CFO By Design

Name

CFO By Design

Legal name

CFO By Design

Website

https://cfobydesigntx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

akta.pro primary industry

Outsourced Finance & CFO Services (BPAHABAE)

Keywords

• Virtual CFO services
• Outsourced financial management
• Destination marketing organizations
• Hospitality association finance
• Financial consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CFO & Financial Services: Outsourced CFO services, financial management, and accounting services provided on a retainer or contract basis to DMOs and hospitality associations
2. Financial Consulting & Assessments: Customized financial assessments and strategic consulting engagements for destination marketing organizations and travel industry associations
3. Training & Education: Customized training programs for finance leaders new to the DMO industry, executives seeking financial literacy, and board members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CFO By Design is a virtual CFO practice that delivers outsourced CFO services, proprietary financial assessments, customized financial statements, policy development, accounting systems implementation, and turnkey senior accounting services to Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and travel/hospitality industry associations. Its offering replaces or supplements an in-house finance department, providing senior financial leadership and operational financial management on a subscription/retainer basis.

Product overview

CFO by Design is a virtual CFO practice offering a suite of professional financial services to Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and hospitality/travel industry associations. The company operates as a services-based firm rather than a software product company. Its portfolio consists of six integrated service offerings: Financial Assessment Services (proprietary assessment for operational planning), Strategic Solutions and Consulting (including DMO-specific training), Financial Systems Implementation (financial health analysis and forecasting), Outsourced Accounting and CFO Services (financial reporting and policies), Technology Systems Recommendations (for efficiency and internal controls), and Accountability and Compliance Services (contract compliance and internal controls). These services work together to provide clients with comprehensive financial infrastructure, from assessment through implementation and ongoing accountability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Assessment Services Proprietary assessment designed to uncover opportunities, troubleshoot problems, and create a customized plan to ensure operational success for Destination Marketing Organizations and hospitality associations.
• Strategic Solutions and Consulting Customized strategic consulting services including training for finance leaders new to the DMO industry, executives seeking to expand their financial literacy, and board members.
• Financial Systems Implementation Industry thought leadership to analyze financial health, identify risk areas, forecast for cash management, resource allocation, and long-term strategic financial planning.
• Outsourced Accounting and CFO Services Customized and transparent financial reporting, industry-leading policies, and outsourced financial and CFO services for DMO organizations and associations.
• Technology Systems Recommendations Recommended technology systems to increase efficiency, improve internal controls, and allow for greater organizational transparency and accountability.
• Accountability and Compliance Services Review of funding agreements and assessment of contract compliance and internal controls to ensure accountability and credibility with stakeholders and community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients report 'I can sleep at night now' and 'they take care of us'

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Destinations InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFO by Design has played an instrumental role in the successful turnaround of Destinations International. Led by Julie Hart who previously helped the organization through a financial crisis when on the executive committee, providing ongoing trusted financial guidance and support to leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Texas Travel AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with Texas Travel Alliance including speaking engagements at annual summits and the Travel & Tourism College. Multiple team members active in alliance activities and education programs.
• One West Tourism AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServing as financial partner to One West Tourism Alliance, providing association financial infrastructure support and helping new Association CEO build confidence in financial position.
• Visit SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided deep dive assessment of structure, policies, and systems for Visit Seattle following CFO departure. Assisted in developing foundation necessary to efficiently run finance department, including team rebuilding and technology modernization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CFO Share: Outsourced and fractional CFO services firm serving growth-stage companies. Operates the same virtual outsourced CFO model as CFO by Design and is a head-to-head comparable for retainer-based senior financial leadership engagements.
• FocusCFO: Fractional/outsourced CFO services firm providing part-time CFO talent to small and mid-sized businesses across multiple industries. Directly comparable business model to CFO by Design's outsourced CFO retainer practice, though FocusCFO operates across verticals rather than specializing in DMOs.
• B2B CFO Partners: Network of fractional CFOs serving small to mid-sized businesses on an outsourced basis. Closest comparable in delivery model (virtual, retainer-based outsourced CFO) and target client type (organizations that cannot afford a full-time CFO).
• New Directions Capital: Provides outsourced CFO and financial management services specifically to nonprofit organizations, including outsourced accounting, financial leadership, and board reporting support — directly comparable to CFO by Design's nonprofit/association service lines.
• KBS CFO Services: Outsourced CFO and controller services firm providing part-time financial leadership to small businesses and nonprofits. Directly comparable delivery model and client profile to CFO by Design's outsourced accounting and CFO practice.

Broad incumbents

• Huron Consulting Group: Large management consulting firm with a finance & accounting advisory practice serving associations and nonprofits. Adjacent competitor for outsourced CFO and financial transformation engagements, though it operates at enterprise scale rather than SME/DMO level.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Large U.S. accounting and advisory firm with significant nonprofit and association practice offering outsourced CFO and controller services. Competes with CFO by Design on outsourced financial leadership for association-type clients, but at significantly greater scale and breadth.
• Wipfli: Top-25 U.S. accounting and consulting firm with an outsourced CFO/advisory practice serving nonprofits and associations. Much larger and broader, but competes in the same outsourced financial leadership space for association clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CFObdTX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfobdtx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CFO By Design