“CFO Consultants isn’t a new business, but the energy and direction that we’ve brought to it since changing ownership in June is,” says Wann.
What sets CFO Consultants apart is its unique staffing model, with highly skilled and credentialed professionals passionate about supporting small businesses. The team includes individuals with decades of corporate management and consulting experience, complemented by CPAs, MBAs, and experts in business valuation, financial modeling, and decision support.
Check out our full Q&A with Wann below…
Tell us about your business and the role you play in it.
Benjamin Wann, CMA, CSCA, MBA, PMP, CPA, owns Asheville accounting firm CFO Consultants, LLC, with a team of 10.
Originally from the Philadelphia region and coming from a 10-year career providing insights to executives of mid-sized manufacturing firms, Ben transitioned to entrepreneurship full-time in Nov 2022. Ben’s idea is to provide the small business community with the same expertise, technology and know-how that the large organizations have to help accelerate their own businesses.
Typically, CPA or bookkeeping firms provide too little, too late, to help business owners make smart decisions. Ben is passionate about supporting the small business community with specialized services that help business owners understand their financials and feel like they have the expertise they need to thrive.
Services include Business Consulting, Fractional CFO, Bookkeeping, Tax Filing & Planning, Business Valuation
Areas of Expertise include Product Costing & Profitability; Business Intelligence and Data Models; Operational Excellence: Proactively build strong relationships to understand and meet all business needs; Strategy-Execution: Influence culture and lead others to align workstreams to reach targets/milestones on budget and time; Process Improvement & Re-engineering: Fix what’s broken and design systems to serve the business- Not vice versa; Deep Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of financial accounting systems, controls, financial modeling, compliance procedures, and industry best practices. Leverage learnings and share knowledge.
How did you come up with your idea or concept for your business? How did you decide on a name?
CFO Consultants isn’t a new business, but the energy and direction that we’ve brought to it since changing ownership in June is.
While many accounting firms decide to position themselves as CPA firms, this leaves the naming options unimaginative. CFO Consultants is clear in that we are here to help small business owners feel like they have a finance pro at their side, helping to grow and support their business.
Too many accountants focus on compliance and what has happened last month versus the future and what can happen and how to help owners achieve their goals and vision. That is what we are here for. We are unique in that three of our consultants have decades of corporate management and consulting experience, as well as other skills and credentials. We have CPAs, MBAs, business valuation, financial modeling and forecasting, decision support expertise, too.
What makes your business unique in its field?
Our firm is unique in that we have three specializations; business valuation, CFO Advisory, and tax planning. Most accounting firms do bookkeeping and tax returns; well, so do we, but we understand that business owners have more needs that need to be addressed to help them build and manage their business for the long term. We want business owners to feel that we are the complete end-to-end resource for them.
In addition, our firm is unique in its staffing model. We have highly skilled, trained, and credentialed professionals that have a passion for small business.
How many employees do you have? And what qualities do you look for when hiring?
Today, we have 10 employees, compared to just 5 in June. We hire and keep employees who want to build with us over the long term. In exchange, we are fully committed to being an equitable employer. Many accounting firms have a bad reputation for overworking and underpaying the staff; we do the complete apposite. We build from values first and that attracts the right type of people to our firm as employees and clients, alike.
During your first year of business, what was the greatest lesson you learned?
The most important thing I’ve learned so far is the importance of relationships and trust. That is why I was excited to get more involved with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Small business owners need to feel that they are working with trusted professionals when it comes to their financials and the financial security of their business and family.
Where do you see your business in the next year? The next five?
Our company plans to complete an acquisition of a retiring accounting firm locally within this year and another next year. By 2025, we plan to have 4 acquisitions under our belt. There are many great, small accounting firm owners that are trying to sell, and we have built our firm to have the people, process, systems, and values to bring them into our firm and provide unmatched value and resources to the business community.
Why did you decide to join the Chamber?
I joined the Chamber of Commerce after attending a local event and seeing how plugged in they were to the local community here. I love being in Asheville and continue to build relationships and friendships and couldn’t think of a better organization to make this happen!
What is your favorite part about doing business in the Asheville area?
I love that being in Asheville is a decision for most people. Most people I know came from somewhere else, so there is intentionality behind where they wanted to be and what they wanted to do. The locals are also welcoming, warm, and friendly. I love that there is such a collaborative small business community here that thrives.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your business?
We are growing and accepting new clients for all of our services. If you are a small business owner and want to have a team of trusted and highly-skilled professionals, we offer a service that is second to none!
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For more information, you can reach out to Ben Wann at ben@cfoconsultants.net or visit the firm’s website at CFO Consultants. Connect with them on LinkedIn: CFO Consultants LinkedIn. CFO Consultants, LLC is located at 95 Roberts Street, Asheville, NC 28801