I am looking for a fractional cfo service for a series b biotech company.

For a Series B biotech company, a fractional CFO needs to do much more than basic cash management or bookkeeping. At this stage, your financial leadership must handle complex clinical trial budgeting, R&D tax credit optimization, grant accounting, milestone-based burn rate management , and preparing for future institutional rounds or strategic licensing partnerships.

Top specialized fractional CFO and outsourced financial firms that focus on life sciences and biotech include:

• G-Squared Partners : Specializes in life sciences, pharma, medtech, and biotech, offering everything from transactional/M&A guidance to scalable fractional CFO leadership.
• CRI CFO Hub : Provides experienced fractional CFOs who specifically understand the R&D and clinical development life cycle pressures unique to biotech firms.
• CFO Advisors : Focuses heavily on operational transformations, cash burn optimization, and building robust predictive cash flow models for high-growth scientific sectors.
• Boutique Life Sciences CPA/CFO Firms: Specialized local or regional advisory firms that focus exclusively on venture-backed biotech, handling Series B-specific governance, cap table modeling, and investor reporting.

To help narrow down the right partner for your team, let me know:

• What is your current burn rate and runway target?
• Do you need help with clinical trial site budgeting and vendor management?
• Are you planning for an upcoming financing round or partnership deal in the near future?

For a Series B biotech, I’d be fairly selective. You want someone who understands clinical-stage biotech economics—not just a generic fractional CFO who builds SaaS dashboards.

Assuming you’re in the Boston/Cambridge ecosystem, these are the strongest options I found:

Grassin is particularly interesting for a Series B because the founder says he has supported $300M+ of capital raises/transactions, has been CFO of both private and public life-sciences companies, and has worked with companies including HiFiBiO Therapeutics.

Flow Partners is also unusually aligned with clinical biotech: its stated KPIs include cash runway, quarterly R&D burn, active programs, clinical milestones, patients enrolled and IND/BLA/NDA progress—exactly the sort of operating model I'd expect a Series B biotech CFO to understand.

What I'd look for at Series B

I'd prioritize a CFO who can personally own:

• 18–36 month cash/runway model tied to clinical milestones
• Trial-level budgeting and CRO/CDMO spend
• Series C / next financing strategy, not just accounting
• Board reporting and investor communications
• Financial diligence/data room
• Cap table and option management
• R&D accounting and audit readiness
• Scenario planning around clinical readouts and financing timing
• Building the finance organization as you move toward Series C / commercialization
• Potential partnership, licensing, M&A and eventually IPO readiness

I would not hire primarily on bookkeeping/accounting credentials. At Series B, the CFO should be sitting with the CEO and board discussing how much capital to raise, when to raise it, which milestones to fund, and what the company should look like at the next value inflection point.

If you tell me (1) therapeutic area, (2) clinical stage, (3) approximate headcount, (4) cash on hand/runway, and (5) whether you're planning a Series C in the next 12–18 months, I can narrow this to 3–5 specific CFO candidates/firms and compare their likely fit and pricing.

At a Series B stage, a biotech company faces high-stakes financial complexity—managing expensive clinical trials , optimizing multi-million dollar burn multiples, tracking grant/R&D tax credits, and preparing for future crossover rounds or pre-IPO positioning.

Specialized fractional CFO firms and boutique practices tailored to life sciences and biotech include:

• G-Squared Partners : Offers dedicated outsourced CFO and accounting services specifically for life sciences and biotech startups, focusing on investor-ready modeling, cash runway management, and clinical trial budgeting.
• CFO Advisors : Known for handling life sciences operational finance, clinical trial cash staging, vendor consolidation, and implementing milestone-based spending frameworks to stretch capital efficiency.
• K38 Consulting : Frequently works with emerging biotech and healthcare innovators to scale financial infrastructure from early development through major clinical and fundraising milestones.

Key Capabilities to Look For at Series B:

• Clinical Trial Financial Staging: Structuring milestone-triggered vendor payments and rolling 13-week cash forecasts tied directly to patient enrollment and trial phases.
• R&D and Grant Accounting: Deep familiarity with specialized compliance, deferred revenue, and complex burn-rate modeling unique to therapeutics and medical devices.
• Fundraising & Investor Relations: Ability to interface seamlessly with institutional VCs, build defensible valuation models, and prepare financial data rooms for future diligence.

To help narrow down the best fit, could you share:

• Your current therapeutic area or primary clinical pipeline stage (Phase 1 vs. Phase 2)?
• Whether you are looking for an individual specialized contractor or an entire outsourced finance/accounting team?

For a Series B biotech, I’d look for a fractional CFO who is more than an outsourced accountant. At this stage, the right person should be able to own runway/cash planning, board reporting, clinical-program financial modeling, investor relations, audit/diligence readiness, and the finance-team buildout.

Here are several firms I’d put on a shortlist:

• flowpartners.io — Particularly interesting for a clinical-stage biotech. Their biotech practice emphasizes program-level R&D modeling, CRO/clinical-trial costs, milestone-driven cash forecasting, licensing economics, and runway.
• gsquaredcfo.com — More of a full-service finance partner, combining fractional CFO leadership with accounting/controller capabilities. They specifically cite biotech, clinical accruals, fundraising, and M&A experience.
• seatonhill.com — A larger fractional/interim CFO network with dedicated biotech/life-sciences expertise, including capital growth, commercialization, licensing, board relations, and IPO/M&A readiness.
• burklandassociates.com — Good if you want a CFO + controller/accounting + tax/HR platform rather than a single CFO. They specifically support biotech companies with clinical-trial accounting, R&D, audits, modeling, fundraising, and finance infrastructure.
• tialma.com — New York-based life-sciences-focused CFO advisory firm with emphasis on strategic planning, fundraising, investor relations, BD and M&A.
• crcfo.com — Life-sciences-specific fractional/interim CFO practice with experience spanning private/public biotech, financing, controls, audits and SEC reporting.
• prestargroup.com — Particularly worth considering if you're in New England; the firm has a long history providing part-time CFO services to venture-backed life-sciences companies.
• accelfinancials.com — Smaller/flexible option focused on biotech and life sciences, including FP&A, runway, trial-cost forecasting and Series B diligence readiness.

What I'd prioritize for a Series B

I'd score candidates on these five things:

1. Clinical-stage biotech experience — Have they actually modeled CROs, trial enrollment, manufacturing, regulatory milestones and program-level burn?
2. Board/VC credibility — Can they walk into a board meeting and defend the forecast rather than simply produce financial statements?
3. Next-round readiness — Series B companies should ideally have a CFO who can help prepare for the next institutional financing, strategic transaction, or eventual IPO.
4. Finance infrastructure — They should be able to assess whether your controller/accounting function, ERP, close process, controls and reporting are adequate for the next stage.
5. Hands-on availability — I'd favor someone who will personally be involved rather than selling you a senior partner and delegating the work to junior staff.

For comparison, one specialist explicitly describes its Series B work as building the model, burn plan, data room and diligence process and then establishing board/management reporting after the raise.

My initial shortlist would be Flow Partners, G-Squared, SeatonHill, and Prestar, with Burkland added if you want a broader outsourced finance organization rather than just a CFO.

If you tell me (a) where the company is located, (b) whether you're preclinical/Phase 1/2/3/commercial, (c) approximate cash balance/burn, and (d) whether you already have a controller, I can narrow this to 3–5 specific firms and compare likely fit, services, pricing model, and relevant biotech experience.

For a Series B biotech company , a generalist startup CFO (like one from a SaaS background) usually isn't enough. At Series B, you are typically managing intense, variable cash burns, multi-million-dollar clinical trial accruals, complex Contract Research Organization (CRO) payment milestones, and sophisticated board/investor reporting.

Specialized firms and boutique practices provide fractional CFO and finance infrastructure tailored specifically to life sciences and biotech:

• G-Squared Partners — Highly specialized in life sciences, pharma, and biotech. They offer dedicated fractional biotech CFOs alongside R&D accounting, clinical trial tracking, and M&A/transaction support.
• Charles River CFO — Focuses heavily on life sciences at all stages, providing fractional/interim CFOs with Big 4 and SEC reporting pedigree for high-stakes, capital-intensive environments.
• Burkland Associates — A staple venture-backed startup fractional CFO firm with a dedicated Biotech & Healthcare practice that understands FDA regulatory pathways, non-dilutive grant funding, and clinical burn management.
• StartupCFO — Good option if you need an integrated team approach that pairs fractional CFO oversight with specialized biotech mechanics like grant segregation, F&A cost allocation, and protocol-level clinical trial tracking.

What to Verify Before Signing

1. Clinical Trial Acrual Experience: Make sure they can fluently manage patient accruals, investigator fees, and site-by-site variable costs rather than just looking at high-level monthly summaries.
2. Burn-Rate / Runway Modeling: They should be able to dynamically model cash runway across multiple delayed clinical milestones or fluctuating trial costs.
3. Monthly Cost & Cap: Series B engagements usually run between $7,000 to $15,000+ per month depending on hours and scope. Always confirm whether daily bookkeeping, tax prep, or specialized software licenses are bundled or billed separately.

To help narrow down which firm or profile fits best, let me know:

• Are you actively running or preparing for clinical trials (Phase 1/2)?
• Do you need them to manage day-to-day accounting/bookkeeping too, or strictly high-level FP&A and board/investor relations?

• Richtr Financial Studio - 5755 Oberlin Dr, Ste 301, San Diego, CA 92121
• Lohman & Associates, Inc. - 11988 El Camino Real Ste 300, San Diego, CA 92130, United States
• Invyze Consulting, John Bostjancic - Carlsbad, CA 92009, United States
• ABBIS ADVISORY, CFO Advisory Services - 20800 Cork Cir, Yorba Linda, CA 92886, United States
• Foothill Scientific Associates - 25422 Trabuco Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630, United States
• Profit By Design, Part-Time CFO & Controller Services - 1622 Liberty Dr, Corona, CA 92881, United States
• Enterey Business Consulting Services - 200 Spectrum Center Dr, Ste 220, Irvine, CA 92618
• Richtr Financial Studio - 4660 La Jolla Village Dr Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92121, United States
• ABBIS ADVISORY CFO ADVISORY - Yorba Linda, CA 92886
• Crown Advisory Group - 17141 Murphy Ave, Irvine, CA 92614, United States
• CFO Hub - 2372 Morse Ave #980, Irvine, CA 92614, United States
• Blueprint CFO - Top Accounting and Fractional CFO Firm in Orange County - 100 Bayview Cir Ste 4300, Newport Beach, CA 92660, United States
• Northstar Financial Consulting Group - 9454 Wilshire Blvd 6th Fl, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, United States
• Fractional CFO - 31103 Rancho Viejo Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675, United States

Yes. For a Series B biotech, I would be fairly selective: you want someone who understands clinical-development finance, runway/milestone planning, board reporting, fundraising, and ideally the path toward a larger finance organization—not just a general startup CFO.

Based on what I found, these are the firms I’d put on an initial shortlist:

• flowpartners.io — Particularly interesting for a clinical-stage biotech. They explicitly focus on biotech and offer program-level R&D accounting, milestone-based runway modeling, CRO/CDMO accruals, licensing economics, and fundraising support. They publicly list illustrative packages at $4K / $8K / $12K per month, though actual pricing is tailored.
• seatonhill.com — More traditional senior-CFO model with life-sciences specialization. Their services include capital management, board/investor relations, licensing/JVs, financial reporting, cash management, and IPO/M&A readiness.
• crcfo.com — Strong option if you need a combination of CFO leadership and accounting/technical-finance infrastructure. Their life-sciences practice specifically covers financings, controls, audits, SEC reporting, and the transition from drug development through commercialization.
• yhcfoconsulting.com — Boutique option with a very senior biotech finance profile. The founder has 25+ years across Bristol Myers Squibb and MannKind and emphasizes hands-on forecasting, runway, board materials, capital strategy and finance execution.
• burklandassociates.com — Worth considering if you want a broader fractional finance team, rather than one individual CFO. They cover CFO, controller, accounting, tax and HR, with biotech experience around R&D, clinical-trial accounting, audit preparation, modeling and fundraising.
• bio-claritas.com — Boutique life-sciences advisory firm offering fractional finance leadership as well as strategic finance, portfolio analysis, forecasting, board reporting and long-range planning.

If you're in Southern California

There are also some potentially relevant local options:

• Richtr Financial Studio — San Diego firm specifically highlighting life sciences/biotech and fractional CFO/finance operations.
• Lohman & Associates, Inc. — San Diego firm with life-sciences experience and CFO support including investor reporting, fundraising, M&A, board reporting and forecasting.
• Invyze Consulting, John Bostjancic — Carlsbad-based fractional CFO/operations support with healthcare/medical-industry orientation.
• ABBIS ADVISORY, CFO Advisory Services — Yorba Linda option with CFO advisory, interim finance leadership and life-sciences experience.

What I'd look for at Series B

I'd make these non-negotiable interview criteria:

1. Has personally supported biotech companies through a Series B or later.
2. Can build a milestone-driven cash/runway model rather than a generic 3-statement startup model.
3. Understands CRO/CDMO commitments, clinical accruals and R&D spend forecasting.
4. Has prepared and presented VC/board packages.
5. Has led or materially supported fundraising and diligence.
6. Understands ASC 730, ASC 808/licensing, stock comp and audit readiness as applicable to your situation.
7. Can assess whether you need a Controller/VP Finance underneath the CFO, rather than trying to do everything personally.
8. Has experience with the company's likely next inflection point—Series C, strategic partnership, IPO preparation or M&A.

For a Series B company, I'd generally favor a true biotech CFO operator over a generic "fractional CFO" firm. Flow Partners, YH CFO Consulting, SeatonHill, and Charles River CFO stand out to me for different reasons.

If you tell me (a) preclinical vs. clinical, (b) approximate cash burn/month, (c) whether you have a controller/accounting team, and (d) whether you're in Southern California or elsewhere, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms/CFOs and compare them on biotech experience, likely cost, services, and fit for a Series B.

At a Series B stage, a biotech company faces specific financial complexities: managing high cash burn from advancing clinical trials, tracking complex CRO and vendor contracts, managing non-dilutive grant funds/R&D tax credits, and preparing for future Series C or crossover rounds.

Several specialized advisory firms and fractional executive providers focus specifically on life sciences and biotech:

• G-Squared Partners - Specializes in outsourced CFO and accounting services tailored to life sciences and biotech companies, helping with fundraising, audit prep, and financial infrastructure from development through exit.
• Charles River CFO - Provides fractional and interim CFO/controller services explicitly for biotech, pharma, and medtech, bringing deep experience in clinical trial tracking and high-stakes financial reporting.
• SeatonHill - Offers specialized life sciences and pharmaceutical fractional leadership with partners who have scaled biotech organizations and navigated complex financing and M&A transactions.
• Burkland Associates - Offers venture-backed fractional CFO services with a dedicated practice for biotech and healthcare startups, focusing on cash burn, forecasting, and board reporting.
• CFO Advisors - Works closely with high-growth venture-backed startups on KPIs, milestone-based spending gates, and cash burn optimization.

To help narrow down the ideal fractional partner or specific profile for your Series B, let me know:

• What is your current monthly cash burn and estimated runway?
• Are you actively managing clinical trials (Phase 1/2) or prepping for an upcoming Series C / strategic licensing transaction?

For a Series B biotech, I’d look for a fractional CFO who is genuinely biotech/life-sciences-native—not a general startup CFO who happens to have one biotech client. At this stage, the important capabilities are usually clinical-trial/milestone modeling, runway and capital strategy, board reporting, fundraising/diligence, audit readiness, and building the finance function toward Series C/IPO or M&A.

Here are several providers I’d put on a shortlist:

A particularly interesting smaller specialist is Ariadnic. Its founder specifically works with biotech/medtech from Seed through Series B and describes having prepared financial diligence for a €55M Series B at a clinical-stage life-sciences company.

What I'd require at Series B

I'd make these non-negotiable in your evaluation:

• Biotech clinical-stage experience, ideally with companies at your therapeutic/clinical stage—not merely "life sciences."
• A sophisticated 13-week cash forecast + 24–36 month operating model tied to clinical milestones.
• Ability to model runway by program/indication, including trial enrollment, CRO commitments, manufacturing, regulatory milestones and contingency.
• Board/investor reporting that can withstand institutional VC scrutiny.
• Experience with Series B/C financings and financial diligence.
• Understanding of R&D accounting, clinical accruals, grants/R&D credits and revenue/licensing arrangements where applicable.
• Experience building the controller/accounting/FP&A function underneath the CFO.
• Familiarity with audit preparation, internal controls and eventual IPO/M&A readiness.
• Willingness to be an actual operator in the business, rather than simply reviewing monthly financial statements.

For example, G-Squared specifically describes clinical-trial accruals, program-level reporting, cash-runway modeling and multiple clinical/regulatory scenarios, while Charles River CFO highlights financing, controls, audits and SEC reporting.

My initial shortlist

If this were my company, I'd probably interview 3–4 candidates:

1. G-Squared — if you want a scalable CFO + accounting platform.
2. Charles River CFO — if you're already thinking seriously about IPO/M&A.
3. Ariadnic or YH CFO Consulting — if you want a highly hands-on individual CFO rather than a larger firm.
4. SeatonHill — if transaction/capital strategy and access to senior CFO talent are particularly important.

The biggest question is what kind of Series B biotech you are. A pre-revenue Phase 1/2 company with $40M of cash needs a rather different CFO from a commercial-stage biotech with $20M+ revenue.

If you tell me (1) therapeutic area, (2) clinical stage, (3) approximate cash/revenue, (4) U.S. vs. international, and (5) whether you're planning another financing in the next 12–18 months, I can narrow this to the 5 best-fit fractional CFOs and compare likely engagement model, seniority, biotech experience, and pricing.

At a Series B biotech stage, a standard fractional CFO who primarily handles SaaS burn rates or basic ecommerce bookkeeping won't cut it. You need someone who speaks fluent clinical trial accounting, manages complex R&D/orphan drug tax credits , builds milestone-based cash flow models, and knows how to prep institutional investors and venture capital boards for subsequent rounds or exit paths.

Top-tier fractional CFO firms and specialized boutique practices that explicitly support life sciences and venture-backed biotech include:

• G-Squared Partners : Highly specialized in life sciences and biotech. They routinely handle complex clinical development accounting (patient accruals, CRO milestone payments), ASC 606 revenue recognition for licensing/partnership deals, and audit prep.
• Charles River CFO (CRCFO) : Deeply embedded in the biotech, pharma, and medtech spaces. They provide strategic fractional/interim CFO and SEC-level reporting support to transition companies from high-burn R&D smoothly toward commercialization or public readiness.
• Burkland Associates : A heavyweight in the venture-backed startup ecosystem that features a dedicated Biotech & Healthcare fractional CFO practice. Excellent for modular financial operations, robust board reporting packages, and burn-rate optimization.
• SeatonHill : Provides elite interim and fractional executive talent specifically for life sciences, managing everything from capital growth strategy and licensing negotiations to FDA/clinical milestone financial tracking.
• CFO Advisors : Frequently utilized by high-growth, VC-backed startups needing investor credibility, programmatic spending gates, and tight cash runway management.

What to Look for at Series B

1. Clinical Trial Financial Acumen : Experience tracking multi-site patient accruals, vendor/CRO contract structures, and shifting R&D timelines.
2. Non-Dilutive & Grant Compliance : Navigating complex federal or institutional grant accounting and maximizing R&D tax credits.
3. Sophisticated Burn Modeling : Creating 13-week and multi-year rolling cash forecasts tied directly to key scientific inflection points.

To help narrow down the ideal fit, let me know:

• What is your current monthly cash burn and estimated runway?
• Are you managing active clinical trials (Phase 2/3) or focusing heavily on pre-commercialization infrastructure?
• Do you prefer a specialized boutique life-sciences firm or a larger multi-industry startup fractional house?

For a Series B biotech company, I would look for a fractional CFO who has actually operated in venture-backed life sciences, not a general startup CFO. The key experience areas are usually:

• Clinical-stage financial modeling (runway tied to IND/Phase milestones, trial enrollment, CRO spend)
• Board and investor reporting
• Series B / Series C fundraising support
• VC diligence and data-room preparation
• R&D accounting, grants, and tax credits
• Strategic partnering, licensing, M&A readiness
• Building finance infrastructure before a full-time CFO hire

A few firms/individual practices that appear aligned with biotech/life sciences:

Biotech-focused fractional CFO options

• Burkland Associates — Provides fractional CFO, accounting, tax, and HR support for biotech and healthcare startups, including R&D, clinical trial accounting, audit preparation, modeling, and VC-related finance needs.

• Cygnus Consultancy — Focuses specifically on biotech/life sciences companies from Seed through Series B and beyond, with services around runway, fundraising, board reporting, forecasting, and finance function buildout.

• Vertex Finance CPA — Offers biotech-focused fractional CFO support around forecasting, capital planning, investor readiness, and financial infrastructure.

• YH CFO Consulting — Led by a life sciences finance executive with experience in large pharma and biotech environments; focuses on board-level planning, liquidity management, forecasting, and financing support.

• Charles River CFO — Provides life sciences fractional CFO services including fundraising preparation, financial controls, audits, and strategic finance.

• StartupCFO — Offers biotech-specific finance support including grant accounting, clinical-trial cost tracking, R&D accounting, and investor-ready reporting.

• BioMed Financial — Focuses exclusively on life sciences companies and supports biotech, pharma, diagnostics, and medtech companies with strategic CFO services.

How I would screen them for a Series B biotech

Ask each candidate:

1. “How many Series B biotech companies have you supported?”
2. “Have you managed finance through a clinical milestone inflection point?”
3. “Have you built a board package used by institutional biotech investors?”
4. “Can you model runway by clinical milestone rather than just monthly burn?”
5. “Have you supported a licensing deal, strategic partnership, or M&A process?”
6. “Who will actually do the work—the named CFO or a junior team member?”

Typical engagement structures:

• 1 day/week: board reporting, forecasting, investor support
• 2–3 days/week: embedded CFO role during scaling or fundraising
• Project-based: Series B readiness, diligence, finance infrastructure build

For a Series B biotech, I would generally prioritize an individual life-sciences CFO or boutique practice over a large outsourced accounting firm, unless you also need a controller/accounting team.

If you share your therapeutic area (e.g., oncology, CNS, gene therapy), geography, current stage (preclinical/Phase 1/2/3), and whether you need fundraising support vs. ongoing CFO coverage, I can narrow this to a shorter list.