Carrie May
CFO and Controller
A fractional CFO and Controller with more than 25 years supporting small to mid-sized businesses across a wide range of industries.
Carrie brings more than 25 years of fractional CFO and Controller experience to small and mid-sized businesses across nonprofit, insurance, clinical equipment, hospitality, education, real estate, private equity, law firm, consulting, staffing, and multi-unit clinic organizations.
She starts with a simple conviction: when a business owner has a clear vision for the customer experience, the messaging gets clear and every team member knows what to do. She believes every business can reach its goals, whether growth, perpetuation planning, or an exit.
Areas of expertise
Financial reporting
Over 25 years building customized reporting and managing cash flow and debt, aligned with strategic goals, not just the chart of accounts.
Forecasting and planning
Forecasting for exit scenarios and year-ahead performance, including multi-entity, multi-location growth and contraction modeling with cash flow forecasts.
Accounting team development
Builds internal accounting teams, processes, and month-end close schedules that stay repeatable after she leaves the room.
Operations management
Develops full-service account management using internal, onshore, and offshore resources, improving retention and cross-sales through better onboarding.
Growth and margin results
Delivered 18 to 21 percent annual organic growth for five years, with three years of 100 percent client retention, and grew EBITDA margins from 8 to 25 percent in under five years.
Topline sales growth
Builds account management teams, automated contract renewals, annual escalators, and multi-year contracts to grow market share.
Expense and vendor management
Manages vendor contracts, company credit, and expense programs, and builds strong banking relationships to control costs.
Debt management
Over 25 years securing financing, lines of credit, capital leases, letters of credit, and covenant compliance.
Exit planning
Coordinated ten successful multi-year exit plans sold to private equity since 2015, including one with 15X topline growth.
Exit strategy, the multi-year version
Carrie’s exit planning is not a data room exercise assembled in the last ninety days. It is a multi-year plan for growth that includes brand enhancement, market differentiation, and a scalable sales and operations model, so the buyer pays for the business the seller actually built.
Services
Accounting and finance services
- Complex and custom financial reporting
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Customer and vendor contract review and negotiation
- Annual and multi-year planning strategy
- Business restructuring
- Audit and due diligence support
Operations and growth
- Brand development
- Operations development and support
- Employee performance management
- Metrics reporting
- Operational process and procedure efficiencies
- Leveraging technology
Exit planning support
- Pre-merger and post-merger support
- Due diligence support
- Employee performance and retention management
- Continuity of services
- Integrating accounting, sales, and operations onto new platforms
Technology
- QuickBooks Online, Enterprise, and Desktop (ProAdvisor)
- Sage Intacct, Dynamics, Deltek, Epicor, Xero, Workday
- Bill.com, FloQast, Karbon, Concur, Zoho Expense
- AMS360 and EPIC agency management systems
- Reach Reporting, HubSpot, Monday.com, Trello, MS 365
Relevant experience
- Fractional CFO, $30M+ service company
- Fractional CFO, multiple insurance agencies sold to private equity
- Consulting Director of Finance and Strategy, $550M division of a private equity firm
- Multi-functional Controller for 25+ companies in portfolio
We have relationships built over the last 20 years throughout North America, so multiple members of a C-Suite can step in together when an engagement calls for it. We draw on existing relationships, employees, and other C-Suite Support team members to scale to a client’s needs. Fractional CFO work is more than a part-time CFO. It is a discipline of its own to coordinate fractional engagements well.
Education and credentials
- BBA Accounting, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
Want Carrie in the room?
Book a 30-minute Clarity Call. We will tell you whether ongoing CFO leadership is the right next step, and which of our CFOs fits your business best.
Book a Clarity Call