How does a strategic CFO make you money?
In heavy civil construction, you take calculated risks every day. You know how to price a job, push production, and move dirt with confidence. But when it comes to building long-term business wealth—not just this year’s profit—you need more than just someone watching the books. You need a strategic CFO, not just an operational one.
Let’s break it down.
What does an operational CFO do?
An operational CFO keeps the financial engine running. They focus on:
- Paying bills on time
- Watching cash flow
- Keeping reports clean
- Making sure taxes are filed
- Supporting daily financial operations
They help keep you out of trouble—and that’s valuable. But if your business is healthy and growing, just keeping things “operational” isn’t enough.
What makes a CFO strategic?
A strategic CFO doesn’t just manage the numbers—they help change the numbers.
They look at your business like an investor or co-owner would. Instead of just asking, “Did we make money last month?” they ask, “How do we build wealth over the next 3 to 5 years?”
This includes:
- Designing a clear and manageable growth strategy
- Building systems that make the business less dependent on the owner
- Turning unpredictable profits into reliable, repeatable cash flow
- Monitoring cash flow and using available cash effectively
- Increasing the value of the company—not just its income
- Consistently improving tax structure to avoid unnecessary taxes
- Leveraging AI to automate low value business processes
In short, a strategic CFO turns your business into an asset—something that creates wealth, not just income.
Why should you care as the owner?
Because most construction entrepreneurs we work with are all-in on their business. Our client base tends to have delivered on a larger vision, found their niche, developed leaders and elevated a reliable workforce that understands their nice. But you've got to take it a few steps further to double or triple your net worth.
A strategic CFO helps you create a business that doesn’t need you in every trench. That’s how you get options:
- Diversify into scaleable, but related business lines
- Identify your successors and develop them proactively
- Be prepared for an orderly or forced exit strategy by considering all strategic options
- Weave together investments that complement your core construction business
Real Example
Let’s say you’re making $2M a year in EBITDA, but it’s lumpy, depends on your personal relationships, and there’s no budget process in place. That business might not sell for much.
A strategic CFO would identify new opportunities with you, build out a plan and forecasting model, set milestones, put reporting systems in place, and help hire and train a strong second layer of leadership. Now that same business might sell for 5x EBITDA—or let you take home more while working less.
Our strategic expertise goes beyond exit planning, as you can see above, but nevertheless, a wealth maximization plan is multi-faceted. We want to create exceptional value for our clients and we bring the full force of our specialized industry expertise to make you money.
Last Insight
If you're still driving every job, every estimate, and every tough conversation, you're not just running a business—you are the business. That’s a risk to your time, your wealth, and your future. A strategic CFO helps you build a business that runs on systems, not sweat—so you can create value that lasts.
Ready to start building long-term wealth instead of just short-term wins? Connect with Kit Moore on LinkedIn ( <- that's a link) and send him a direct message. Let’s talk about how a strategic CFO can help your construction business scale, strengthen, and succeed on your terms. Alternatively, you can book an appointment here:
