Frequently asked questions.
Common questions about CFO Science, what we do, who we work with, and how we charge. If yours isn't here, write to hello@cfoscience.ca.
About CFO Science.
What is CFO Science?
CFO Science is a cloud boutique finance firm providing the full spectrum of bookkeeping, controller, and fractional CFO services to growth businesses, charities, and owner-managed companies across Canada and the United States. The firm is founder-led and every file is touched by a senior accountant each month.
Where is CFO Science located?
CFO Science is based in Vaughan, Ontario, in the Greater Toronto Area. Most client work is delivered remotely, so we serve businesses across Canada and into the United States. In-person meetings are available for GTA-based clients on request.
Who runs CFO Science?
CFO Science is led by David Dansky, who holds the CA(SA), ACMA, and CGMA designations. The firm operates as a deliberately small practice; the founder is involved in every engagement rather than running an analyst pool behind a sales team.
What we do.
What services does CFO Science offer?
CFO Science offers three core services: bookkeeping (monthly close, transaction coding, and reconciliations), controller services (reporting, internal controls, and board-ready financials), and fractional CFO services (strategic finance leadership for businesses that need senior judgment without a full-time hire). Clients typically engage one service or layer all three depending on the stage of the business.
What does a fractional CFO actually do?
A fractional CFO provides senior finance leadership on a part-time, ongoing basis. The work typically includes financial planning and forecasting, cash flow management, fundraising and debt support, board reporting, KPI design, M&A support, and decisions about systems and team structure. CFO Science fractional CFO engagements usually run between one and four days per month, depending on the size and stage of the client.
How is a fractional CFO different from a bookkeeper or controller?
A bookkeeper records what happened. A controller closes the books accurately and produces reliable monthly reports. A fractional CFO uses those reports to drive decisions, forecasting, capital allocation, fundraising, and operational changes. Many CFO Science clients layer all three: bookkeeping for the daily transactions, controller services for the monthly close, and fractional CFO for the strategic layer.
Do you work with QuickBooks Online or Xero?
Both. CFO Science is fluent in QuickBooks Online and Xero, and works with the surrounding stack most small finance teams use: Dext for receipt capture and source-document automation, Syft for reporting and consolidations, Plooto and Ramp for payments and spend management, and Float Financial for cash flow and runway. We also use Claude and ChatGPT to speed up analysis and documentation where it makes sense, and we're comfortable working inside a client's existing systems rather than insisting on a particular stack.
Fit and eligibility.
Who is CFO Science a good fit for?
CFO Science works best with three groups: small and mid-sized businesses with annual revenue between roughly $1M and $25M, Canadian registered charities and nonprofits, and owner-managed companies looking for a long-term finance partner rather than a transactional service provider. The common thread is that clients want senior judgment, clean monthly numbers, and a relationship with the same person over years, not a service desk.
Do you work with charities and nonprofits?
Yes. CFO Science has dedicated expertise in Canadian nonprofit and charity finance, including Canada Revenue Agency charities-directorate compliance, T3010 filings, restricted-fund accounting, and board-level reporting for nonprofit directors. We currently support several Canadian registered charities and foundations.
Do you work with US-based businesses?
Yes, selectively. CFO Science serves US clients where the work fits our model: monthly close, controller, and fractional CFO services for owner-managed businesses. We do not provide US tax filing or audit; we coordinate with the client's existing US tax preparer or CPA firm.
Is there a minimum business size you'll work with?
In practice, CFO Science is most useful once a business has crossed roughly $500K in annual revenue, because below that the cost of senior finance support is usually hard to justify. We're happy to talk to earlier-stage founders about what to put in place now and when to bring in a fractional CFO later.
How it works.
How does CFO Science charge for its services?
CFO Science charges on a fixed monthly retainer rather than hourly billing. The retainer is set after an initial scoping call and reflects the size of the business, the complexity of the books, and the level of senior involvement required. Fixed pricing means clients can budget predictably and ask questions without watching the clock.
What does a typical engagement cost?
Monthly retainers typically fall between $1,500 and $10,000 per month, depending on which services are included and the size of the business. Bookkeeping-only engagements sit at the lower end. Layered engagements that include controller and fractional CFO work sit higher. A scoping call is the only way to get a real number for a specific business.
How do we start working together?
The first step is a 30-minute call, free and confidential, to understand the business and what you need. If there's a fit, CFO Science provides a written proposal within a week, covering scope, pricing, and timeline. Engagements usually begin within two to four weeks of a signed engagement letter, depending on the handover from any existing bookkeeper.
Worth a 30-minute call,
even if you just want a second opinion.
Free, confidential, and ends with a written summary — whether or not we work together.
Book a discovery call