Fractional CFO - Ecommerce Financials Expert Needed

Part time role ~10-15 hours/week We're hiring a fractional CFO whose first and most important job is cash flow. Ecommerce apparel is a cash-hungry business: inventory buys are large and lumpy, revenue is seasonal, and the gap between paying suppliers and collecting from customers can quietly strangle a growing brand. We need someone who can tell us, at any moment, exactly how much cash we have, how long it lasts under different scenarios, and what decision to make next. What You'll Do Own the cash flow model. Build and maintain a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast that accounts for inventory purchase cycles, supplier payment terms, ad spend, payroll/contractors, and seasonal revenue swings. Update it regularly and flag problems weeks before they arrive. Plan inventory financing. Model inventory buys against cash runway. Advise on purchase order timing, deposit structures, supplier term negotiations, and whether/when to use financing tools (PO financing, revenue-based financing, lines of credit) versus self-funding. Manage margin discipline. Track true landed COGS by SKU, contribution margin by product and channel, and return/refund impact. Continue the cost discipline we've started — identify where money leaks and close the leaks. Build the reporting rhythm. Deliver a simple monthly financial package the founder can read in ten minutes: P&L, cash position, runway, inventory position, and the two or three numbers that need a decision. Advise on pricing and promotions. Pressure-test discount strategy, bundle economics, and sale-event planning (Eid drops, seasonal collections) against margin targets — so promotions drive cash, not just top-line vanity. Own tax and compliance hygiene. Coordinate with our bookkeeper/accountant on sales tax exposure across states, quarterly estimates, and clean books that would survive lender or acquirer diligence. Support growth decisions. When we evaluate a new collection, a wholesale opportunity, a collaboration, or increased ad spend, you model the cash impact and give a clear recommendation.