Business Development & Market Research Virtual Assistant (Fractional CFO Practice)

Business Development & Market Research Virtual Assistant (Accounting & Fractional CFO Practice) About Us We are a growing Fractional CFO practice that partners with businesses to improve financial operations, support informed decision-making, and achieve long-term growth. As our practice continues to grow, we are working on a strategic business development initiative designed to expand our referral network, strengthen our market presence, and identify new opportunities to connect with the types of clients we serve best. We're looking for a Business Development & Market Research Virtual Assistant who enjoys research, thinks critically, and wants to become a long-term member of our extended team. This is not a simple data entry position. We're looking for someone who can gather information, evaluate opportunities, organize findings, and present thoughtful recommendations that help support business decisions. This position will begin at approximately 10–15 hours per week, with the potential for ongoing work as our practice continues to grow. About the Project This project will be completed in phases and is designed to build the foundation of our long-term business development strategy. As the project evolves, responsibilities may expand into additional research initiatives, referral partner management, business development support, marketing research, and professional email outreach. We value quality over quantity and are looking for someone who takes pride in producing accurate, organized, and well-researched work. Phase 1 – Marketplace & Business Development Research Research and evaluate platforms that connect businesses with accounting, advisory, and Fractional CFO practices. Research may include, but is not limited to: QuickBooks ProAdvisor Directory Clutch Paro Fractionus Go Fractional Toptal Finance Additional accounting and advisory marketplaces you recommend For each platform, please research: Registration requirements Qualifications Costs and fees Application and vetting process Individual vs. practice participation Target client profile How businesses search for providers What makes successful profiles stand out Advantages and disadvantages Competitive positioning Long-term suitability Your overall recommendation Priority ranking (High, Medium, Low) Phase 2 – Marketing & Advertising Research Research and evaluate marketing and advertising opportunities that could help generate qualified leads for our practice. Examples include: Google Ads Microsoft Ads (Bing) Facebook Ads Instagram Ads LinkedIn Ads YouTube Ads Google Business Profile Apple Business Connect Bing Places Clutch Sponsored Listings Yelp Alignable Industry-specific directories SEO opportunities Content marketing opportunities Email marketing platforms Additional platforms you recommend For each platform, please research: Primary target audience Ideal client profile Typical costs and pricing models Organic vs. paid opportunities Geographic targeting capabilities Best use cases for accounting and Fractional CFO practices Advantages and disadvantages Examples of successful use by professional service practices Your overall recommendation Priority ranking (High, Medium, Low) Phase 3 – Referral Partner Research & Database Development Build and verify a high-quality referral partner database consisting of professionals who regularly work with growing businesses. Potential categories include: Business Brokers M&A Advisors Commercial Bankers SBA Lenders Business Attorneys Estate Planning Attorneys Wealth Advisors Insurance Professionals Payroll Companies Fractional HR Firms Business Consultants Executive Coaches Medical Practice Consultants Healthcare Administrators CPA practices that do not offer bookkeeping or outsourced CFO services Additional referral sources you recommend For each contact, gather and verify as much information as possible, including: Company Name Contact Name Title Email Address Phone Number Website LinkedIn Profile Industry / Specialty Referral Category City / State Personalization Notes Source(s) used for verification Accuracy and data quality are significantly more important than quantity. Deliverables Research should be organized, professional, and easy to review. Deliverables may include: Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheets Word documents Research summaries Comparison tables Source citations Recommendations and rankings Required Skills Market Research Business Development Business Analysis Lead Generation Marketing Strategy Email Communication Microsoft Excel Strong written English Excellent organizational skills High attention to detail Experience supporting accounting practices, consulting firms, law firms, financial services organizations, or other professional service businesses is highly preferred. What We're Looking For The ideal candidate is someone who: Enjoys solving research challenges. Verifies information before submitting it. Thinks critically rather than simply copying information. Is highly organized and detail-oriented. Communicates clearly and professionally. Meets deadlines and follows through. Takes pride in producing high-quality work. Can identify opportunities and provide thoughtful recommendations—not just collect data. We're looking for someone who enjoys learning, asks thoughtful questions, and wants to become a trusted extension of our team over the long term. Future Opportunities We are looking to build a long-term working relationship with the right person. Future responsibilities may include: Competitor research Industry and market research Conference and trade show research Business development initiatives Referral partner management CRM management Professional email outreach AI-assisted research workflows Strategic growth initiatives Additional projects as our practice continues to grow Paid Test Project Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a small paid research assignment before a longer-term contract is offered. This helps us evaluate research quality, communication skills, organization, and attention to detail while allowing candidates to better understand our expectations. Application Instructions Please begin your proposal with the words "Strategic Research" so we know you have carefully read the entire job posting. In your proposal, please tell us: Why you enjoy research work. A similar project you've completed. The research tools and resources you use most often. How you verify business information before submitting it. Why you believe you'd be a good fit for this role. We look forward to finding someone who can become a long-term member of our extended team and help support the continued growth of our practice.