critical to understanding whether you have the financial flexibility to meet both current obligations and future growth demands. Our team specializes in helping businesses optimize their capital structure and improve cash flow management. Our experts can perform a comprehensive cash flow analysis and develop a strategic plan tailored to your needs here: https://hubs.la/Q02VMcYR0 #cashflow #revenue

Let's grab some brews, bounce around ideas, and brainstorm how to elevate Colorado's life science service provider network. If you're in the Denver area, meet us at Bruz Off Fax on Thursday, December 12th from 5pm - 7pm MST for another great Brews & Brainstorm event!

Thank you, veterans. Today and every day, we honor all who served.

How well is accountability embedded across your organization? In today’s rapidly changing environment, having a strategic plan isn’t enough—accountability is what turns plans into results. Yet, many companies struggle to foster true ownership and follow-through within their teams. Building a culture of accountability starts with aligning People Operations to your overall business goals. This means setting clear expectations, ensuring your workforce is engaged, and having the right systems in place to support long-term success. By strengthening accountability, you can drive better performance, improve retention, and ensure your organization is resilient in the face of challenges. To understand where your business stands, the vcfo HR Pulse? Assessment provides insights into key areas like workforce alignment, talent acquisition, and compliance. It’s a valuable tool to help you evaluate your current state and identify areas for improvement. Take it here: https://hubs.ly/Q02X7bf_0

In this week's expert article, we break down five best practices that owners and executive leaders of aerospace businesses should follow in weighing and preparing for the future sale of their business. Thank you to Carter Freeman and Merle Waterman for your insights and authorship!

As we wrap up our 2025 annual planning sessions, our vcfo leadership team is reminded of the power of purposeful planning. Every year, we dedicate this time to set priorities, align on vision, and anticipate the needs of our clients and team. Annual planning isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about creating a roadmap for resilience and growth. For any leader, this process is key to building an adaptable organization that’s ready to face new challenges and seize new opportunities. Here’s to a focused, intentional start to 2025. We’re excited to move forward with clarity and purpose! #annualplanning #leadership #eos

Our team had a fantastic time attending and sponsoring the 2024 mhca - Mental Health Corporations of America Fall Conference in Scottsdale! We joined behavioral health leaders from across the country to dive into some of the industry’s biggest opportunities and challenges, including moving from “The Great Resignation” to “The Great Engagement”, building stronger, more connected executive teams and making AI work for you. Thank you to #mhca for organizing such an impactful event, and to all the leaders we connected with. We’re honored to support a community so dedicated to empowering C-suite executives in this vital field and are excited to bring these insights back to our clients.

As we approach year end, the U.S. #labormarket remains strong, particularly in the tech sector, with employers focused on growth despite a slowdown in global hiring. This period presents a critical opportunity for businesses to not only meet immediate hiring needs but also to lay the groundwork for long-term workforce planning. To stay competitive in 2025, companies need to ensure #peopleoperations closely align with company growth objectives set by leadership. This means going beyond filling roles—reviewing organizational design, performance management, and succession planning to ensure your #talentmanagement strategy fully supports business goals. Without this alignment, companies risk making reactive decisions that could weaken their future position. At vcfo, we recommend starting this process early: collaborate across departments, assess benefits and compensation, and build a clear, proactive plan that optimizes hiring and operational efficiency. Have questions on how to strengthen your strategic planning and HR operations for the year ahead? Request a free consultation from a vcfo expert who can help here: https://hubs.la/Q02VT__q0