Cherisse W.

HEADLINE: Fractional CFO & CPA | Clarity, Control & Connection | Fortune 500 Discipline for Small Business OVERVIEW: Most small businesses don't need a full-time CFO. They need the right one, a few hours a month. That's exactly what I do. I'm Cherisse — a CPA with 35+ years of financial leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 corporations, mid-sized enterprises, and small business ownership. I've directed global finance operations at Viatris (formerly Mylan) and BNY Mellon, managed multi-site controllership for $140M in revenue, turned around a distressed regional business from three years of losses to profitability in a single year, and built the complete financial operating system for my own retail and e-commerce business from the ground up. Now I bring that same depth of experience to small and growing businesses — fractionally, affordably, and with real commitment. My approach is called the 3C Financial Foundation™. It's not a gimmick. It's how I actually work. Clarity — Before anything else, I get a real picture of where things stand. The systems, the numbers, the gaps, the risks. No assumptions, no prescriptions yet. Just honest assessment. Control — Then I build the structure that protects the business. Internal controls, close processes, AR/AP discipline, payroll coordination, and system implementation or optimization — whatever the business runs on. Controls aren't bureaucracy. They're protection. Connection — Finally, I link the financial system to the business strategy. Reporting that actually means something to the owner and to the business. Numbers that tell a story worth reading. This framework is designed to be delivered fractionally — typically 5 to 10 hours per month — so you get Fortune 500-level financial discipline without the cost of a full-time CFO. What I can help you with: Fractional CFO advisory on an ongoing retainer basis: Financial system implementation and optimization — Xero, QuickBooks, Gusto, and more Accounting cleanups, close process design, and internal controls Cash flow management and financial reporting Strategic planning and scenario modeling I work with small businesses of all kinds — service-based businesses, retail, e-commerce, and startups. If you're building something and your finances need to keep pace, I'd love to talk. I am new to Upwork but I am not new to this work. My first engagement here was accepted immediately — because the right experience speaks for itself. If you're looking for someone who will show up, dig in, and treat your business like it matters — it's because it does. Clarity. Control. Connection. CORE COMPETENCIES Strategic Financial Leadership | Fractional CFO Advisory | M&A Integration | Cash Flow Optimization | Shared Services Design | Process Automation | Financial Systems (SAP, Blackline, QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto and more) | Internal Controls | Operational Turnaround | FP&A | Risk Management | Strategic Planning | Leadership & Change Management