Building Best-in-Class Finance Operations: Inside theFinanceStack
“Most businesses don't have a finance function. They have a bookkeeper and a spreadsheet.”
theFinanceStack changes that. We build the accounting foundation, the reporting infrastructure, and the strategic insight layer that lets growth-stage companies make better decisions and move faster — with confidence.
Join our founding team for an inside look at how we do it, the tools we use, and what it looks like to work at the firm that's building what modern finance operations should be.
Hosted by Brad Williams, Helen Astle, and Kayla Hanlon — Fractional CFOs, theFinanceStack
What best-in-class finance operations actually looks like
The accounting core done properly
Clean books, airtight month-end close, GAAP-compliant financials, payroll and compliance handled without drama. This is the non-negotiable baseline everything else is built on.
Real-time financial visibility
Not monthly reports delivered two weeks late. Our clients have live dashboards, rolling forecasts, and cash flow models that update as the business moves. They make decisions on current data, not last quarter’s.
A tech stack that works together
Xero and QBO as the accounting core, Float for payables management, Fathom for reporting and analysis, Rippling for payroll and HR. These are some of the tools we use — but tools are only as good as the people running them. We build deep proficiency across the full stack so that every capability is actually used, not just licensed.
An insight and decision-support layer
Variance analysis that tells a story, scenario modelling that stress-tests the plan, financial commentary a founder can actually use. We don’t just report what happened — we help clients understand what it means and what to do next.
AI and automation embedded in the workflow
We’re actively building the firm that reflects where accounting is heading. Not experimenting in theory — deploying in practice. Come to the webinar to learn what areas we’re tackling first and why.
A finance partner, not just a provider
Our clients are founders and operators moving fast. They need someone who understands their business well enough to flag risks early, model decisions before they’re made, and communicate clearly under pressure.
What you'll walk away with
- A concrete understanding of what best-in-class finance operations looks like for early and growth-stage businesses — and what it takes to build and run it.
- A practical walkthrough of the tFS tech stack and how each tool earns its place.
- An honest account of AI in accounting — what we’re deploying, what it’s changed, and where we’re going next.
- A clear picture of the Senior Accountant role at tFS — the responsibility, the variety, and what a strong candidate actually looks like.
- How we’ve built a remote-first team that operates at a high standard — the tools, the rhythms, the communication practices that make it work.
- A direct conversation with two fCFOs who have built this from the ground up.
Who we are
We partner with early-stage and growth-stage companies to build finance operations that go beyond compliance. Our platform combines the accounting foundation with the reporting infrastructure, forecasting capability, and strategic support that businesses need to grow with clarity. Backed by a team of CPAs and fractional CFOs, we work remotely across a portfolio of companies — and we’re serious about being the firm that’s ahead of where the profession is going.
Who should attend
Meet the presenters
Brad Williams
CEO & Founder
Brad founded theFinanceStack with a vision to democratize access to world-class financial expertise. With extensive experience as a CFO for high-growth companies, he’s passionate about helping businesses build strong financial foundations.
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Helen Astle
CRO, Co-founder
As co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer, Helen leads our client acquisition and growth strategies. Her background in finance and business development helps ensure we deliver exceptional value to every client we serve.
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Kayla Hanlon
Fractional CFO, Head of People Operations
Kayla brings extensive operational finance expertise to our team. As both Head of People Operations and a Fractional CFO, she helps clients optimize their financial operations while ensuring our internal processes deliver consistent excellence.
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Reserve your spot for the live session on June 23. We’ll send the calendar invite and join link to the email you provide.
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