Case Study: Supporting a Smooth CFO Transition in the Education Sector

Client Snapshot

• Industry: Education
• Engagement: Fractional CFO

The Challenge

A new CFO was stepping into the role at a time when the school faced several high-stakes financial and operational priorities, including:

• Major capital projects over the summer
• Year-end close and financial statement audit
• Ongoing board and committee meetings
• Coordination of multiple service providers

Without additional support, the risk of missed deadlines, budget overruns, and governance gaps was high.

Our Approach

Smith + Howard’s team structured the engagement around two core priorities:

1. Operational Continuity
   • Oversight of capital projects, audit prep, and financial close
   • Weekly meetings + continuous documentation for transparency
2. Leadership Transition
   • Guided a seamless transfer of responsibilities to the incoming CFO
   • Ensured stability in governance and reporting during the handover

Results Delivered

• Capital projects completed on time + on budget
• Audit completed without delay
• Financial close delivered ahead of schedule with strong operating margin
• All board and committee meetings executed successfully
• Incoming CFO transitioned into a stable, well-prepared environment

The Takeaway

By stepping in as a Fractional CFO, Smith + Howard enabled the school to protect financial stability, deliver on critical projects, and ensure its new leader inherited a strong foundation at the start of the academic year.

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