About

Growth

Supporting growing businesses with part-time CFO and accounting services

Growing businesses need a strategic finance partner to support and manage growth. We provide part-time CFO services that blend strategic thinking with tactical execution in the finance function. We help drive better decision-making and accountability in your business, so you can get to your next milestone.

Your Vision
Our Support

  • Managing Growth

    OFFERING HIGHLIGHTS

    Strategic Thinking:

    Business Modeling and Forecasting

    • Scalable growth modeling
    • Scenario planning / CFO analysis
    • Cash “burn” management

    Assist in Capital Raising

    • Investor / bank presentations
    • Business model defense
    • Due diligence preparation

    PLUS

    Tactical Execution:

    Develop Processes & Controls

    • Improve accounting infrastructure
    • Internal control oversight
    • Technology and ops integration
    • Process standardization 

    Management Reporting

    • Expedited monthly closes
    • Financial reporting packages
    • Dashboards
    • Boardroom support

    DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE

    FOCUS + URGENCY + ACCOUNTABILITY

    Our team knows that successfully growing a business requires focus and urgency. As a business grows it becomes more difficult to concentrate on the right things needed to excel. In our role, we drive a new level of accountability from the top down helping the business to remain on course. Together we develop a clear and executable strategy for the business. We then create an action plan with deadlines designed to achieve the strategic goals. Finally, through timely and relevant management reporting, we track progress through a continuous review of the “state of the state.”

    A FRAMEWORK FOR DECISION-MAKING

    Through our work with hundreds of businesses, we have developed effective decision tools to frame many of the important decisions that face a growing company. By concentrating on the essential criteria for effective decision-making, we validate the invaluable sixth sense of the entrepreneur – his or her “gut.” Whether it is expansion planning, measuring sales and marketing effectiveness, modeling the right employee mix, or compensation incentives to maximize profits, we have the tools to help.

  • Exploring An Exit

    OFFERING HIGHLIGHTS

    Strategic Thinking:

    Reporting and Analytics

    • Financial reporting packages
    • Dashboards
    • Business intelligence
    • Benchmarking

    Optimization Planning

    • Develop roadmap for max value
    • Acquisition/divestiture issues
    • Align goals through compensation

    PLUS

    Tactical Execution:

    Cash Flow Management

    • Optimize cash conversion cycle
    • Build fortress balance sheet
    • Extensive budgeting and forecasting

    Integration / Standardization

    • Data and system architecture
    • Accounting software integration
    • Process redesign
    • New process training

    DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE

    A WELL-OILED MACHINE

    We believe every business has the ability to run like a well-oiled machine: A balanced team consistently executing repeatable business processes for an exceptional customer experience. We help you to create a roadmap and then roll up our sleeves to implement the solution. More than just an exercise in accounting and finance, we will perform a thorough assessment of the entire organization to identify and address strengths and weaknesses.

    UNLOCKING HIDDEN VALUE

    Whenever change occurs in a business, there is an opportunity to unlock additional business value. Whether it is orchestrating a turnaround, preparing for a business exit, integrating an acquisition or simply improving operations, our team has the experience to deliver. By leveraging our functional expertise, we concentrate on the tactical implementation that will determine success.

  • How We Can Help

    An Introduction to Verge Advisors: part-time CFO services for growing businesses
    View more presentations from vergeadvisors

You’ve set the vision and plan to drive your company forward. You need a finance function who thinks forward, too. We understand timely, forward-looking insights into financial data are critical to help you scale your business. We maintain an intense focus on continuously bridging strategic insights with tactical execution because we believe a clear and executable strategy, together with disciplined follow-through, helps your business stay on course. From day one, we manage the finance function around its core duty - to inform management decision-making.

We work with venture-backed and private companies who are in the “managing growth” and “exploring an exit” phase of growth. Our part-time CFO services offer a blend of strategic expertise and tactical support at a fraction of the cost of full-time resources.

Getting Results
Is What Matters

  • Client Success:
    Keating Associates

    - Stephen Keating, President and Founder, Keating Associates

    Client Success:
    Keating Associates

    The Importance of Timely and Accurate Financial Reporting for a Growing Marketing Agency

    Challenge

    Keating Associates is a proactive consulting and creative services company that transforms academic marketing.  They partner with colleges, universities, and schools to translate institutional goals and student insights into actionable marketing programs and results-driven, creative communications.
     
    In order to provide the breadth of integrated services clients need, Keating Associates combines its own employees with the “Keating network” of best-of-breed partners, vendors and specialists to deliver the right team against a given project scope.  Based on this service model, Keating Associates faced a key challenge: how do we better manage out-of-pocket expenses and reduce the strain placed on the working capital of our company?

    Action

    Verge Advisors partnered with Keating Associates, a client since 2009, to deliver part-time CFO services, combining strategic thinking with tactical execution, in order to attack this challenge.   

    Verge Advisors implemented a plan focused on decreasing Keating Associates’ cash conversion cycle (the time from when a service is performed to when cash is received).

    In addition, we streamlined the job costing and accounts payable (AP) processes.  The frequency of AP related to media, one of the largest areas of spend, was increased.

    We instituted systems to manage the range of project types, from ad hoc to complex.

    Results

    Better systems and reporting enabled Keating Associates to analyze project profitability and more accurately scope future work.

    With greater financial visibility and a more disciplined and comprehensive AP process, Keating Associates continues to successfully offer its clients a wide range of integrated services, while maintaining an adequate level of cash.   

  • Insight:
    Is Growth Killing
    Your Company?

    Insight:
    Is Growth Killing
    Your Company?

  • Insight:
    Financial Due Diligence -
    10 Tips For Readiness

    Insight:
    Financial Due Diligence -
    10 Tips For Readiness

  • Read Our
    Core Values

    Read Our
    Core Values

    OUR CORE VALUES
    SUPPORT OUR WAY OF WORKING WITH YOU.

     

    WE BELIE​VE IN...

    Focus:  Concentrate on the right things
    Urgency:  Don’t let it wait
    Loyalty:  Treat founders like family
    Clarity:  Speak truth and inform decisions
    Generosity:  Help others by sharing skills and resources
    Idealism:  Believe in better

What good are the numbers if they don’t distill relevant insights to support your growth?  Adding strategic value to your organization, together with “roll-up-your-sleeves” execution, is where we excel. Whether it’s helping you improve operations or prepare for an exit, we combine the rigor and follow-through needed to support your path to success.

Browse our collection of insights, customer stories and more to learn more about our way of thinking and how we can help with part-time CFO services.

A Team Focused
On Your Performance

  • jon@vergeadvisors.com

    LinkedIn

    Jonathan Iannacone
    Founder and CEO

    For over a decade, Jonathan has been providing CFO and controllership services to diverse companies from early stage startups to larger privately held businesses. He specializes in advising the management teams of organizations that are experiencing significant growth.

    His unique professional background includes diversified consultative engagements in the areas of internal controls, forensic accounting, business valuation, customized financial reporting, and capital allocation strategies. Jonathan also began his career as an auditor for Deloitte. By applying this cumulative knowledge from various accounting disciplines he is able to drive and implement scalable growth solutions.

    Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.  He is a Certified Public Accountant, and his affiliations include: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, MA State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Certified QuickBooks Proadvisor.

  • thilinh@vergeadvisors.com

    LinkedIn

    Thi Linh Wernau
    Managing Director of Sales,
    Marketing and Mobile Strategy

    Thi Linh is an integrated marketing and business development executive with expertise in the mobile industry.  Thi Linh has a proven track record of driving strategy, delivering operational excellence, and building trusted client relationships.  Most recently, she has served as a member of the management team at a number of growth companies in the mobile industry. 

    Thi Linh’s roles previous roles include VP of Sales and Account Management at mms (mobile messaging solutions), where she led business development efforts and key account management for clients such as Coca-Cola and Bell Mobility.  Prior to mms, Thi Linh has held leadership roles at agencies including Hill Holliday and Foote, Cone & Belding and mobile companies, including m-Qube (acquired by VeriSign), Nokia and skyrockit.

    At Hill Holliday, Thi Linh was one of the first in the industry to integrate mobile marketing into a full-service agency environment. Here, she led the Boston Police Department “Text-a-Tip” program, which became the recipient of the 2007 MITX award for Best Use of Mobile.

    In 2008, Thi Linh was named to the Boston Business Journal top “40 Under 40” list, and in 2012, she was named to Mobile Marketer's Mobile Women to Watch list.  She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.

  • peter@wernauassetmanagement.com

    LinkedIn

    Peter Wernau
    Board Advisor

    Peter is the founder of Wernau Asset Management, where he serves as the firm’s portfolio manager and CEO.

    Mr. Wernau has co-founded several other complimentary financial services firms, including Apricot Capital LLC and Back Bay Mortgage Brokers LLC.  He participates as an advisor, mentor and angel investor in the technology and mobile industries.

    His investments have included OnSwipe, Crashlytics, Peekaboo Mobile, Awe.sm, TribeHR, Kinvey, and several other emerging mobile and technology businesses.

    In addition to being named 5 Star Wealth Manager in Boston Magazine for 2010, 2011 and 2012, Mr. Wernau also serves on the Board of Trustees of Rockport Music.  He was also appointed in 2006 by Gov. Mitt Romney and re-appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2008 to serve two terms on the board of the Massachusetts Children’s Trust fund.

    Peter is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accountancy and has passed the Series 65 exam.

  • dave@vergeadvisors.com

    Dave Speredelozzi
    Associate

    Dave joined Verge Advisors as an Associate in 2010 with more than 12 years of experience in both operations and finance behind him.

    Prior to joining Verge, Dave has experience working with a variety of start-ups and small companies in industries ranging from education to luxury travel, providing financial reporting, operational management and day-to-day accounting services. By combining standardized policies and procedures on top of a flexible account architecture, Dave enables a scalable financial infrastructure that can grow with the company. His holistic oversight of day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, account reconciliations and monthly closings, allows management to stay strategic and make decisions using financial data that is complete, timely and relevant. With a focus on developing priorities and assisting companies in meeting their business objectives, Dave works closely with Verge’s consulting CFOs and serves as a reliable man on the ground.

    Dave holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts.

We are a passionate team of creative and analytical thinkers and doers. In everything we do, our clients come first. 

Interested in joining the team? Visit us here.

Get In
Touch

We’d love to hear from you.  Please call, send us a message or let’s grab a coffee (it’s on us).

Address:
Cambridge Innovation Center
One Broadway, 14th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142

E-mail: info@vergeadvisors.com
Telephone: 617.858.5185

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