DiscoverHard Hat to CEO with Chris GilmanWhat Is A CFO And When To Hire One with Ken LaCroix
What Is A CFO And When To Hire One with Ken LaCroix

What Is A CFO And When To Hire One with Ken LaCroix

Update: 2025-07-24
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Is your business growing, but the numbers are getting harder to keep up with? In this episode, Chris G talks with CFO Ken LaCroix about when it might be time to bring in some help. Ken explains what a CFO really does, what numbers you should be paying attention to and how often to look at them. They also cover simple ways to track profit, how to spot red flags early, and why focusing on the right numbers can make or break your business. If you're running a growing company and feel like you're guessing too much, this episode is for you.

Ken LaCroix is a seasoned CFO and founder of Insightful Partners, specializing in fractional CFO services for small to mid-sized businesses. With over 20 years of experience, he’s helped companies navigate rapid growth, restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions—all while integrating smart technology to boost productivity and value.

Ken holds both a B.S. in Accounting from USC’s Leventhal School of Accounting and an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business. Before starting Insightful Partners, he served as CFO for private equity–backed firms and held senior roles including Market President at Signature Analytics. He’s passionate about turning financial data into strategic action—helping growing businesses focus on the right KPIs, improve cash flow, and plan for the future with confidence.

Connect with Ken:
Website: https://insightfulpartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenlacroix/


Episode highlights:
(0:00 ) Intro
(0:50 ) Who is Ken LaCroix and what does a CFO do?
(1:58 ) How often should you look at your numbers?
(2:43 ) KPIs for contractors: insider vs outsider metrics
(6:04 ) Non-financial KPIs
(7:59 ) Can you really compare your numbers to other businesses?
(13:47 ) How to identify which clients make you money and which don’t
(16:45 ) Having hard conversations with customers
(20:57 ) Understanding contribution margin and breakeven
(23:51 ) Making high-level strategy work on the jobsite
(27:47 ) The hidden power of estimate accuracy
(28:47 ) Financial blind spots
(30:38 ) Simplifying the cash flow statement
(35:35 ) When should you hire a CFO or fractional CFO?
(40:20 ) Outro

Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/
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What Is A CFO And When To Hire One with Ken LaCroix

What Is A CFO And When To Hire One with Ken LaCroix