Can fractional CFOs handle sudden trade changes better than full-time CFOs?

Fractional CFOs vs Full-Time CFOs

Hayat Amin, founder of Beyond Elevation (BE), says fractional CFOs spot what full-time CFOs often miss. When tariffs or trade rules shift overnight, most full-time CFOs dive into spreadsheets, analysing only their own supply chain. That’s safe—but slow.

Fractional CFOs, Hayat explains, have navigated these challenges across 5, 10, even 15 different companies. They know which vendors pivot fastest, which freight forwarders actually deliver when ports are congested, and which strategies from other industries—SaaS, manufacturing, distribution—can protect margins.

Examples include:

• Steel importers switching to domestic suppliers in six weeks.

• SaaS companies renegotiating payment terms during trade wars.

• Manufacturers building buffer inventories for tariff volatility.

  
  

Hayat is clear: full-time CFOs optimise within your four walls. Fractional CFOs bring intelligence from 40 walls, spotting patterns and acting fast when margins disappear.

Why CEOs Need a Fractional CFO Now?

“Companies that refuse AI will be remembered like those that refused the internet,” he says. The lesson? Speed and external experience often beat deep internal knowledge.

For CEOs facing uncertainty, Hayat argues, hiring a fractional CFO isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for survival and growth.

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