The Value of a Fractional CFO, with Lyle Newkirk, SeatonHill Partners

The Value of a Fractional CFO, with Lyle Newkirk, SeatonHill Partners (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 850)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio hosted by John Ray, guest Lyle Newkirk from SeatonHill Partners discusses his extensive experience as a fractional CFO. Lyle explains the value of having a fractional executive for middle-market businesses, stressing the importance of preparation for mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Throughout the conversation, Lyle shares insights on various aspects of business finance, from operational improvements with AI to the importance of soft skills in connecting with business owners. The episode is filled with practical advice and real-world examples, showcasing the unique benefits of hiring a seasoned fractional CFO.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Lyle Newkirk, CFO Partner, SeatonHill

Lyle Newkirk is a CFO partner with SeatonHill. He has over 35 years of experience in CFO and executive finance roles. He has worked with public and private companies based both in the US and internationally, where he developed the strategies to achieve significant top-line revenue growth and helped to facilitate various successful acquisitions and strategic exits, including three exits to Fortune 500 companies. Lyle has extensive experience in technology companies in general and SaaS companies specifically. Lyle’s expertise also includes FP&A, growth planning and tactics, cash management, HR, sales operations, and regulatory compliance

SeatonHill provides organizations financial leadership with a strategic and operational focus by placing elite CFO talent to challenge the business and contribute to operational decisions to achieve results. With their curated talent, their financial leaders guide small and medium-sized businesses through complex financial problems to mitigate risk and achieve organizational goals.

SeatonHill is the fastest-growing CFO services firm in the nation, offering the power of combined thought leadership and the support of the country’s top financial talent to the benefit of all our clients. SeatonHill has offices in Boston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Austin, Houston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and Washington D.C.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
02:00 Meet Lyle Newkirk: Veteran CFO
04:02 The Role and Importance of a Fractional CFO
05:53 Soft Skills and Business Connection
08:06 Fractional Executive vs. Full-Time Employee
10:32 Leveraging Experience and Network
14:52 Middle Market Focus
16:23 Shift in Business Optimism
17:57 Preparing for M&A Transactions
19:18 Importance of Early Preparation
20:49 Navigating the LOI Process
24:29 Impact of AI on Finance
26:30 Success Stories in Business
29:37 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 850 shows and having featured over 1,300 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their market, community, and profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

**John Ray, North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.