Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

Q: What is the difference between Advisory Tiers and Execution Services?

Advisory Tiers provide strategic leadership, financial direction, and executive insight. These engagements focus on decision-making, forecasting, capital planning, and board/investor alignment.

Execution Services deliver the operational horsepower—building models, closing the books, reconciling accounts, and generating reporting—that turns strategy into action. The two are complementary: one sets the course, the other drives momentum.

Q: What is Interim Leadership?

Part-time executives (e.g., Interim CFO or VP of Finance) serve as embedded strategic leaders. They guide high-level financial decisions, manage investor and board relationships, oversee capital planning, and align the finance function with broader business goals. They often report directly to the CEO and act as a key thought partner during inflection points.

Director-level interim leaders (e.g., Interim Controller or Director of Finance) provide hands-on oversight of day-to-day finance operations. This includes owning the close process, leading the accounting team, building reporting packages, improving controls, and ensuring compliance. They bridge the gap between execution and leadership, offering both stability and momentum.

Q: Which do I need?

Organizations that lack financial leadership to drive decisions, represent at the executive level, or lead during a critical transition would benefit from Interim Leadership, such as a part-time CFO or Finance Director.

When strategy is evolving or uncertain, Advisory Tiers offer a strategic partnership in a more flexible format—focused on planning, forecasting, board communication, and capital strategy.

If strategy is clear and execution is behind, Execution Services provide operational depth and hands-on support. Many businesses need a mix and the right entry point depends on stage, urgency, and internal resources.

Q: What makes CEL’s approach different?

At CEL, culture is the foundation. We lead with humility, operate with precision, and show up with a bias for action. Our commitment to client service runs deep.

We are both technicians and operators that can dive into the detail, (e.g., reconcile a ledger, build a model, or implement controls), and then step back to guide decisions at the boardroom level.

We partner with founders, finance teams, and investors to lead, to build, and to drive lasting outcomes. We believe leadership means ownership which is the standard we hold ourselves to, every client, every engagement.