CPA (Certified Public Accountant) · MBA (Kelley School of Business) · 18+ Years Experience

Senior Financial Leadership.
Without the Full-Time Cost.

I partner with SMB founders, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations to build financial clarity, drive strategic decisions, and create the systems your organization needs to grow. No full-time overhead required.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call Explore Services
$100M+ Campus Built from Scratch
$30M Endowment Managed
$16.3M Government Funds Overseen
60+ Countries of Global Experience

Trusted in sectors including

Independent Schools
Nonprofits
Founder-Led Companies
International Organizations
Higher Education
The Fractional CFO Advantage

You need a strategic financial partner.
Not another expense.

Most growing organizations need experienced financial leadership, but a full-time CFO commands a $200,000–$350,000+ salary. A Fractional CFO delivers the same caliber of expertise at a fraction of the cost, engaged at exactly the level your organization needs.

Whether you're navigating a capital raise, cleaning up your books, preparing for an audit, or building a multi-year budget, I plug in as your senior financial officer, strategically and operationally, without the full-time overhead.

Let's Talk Strategy

Full-Time CFO Cost

$200K–$350K+ salary, benefits, equity, and onboarding time

High overhead. Permanent commitment.

Fractional CFO

Senior expertise engaged part-time at a fraction of the cost, right-sized to your needs

Strategic impact. Flexible engagement.
What I Do

Fractional CFO Services

Comprehensive financial leadership tailored to where your organization is today and where you want to go.

Financial Strategy & Planning

Build a clear financial roadmap aligned with your organizational goals. From multi-year forecasting to scenario modeling, I help leadership teams make confident, data-driven decisions.

  • Multi-year financial forecasting
  • Scenario & sensitivity analysis
  • Board-level financial reporting
  • KPI development & dashboards

Budgeting & Cash Flow Management

Gain real control over your cash position. I design and manage budgeting processes that keep your team accountable and your organization financially healthy.

  • Annual budget development & oversight
  • Cash flow forecasting & management
  • Budget variance analysis
  • Department-level financial accountability

Audit & Compliance Readiness

Prepare for audits with confidence. I ensure your financial records meet GAAP standards, strengthen internal controls, and manage the audit process from start to finish.

  • GAAP-compliant financial statements
  • Internal controls assessment
  • Audit preparation & management
  • Tax-exempt compliance (nonprofits)

Debt Financing & Capital Strategy

Navigate capital raises, debt financing, and banking relationships with an experienced partner. I've secured over $4M in tax-exempt financing and guided organizations through complex capital projects.

  • Capital project planning & oversight
  • Debt financing & refinancing
  • Banking & lender relationship management
  • Grant & endowment financial oversight

Systems & Digital Transformation

Modernize your financial infrastructure. From ERP selection to accounting systems implementation, I help organizations build scalable, efficient financial operations.

  • Accounting systems implementation
  • ERP selection & optimization
  • Financial process automation
  • Reporting infrastructure build-out

Nonprofit & School Financial Leadership

Specialized expertise in nonprofit governance, fund accounting, government grants, and the unique financial pressures facing independent schools and mission-driven organizations.

  • Fund & restricted asset accounting
  • Government grant management
  • Board & Finance Committee support
  • Tuition modeling & enrollment finance

Not sure which services fit your needs?

Book a Free 30-Min Discovery Call
Art Keown, CPA, Fractional CFO based in Denver, Colorado
Licensed CPA Certified Public Accountant
MBA, Kelley School of Business
Denver, CO · Clients Nationwide
About Art Keown

A CFO Who Has Built the Infrastructure, Not Just Analyzed It.

I'm Art Keown, a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and financial strategist with 18+ years of experience leading finance functions across international schools, nonprofits, and complex organizations on multiple continents.

The CPA license matters for your organization. It means I'm held to rigorous ethical and professional standards, I understand the accounting frameworks your auditors work within, and I can speak the same language as your external CPA firm, your board's finance committee, and your lenders. You get strategic leadership backed by real technical depth.

Unlike consultants who advise from a distance, I've done the work firsthand: built financial operations from the ground up for a $100M+ international school campus, secured tax-exempt financing, managed a $30M endowment, oversaw $16.3M in Korean government funds, and led organizations through audits, capital campaigns, and financial crises, including COVID-19.

I hold an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, one of the top-ranked business programs in the country, pairing academic rigor with hard-won practical experience across every engagement.

Founding CFO St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju, South Korea Built financial operations for a $100M+ international campus from scratch
CFO St. Mary's Academy, Denver CO Secured $4M+ in tax-exempt financing; managed $30M endowment
Senior Finance Leadership International School of Denver & University of Dubai Cross-cultural financial leadership across diverse educational environments
Board Trustee St. Elizabeth's School, Denver Active Finance Committee service; community-grounded leadership
Work With Art
Proven Track Record

What Financial Leadership
Actually Looks Like in Practice

These aren't projections. They're outcomes from real engagements across schools, nonprofits, and complex organizations.

$4M+
Tax-Exempt Financing Secured

Structured and closed tax-exempt bond financing for a Denver independent school's capital project, navigating lender relationships, legal review, and board approval from start to close.

Independent School · Denver, CO
$100M+
Campus Built from Zero

As Founding CFO, built the entire financial infrastructure for a new international school campus in South Korea: accounting systems, budgets, government reporting, banking relationships, and controls. Starting from scratch.

International School · Jeju, South Korea
$16.3M
Government Funds Managed in Compliance

Oversaw Korean government grant funds with full regulatory compliance, implementing reporting systems that satisfied both Korean government auditors and international institutional standards simultaneously.

Government-Funded Institution · South Korea
$30M
Endowment Overseen

Provided ongoing endowment oversight, investment policy governance, and board-level reporting for a school endowment, including stewardship through COVID-19 market volatility.

Independent School · Denver, CO
COVID-19
Crisis Financial Leadership

Led the financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic for an independent school: scenario modeling, cash flow preservation, emergency budgeting, and board communication during unprecedented operational disruption.

Independent School · Denver, CO
3 Countries
Multi-Jurisdiction Finance Experience

Held CFO and senior finance roles across the United States, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, navigating different regulatory regimes, currencies, audit standards, and governance models.

USA · South Korea · UAE
Who I Serve

Built for Organizations That Are Growing
and Ready for Real Financial Leadership

I work with a focused set of clients where I can create the most meaningful impact.

SMB & Founder-Led Companies

You've proven your model. Now you need financial systems, forecasting, and a strategic partner to help you scale responsibly. No full-time CFO overhead required.

Revenue: $1M–$30M Pre-Series B startups Growth stage

Nonprofits & Mission-Driven Organizations

Your mission is too important to let financial uncertainty slow you down. I specialize in nonprofit fund accounting, government grants, board reporting, and the unique compliance demands of 501(c)(3) organizations.

501(c)(3) nonprofits Grant-funded orgs Faith-based orgs

Independent Schools & Educational Institutions

With deep experience as CFO at multiple independent schools, including an international campus, I understand the financial complexities of tuition modeling, enrollment risk, endowment management, and regulatory compliance in education.

Independent schools International schools Charter schools

Organizations in Transition

Navigating rapid growth, a leadership change, a capital project, or a merger? I step in as an interim or project-based CFO to provide stability, strategic clarity, and a clear financial path forward.

Interim CFO coverage M&A financial diligence Post-hire CFO support

Does this sound like your organization?

Let's Have a Conversation
How It Works

Simple, Clear, No Pressure

Getting started is straightforward. No long sales cycles. No obligation.

01

Discovery Call

We spend 30 minutes getting to know your organization, your financial challenges, and your goals. I listen first, then offer honest perspective on how a Fractional CFO engagement might help.

30 minutes · Free · No obligation
02

Tailored Proposal

If there's a fit, I'll put together a clear, customized engagement proposal outlining the scope of work, engagement model (ongoing retainer, project-based, or interim), and investment.

Delivered within 48 hours
03

Strategic Partnership

We get to work. I integrate with your team, learn your organization deeply, and begin delivering financial clarity, better systems, and strategic insights from day one.

Ongoing · Flexible · Results-focused
Start with Step 1. Schedule a Call
What Clients Say

References & Recommendations

Discretion is core to how I work. Direct references are available upon request for any serious engagement.

Client References Available Upon Request

Discretion is a core part of how I work. Many clients prefer to keep our engagement confidential. I'm happy to connect you directly with past clients and colleagues who can speak to my work firsthand.

View LinkedIn Recommendations Request References
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A Fractional CFO is an experienced Chief Financial Officer who works with your organization on a part-time, retainer, or project basis, providing the same strategic financial leadership as a full-time CFO at a fraction of the cost. It's ideal for organizations that need senior financial expertise but aren't ready for a full-time executive hire.

Bookkeepers and accountants handle transactional financial work: recording transactions, reconciling accounts, and filing taxes. A Fractional CFO operates at the strategic level: financial planning, forecasting, capital strategy, board reporting, and organizational decision-making. I complement your existing finance team rather than replace them.

My engagements are scoped to fit your needs, not a fixed package. That said, most ongoing retainer arrangements start between $2,500–$4,000/month for part-time strategic support, scaling up based on hours, complexity, and scope. Project-based work (e.g., audit prep, budget build, systems implementation) is priced per project. In every case, you'll receive a clear, itemized proposal before any commitment. No surprises, no retainers that expand silently.

Yes. I serve clients nationwide and have extensive experience working across time zones and geographies, including international engagements. Most of my work is conducted remotely, with on-site availability for clients in the Denver metro area or as needed.

Engagements vary by client need. Options include: an ongoing retainer (regular hours each month as your part-time CFO), a project-based engagement (e.g., audit prep, budget build, systems implementation), or an interim CFO arrangement to cover a leadership gap. We'll design the right fit during the discovery call.

I work primarily with organizations in the $1M–$50M revenue range. Companies and nonprofits large enough to need strategic financial leadership, but where a full-time CFO isn't yet the right fit. I also take on project-based work for larger organizations facing specific strategic needs.

Most fractional CFOs are not CPAs. The Certified Public Accountant license requires passing one of the most rigorous professional exams in finance, meeting ongoing continuing education requirements, and adhering to a strict code of professional ethics. For your organization, that means a few concrete things:

  • Audit fluency. I understand exactly what your auditors need and can prepare your organization to meet that standard without surprises.
  • Technical accuracy. Financial statements, GAAP compliance, and internal controls are areas where the CPA credential carries real weight.
  • Credibility with stakeholders. Boards, lenders, and grant-makers recognize the CPA designation. It signals that the financial information they receive has been prepared to a professional standard.
  • Ethical accountability. CPAs are bound by professional standards that go beyond a typical consulting agreement. You have recourse and assurance that simply doesn't exist with an unlicensed advisor.
Ready to Get Started?

Let's Talk About
Your Financial Future

The first conversation is free, low-pressure, and genuinely useful. Pick a time directly on my calendar. No back-and-forth emails, no gatekeeping assistant. Just 30 minutes to get clear on your financial needs and whether working together makes sense.

Book instantly. No emails, no waiting.
30 minutes · Free · No obligation
Walk away with at least one actionable insight
Serving clients in Denver, Colorado, and nationwide
art@artkeowncfo.com Connect on LinkedIn
Denver, Colorado · Available Nationwide

Book Your Free Discovery Call

Pick a time that works for you. 30 minutes, no obligation.