Fractional CFO for Manufacturing & Asset‑Heavy Businesses
Next Tier CFO provides senior‑level financial leadership to $5M–$100M companies that need CFO‑level thinking without full‑time overhead.
- Stronger cash and working capital discipline
- Clear margin and pricing visibility
- Reporting lenders and investors can trust
Who I Work With
I work with owners and sponsors who need immediate clarity and discipline in finance, without adding a full‑time executive.
Most of my career has been in multi‑site manufacturing and global industrial businesses, which means I can connect the shop floor to the P&L quickly.
What I Actually Do
Financial Leadership & Strategy
I serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and Board, turning financial data into clear decisions. I lead budgeting and forecasting, build practical KPI dashboards, and support multi‑year planning and scenario modeling so leadership can see around corners instead of looking in the rearview mirror.
- •Strategic partner to CEO/Board
- •Budgeting, forecasting, and multi‑year planning
- •KPI dashboards and decision‑ready reporting
- •Scenario planning and growth, pricing, and capital allocation modeling
Cash & Working Capital Discipline
I bring structure and discipline to cash so there are no surprises. This includes building a credible 13‑week cash flow, tightening AR, inventory, and AP processes, and improving lender confidence in both numbers and narrative.
- •13‑week cash flow forecasting
- •AR, inventory, and AP process improvements
- •Reduced cash conversion cycle
- •Stabilized lender confidence and reporting
Margin & Cost Structure Optimization
I help operators understand where they truly make money and how to improve it. That means contribution margin and pricing analysis, better standard costing and inventory accuracy, and aligning overhead and SG&A with operational reality.
- •Contribution margin and pricing analysis
- •Standard costing and inventory accuracy improvements
- •Overhead burden aligned to operations
- •SG&A reduction and efficiency opportunities
Finance Function Build‑Out & Transactions
I rebuild and upgrade finance functions so they can support growth, scrutiny, and transactions. I improve close processes and reporting cadence, strengthen controls, and help implement or stabilize ERP systems, while also supporting M&A, debt refinancing, and investor reporting.
- •Finance team rebuilds and upgrades
- •Improved month‑end close and reporting cadence
- •Stronger internal controls and ERP implementation/stabilization
- •M&A diligence and integration, debt refinancing, and capital strategy
Engagement Models
- •Fractional CFO (typically 5–10 hours per week)
- •Interim CFO for transitions or coverage
- •Turnaround / stabilization engagements
- •Special projects (cash modeling, pricing strategy, ERP, or financing preparation)
Outcomes Clients Can Expect
What Clients Get
- •CFO‑level thinking without full‑time overhead
- •Clear visibility into cash, margins, and runway
- •Data‑driven support for pricing, capital allocation, and growth decisions
- •Improved lender and investor credibility
- •A steady, execution‑focused finance leader who raises the bar for the finance team
Representative Prior Outcomes
- •$11.7M liquidity unlocked (cash conversion cycle improvement from 94 → 64 days; inventory reduced 52%)
- •140% EBITDA turnaround (+7 pts gross margin; −34% SG&A cost)
- •$340M term loan refinancing
- •$15M building sale‑leaseback
About Rusty & Next Tier CFO
I'm Rusty Bayles, a fractional CFO with experience leading finance for manufacturing, consumer products, and global industrial businesses. I've served in roles across private equity‑backed and multinational organizations, with a focus on cash, working capital, and operationally grounded decision support.
I hold an M.S. in Industrial Administration with emphasis in Finance & Strategy (Carnegie Mellon) and a B.A. in Finance (University of Utah).
I started Next Tier CFO to give mid‑sized operators access to the kind of financial leadership usually reserved for much larger companies.
Based in Utah and working with clients across the U.S., I bring a practical, operator‑focused approach to finance. The goal is straightforward: better visibility, better decisions, and fewer surprises.
Let's Talk About Your Next Tier
If you're facing cash constraints, lender questions, or growth decisions that feel bigger than your current finance setup, let's talk.
Typically 5–10 hour/week engagements; Utah‑based, working with clients across the U.S.