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V O L . X X X N O. X X V I I D E C E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 4 14 B A N K I N G / F I N A N C E / I N S U R A N C E Besides providing interim cover- age during executive searches, contract employees are ideal for project-based needs, bridging gaps during restructur- ing and leadership development. For companies that go the fractional route, Rummler suggests setting clear expectations and planning for potential challenges, including tensions between part- and full-time executives. She also recommends providing clear direction "to minimize friction and maximize collaboration." Portland powerhouse At Opus Consulting in Portland, President Jacques Santucci leads a three- person team (out of 10 employees in total) that provides CFO services for a variety of businesses. In the case of new owners, he's found that while many know how to make or sell a product, they often lack financial or accounting proficiency. "ey rely on the tax preparer to do the taxes and then they move on to the next step," Santucci says. "But they don't have a knowledge of their cost structure, and they sometimes don't have enough analysis about seasonality or sales or cost trends to actually have a sustain- able business. ey don't look at the numbers." en when a problem arises, "a lot of them get taken by surprise, and the first thing they do is blame it on the accountant." Like a detective, the outsourced CFO looks for ways to help companies "make money in a different way than just sales," Santucci says. Sleuthing duties include finding measures to trim costs or secur- ing a better line of credit from banks. Santucci's firm, founded 15 years ago, provides fractional services for clients including Maine Plastic Surgery Center in Portland and the Migis Hotel Group. "It's good to be able to help a small business in Maine grow and succeed," says Casey Skovran, a senior consul- tant at Opus. "Many of them just need someone to bounce ideas off or answer a text asking if they can afford to pay a small bonus this year — all sorts of little questions like that." Grateful for the help, Maine Plastic Surgery Center Director Christina Alves says it's also been useful to get greater clarity from Skovran on the spa and medical sides of the business. "We're able to really drill down and see where the opportunities are," she says. As Opus looks to attract more clients, the agency has teamed up with the Swanson Group in Westbrook on a collaboration called Your Business A Small Business Energy Loan and incentives from Efficiency Maine can help you upgrade your facilities to high-performance, energy- efficient systems like heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems. Learn more at efficiencymaine.com/ small-business-energy-loans/ Financial Solutions for Energy Projects Increase Comfort and Energy Efficiency in your Facilities » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E F O C U S P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Jacques Santucci is the president of Opus Consulting in Portland.

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